“That is well,” said the fox. “You have now the beautiful Princess and the Golden Horse, but you must have the Golden Bird also.”
The fox then told the Prince what he must do. He must leave the Princess there to wait for him, and ride on to the palace alone. “When you reach the palace of the King,” said the fox, “he will gladly give you the Golden Bird in exchange for the horse. Take the cage in your hand and then spring upon the horse and ride away with it till you come to where the Princess is. They will not try to overtake you, for they know how fast the horse goes. Then you will have all three, the Princess, the horse, and the bird.”
The Prince did exactly as the little animal bade him. He left the Princess there with the fox, and rode on to the palace, and it was not long before he was back again with the Golden Bird in his hand.
“Now you have all your heart desires,” said the fox, “and it is time I had my reward for serving you.”
“That is true,” said the Prince. “Tell me how to reward you, and if I can do it, I will.”
“Then take your bow,” said the fox, “and shoot me dead, and after that cut off my head and paws.”
The Prince was filled with horror. “No, no,” he cried, “that I can never do.”
“Very well,” said the fox. “If you will not do that, then you can do nothing for me. I must leave you, but before I go there is one more piece of advice that I will give you. Beware of two things. Buy no human flesh and bones, and do not sit on the edge of a well.” Then the fox left him and ran away into the forest near by.
But the Prince and Princess rode on together. “That was a curious piece of advice,” said the Prince. “Why should I want to buy human flesh and bones, and why should I not sit on the edge of a well if it pleases me?”
“Why indeed?” said the Princess.