‘How can I find the Princess Bella-Flor when I have never even seen her?’ thought he. ‘But it is no use staying here, for I shall only be put to death.’ And he walked slowly to the stables to choose himself a horse.
There were rows upon rows of fine beasts with their names written in gold above their stalls, and Jose was looking uncertainly from one to the other, wondering which he should choose, when an old white horse turned its head and signed to him to approach.
‘Take me,’ it said in a gentle whisper, ‘and all will go well.’
Jose still felt so bewildered with the mission that the king had given him that he forgot to be astonished at hearing a horse talk. Mechanically he laid his hand on the bridle and led the white horse out of the stable. He was about to mount on his back, when the animal spoke again:
‘Pick up those three loaves of bread which you see there, and put them in your pocket.’
Jose did as he was told, and being in a great hurry to get away, asked no questions, but swung himself into the saddle.
They rode far without meeting any adventures, but at length they came to an ant-hill, and the horse stopped.
‘Crumble those three loaves for the ants,’ he said. But Jose hesitated.
‘Why, we may want them ourselves!’ answered he.
‘Never mind that; give them to the ants all the same. Do not lose a chance of helping others.’ And when the loaves lay in crumbs on the road, the horse galloped on.