Somewhat later the Dragon came home and found the Empress gone. He therefore asked his horse, “What now? Shall we eat and drink at our ease, or shall we pursue after them?”
And the horse replied, “Eat or not, drink or not, pursue or not, you will never overtake them.”
When the Dragon heard this he sprang upon his horse and rushed after them.
When the pair saw the Dragon coming on behind them they were overcome with affright and spurred the horse to greater speed. Now the horse was a Vila, and he said to them, “Have no fear; you have no need to hasten.”
Now and again, as the Dragon gained upon them, the Dragon’s horse cried to the Prince’s horse, “For Heaven’s sake, brother, wait a little. I shall burst if I have to chase you any longer.”
But the other answered, “What a fool you are to carry that demon upon your back! Rear up smartly and dash him upon the rocks, and come with me!”
When the Dragon’s horse heard this he ducked his head with all his might, and, throwing out his hind legs, he flung the Dragon upon the rocks, where he was dashed to fragments. Then the Dragon’s horse joined the fugitives, the Empress mounted him, and so they went safely home to their own empire, and reigned there until their dying day.
“I like Vilas very much, mother’s-mother,” said the little boy. “Can you tell any more Vila stories?”
“Father says we are going home to-morrow,” said the little boy’s mother, who had long ago finished the housework and was sitting there with her knitting.