By-and-by they entered a rocky pass between two mountains, and here they saw an eagle which had been caught in a hunter’s net.
‘Get down and cut the meshes of the net, and set the poor bird free,’ said the horse.
‘But it will take so long,’ objected Jose, ‘and we may miss the princess.’
‘Never mind that; do not lose a chance of helping others,’ answered the horse. And when the meshes were cut, and the eagle was free, the horse galloped on.
The had ridden many miles, and at last they came to a river, where they beheld a little fish lying gasping on the sand, and the horse said:
‘Do you see that little fish? It will die if you do not put it back in the water.’
‘But, really, we shall never find the Princess Bella-Flor if we waste our time like this!’ cried Jose.
‘We never waste time when we are helping others,’ answered the horse. And soon the little fish was swimming happily away.
A little while after they reached a castle, which was built in the middle of a very thick wood, and right in front was the Princess Bella-Flor feeding her hens.
‘Now listen,’ said the horse. ‘I am going to give all sorts of little hops and skips, which will amuse the Princess Bella-Flor. Then she will tell you that she would like to ride a little way, and you must help her to mount. When she is seated I shall begin to neigh and kick, and you must say that I have never carried a woman before, and that you had better get up behind so as to be able to manage me. Once on my back we will go like the wind to the king’s palace.’