"Will you please leave go of me."
"That depends," said little Arthur, "because I am just beginning to like this way of travelling."
"Well, my son, I am sorry, but your goose is cooked for ever."
So saying he began to butt round the room with the object of smashing poor little Arthur to pieces; but the latter, firm as firm could be, would not leave go even if he were killed. Then the horse sat down to see if he could crush the boy with his weight, but the latter, by a clever movement, dropped clear of the crupper and sat down on the floor.
"Here!" he exclaimed, "don't do any more such silly things; if you want to throw me off, you will have to tear your tail off first."
"Not if I know it," shouted the magician, "rather let us make an agreement. What do you want in order to let me go?"
"First, you must tell me the story of the enchanted children in my garden."
"I will not."
"Well, now I shall pull out a hair of your tail by way of punishment," and dragging out one of them he made the horse neigh with pain.
"So, I shall pull them out one by one until you are as hairless as a hired horse."