“I am the King of the Birds, N’Oun Doare. I will never forget the service you have rendered me, and if ever you are in trouble and need my aid you have only to call me and I shall fly swiftly to help you.”
As they went on their way N’Oun Doare’s wonderful mare crossed mountains, forests, vast seas, and streams with a swiftness and ease that was amazing. Soon they beheld the walls of the Château of the Golden Bell rising before them, and as they drew near they could hear a most confused and terrible noise coming from it, which shook N’Oun Doare’s courage and made him rather fearful of entering it. Near the door a being of the most curious aspect was hung to a tree by a chain, and this peculiar individual had as many horns on his body as there are days in the year.
“Cut that unfortunate man down,” said the mare. “Will you not give him his freedom?”
“I am too much afraid to approach him,” said N’Oun Doare, alarmed at the man’s appearance.
“Do not fear,” said the sagacious animal; “he will not harm you in any manner.”
N’Oun Doare did so, and the stranger thanked him most gratefully, bidding him, as the others whom he had rescued had done, if he ever required help to call upon Grifescorne, King of the Demons, for that was his name, and he would be with him immediately.
“Enter the château boldly and without fear,” said the 112 mare, “and I will await you in the wood yonder. After the Princess Golden Bell has welcomed you she will show you all the curiosities and marvels of her dwelling. Tell her you have a horse without an equal, which can dance most beautifully the dances of every land. Say that your steed will perform them for her diversion if she will come and behold it in the forest.”
Everything fell out as the mare had said, and the Princess was delighted and amused by the mare’s dancing.
“If you were to mount her,” said N’Oun Doare, “I vow she would dance even more wonderfully than before!”
The Princess after a moment’s hesitation did so. In an instant the adventurous youth was by her side, and the horse sped through the air, so that in a short space they found themselves flying over the sea.