“How can we get rid of him?” asked the brothers when they were alone.
“Maybe we can read something else,” said one of them.
“Very good,” answered all, at once; and they hurried to the chamber in which so many books were collected, and it was not long before one of the brothers cried out: “The king has no beasts, and they cost him more than the birds, since he uses many more of them in a year.”
“Then let Jalmir go for them,” said the sixth brother, smiling maliciously; and they went straight to the king, to whom they told their minds. The king nodded graciously; dismissed them, called Jalmir and said: “I have no beasts in my kingdom; and since they cost me much in a year, I command thee to get me beasts.”
“I, gracious king,” said Jalmir in wonder, “know of none.”
“Thou knowest well,” said the king in anger, “for thy brothers told me.”
“Did they?” said Jalmir in astonishment. “Well, I will try;” and he went to his white steed, to whom he told everything.
“Be not down-hearted,” said the steed, comforting him. “Come to me in the evening; we will go for the beasts.”
When it was dark the good steed was flying through the air. “But where shall we go?” asked Jalmir.
“To the sorceress from whom we got the birds,” answered the steed.