"Right willingly," rejoined the Wind-king: so he gave a great puff, and he and Argilius, together with the horse of the latter, stood the next moment in the presence of his Kavadiska. Her joy was so great that she let all the kitchen utensils fall into the fiery stream; but Argilius, without stopping to talk much, lifted her on his horse and rode off.
The Flame-king was at that time in his own apartment; he heard an extraordinary noise in the stable, and on going into it he found his horse Taigarot prancing, neighing, biting the manger, and pawing the ground. Taigarot was a very peculiar kind of horse; he understood human language, and could even speak, and he had nine feet!
"What mad tricks are you playing?" cried Holofernes; "have you not had enough hay and oats, or have they not given you drink?"
"Oats and hay I have had in plenty," said Taigarot, "and drink, too; but they have carried off Kavadiska from you."
The Flame-king shivered with rage.
"Be calm," said Taigarot; "you may even eat, drink, and sleep, for in three bounds I will overtake her."
Holofernes did as his horse bade him, and when he had sufficiently rested and refreshed himself, he mounted Taigarot, and in three bounds overtook Argilius. He tore Kavadiska from his arms and cried out, as he was springing home again:—
"Because you set me at liberty, I do not kill thee this time; but if thou returnest once again, thou art lost."
Argilius went back very melancholy to his three brothers-in-law, and related what had happened. They took counsel together, and then said:—
"Thou must find a horse which is still swifter of foot than Taigarot; there is, however, but one such horse existing, and he is Taigarot's younger brother. It is true he has only four feet, but still he is decidedly swifter than Taigarot."