Then the fox stretched out his tail, the king’s son seated himself upon it, and away they went over stock and stone, so that the wind whistled through their hair.  And when he came to the golden castle all was as the fox had said.  He waited until midnight, when all lay in deep sleep, and then as the beautiful princess went to the bathing-house he went up to her and gave her a kiss, and she willingly promised to go with him, but she begged him earnestly, and with tears, that he would let her first go and take leave of her parents.  At first he denied her prayer, but as she wept so much the more, and fell at his feet, he gave in at last.  And no sooner had the princess reached her father’s bedside than he, and all who were in the castle, waked up and the young man was seized and thrown into prison.

The next morning the king said to him: 

“Thy life is forfeit, but thou shalt find grace if thou canst level that mountain that lies before my windows, and over which I am not able to see; and if this is done within eight days thou shalt have my daughter for a reward.”

So the king’s son set to work and dug and shoveled away without ceasing, but when, on the seventh day, he saw how little he had accomplished, and that all his work was as nothing, he fell into great sadness and gave up all hope.  But on the evening of the seventh day the fox appeared and said: 

“You do not deserve that I should help you, but go now and lie down to sleep and I will do the work for you.”

The next morning when he awoke and looked out of the window the mountain had disappeared.  The young man hastened full of joy to the king and told him that his behest was fulfilled, and, whether the king liked it or not, he had to keep his word and let his daughter go.

So they both went away together, and it was not long before the faithful fox came up to them.

“Well, you have got the best first,” said he, “but you must know that the golden horse belongs to the princess of the golden castle.”

“But how shall I get it?” asked the young man.

“I am going to tell you,” answered the fox.  “First, go to the king who sent you to the golden castle and take to him the beautiful princess.  There will then be very great rejoicing.  He will willingly give you the golden horse, and they will lead him out to you; then mount him without delay and stretch out your hand to each of them to take leave, and last of all to the princess, and when you have her by the hand swing her upon the horse behind you and off you go!  Nobody will be able to overtake you, for that horse goes swifter than the wind.”

And so it was all happily done, and the king’s son carried off the beautiful princess on the golden horse.  The fox did not stay behind, and he said to the young man: 

“Now, I will help you to get the golden bird.  When you draw near the castle where the bird is let the lady alight, and I will take her under my care; then you must ride the golden horse into the castle yard, and there will be great rejoicing to see it, and they will bring out to you the golden bird; as soon as you have the cage in your hand you must start off back to us, and then you shall carry the lady away.”