His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had long wished to see something of the world. They made ready for their journey with all haste, bade their father farewell and left the town.

The youngest prince was disappointed that he too was not sent out on his travels, but his father would not hear of his going, for he had always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family. The king was afraid of something happening to him. But the prince begged and implored so long, that at last his father consented. He furnished him with gold and silver as he had his brothers. But he gave him the most wretched horse from his stable, because the foolish youth had not asked for a better. So he too set out, amid the jeers and laughter of the court and town.

His path led him first through a wood, and before long he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. The prince asked him if he were hungry. When the wolf said he was, he got down from his horse and said, "If you are really as you say and look, you may take my horse and eat it."

The wolf did not wait to have the other repeated but soon made an end of the poor beast. When the prince saw how different the wolf looked after he had finished his meal, he said to him, "Now, my friend, I have such a long way to go, and with the best will in the world, I couldn't manage it on foot. The least you can do is to act as my horse and take me on your back."

"Most certainly," said the wolf, and letting the prince mount him, he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a little way he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to go. The prince told him the story of the golden apples. When he had finished, the wolf, who was in reality no wolf but a mighty magician, said he thought he could tell the prince who the thief was and help him capture him.

"There lives, in a neighboring country," he said, "a mighty emperor who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage. This is the creature who steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast it is impossible to catch it at its theft. You must slip into the emperor's palace by night and steal the bird with the cage. Be very careful not to touch the walls as you go out."

The following night the prince stole into the emperor's palace and found the bird in its cage as the wolf had said he would. In spite of all his caution he touched the wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They awoke at once and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains. Next day he was led before the emperor, who at once condemned him to be thrown into a dark dungeon till the day of his execution.

The wolf, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had happened to the prince. He now turned himself into a mighty monarch with a large train of followers and proceeded to the court of the emperor, where he was received with every show of honor. The emperor and he conversed on many subjects, and among other things the stranger asked his host if he had many slaves. The emperor told him he had more than he knew what to do with, and that a new one had been captured that very night for trying to steal his magic bird. As he had already more than enough to feed and support, he was going to have this last captive hanged the next morning.

"He must have been a most daring thief," said the monarch, "to try and steal the magic bird, for depend upon it, the creature must have been well guarded. I would really like to see this bold rascal."

"By all means," said the emperor. And he himself led his guest down to the dungeon where the unfortunate prince was kept prisoner. When the emperor stepped out of the cell with him, the monarch turned to him, and said: "Most mighty Emperor, I have been much disappointed. I had thought to find a powerful robber; instead I have seen the most miserable creature I can imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I had to sentence him I should make him perform some difficult task, under pain of death. If he did it, so much the better for you, and if he didn't, matters would be as they are now and he could still be hanged."

"Your counsel," said the emperor, "is excellent, and as it happens, I have the very thing for him to do. My nearest neighbor, who is also a mighty emperor, possesses a golden horse which he guards most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to steal this horse and bring it to me."

The prince was then told his life would be spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to the emperor. He did not feel elated at this announcement, for he did not know how in the world to set about the task, and he started on his way, wondering what had made him leave his father's house and kingdom. But before he had gone far his friend the wolf stood before him, and said: "Dear Prince, why are you so cast down? You did not succeed in catching the bird, but don't let that discourage you. This time you will be all the more careful and will doubtless catch the horse."

With these and like words the wolf comforted the prince and warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the horse touch it as he led it out, or he would fail in the same way as he had with the bird.

After a somewhat lengthy journey the prince and the wolf came to the kingdom ruled over by the emperor who possessed the golden horse. One late evening,they reached the capital, and the wolf advised the prince to set to work at once, before their presence in the city aroused the watchfulness of the guards. They slipped unnoticed into the emperor's stables and into the very place where there were the most guards, for there the wolf rightly surmised they would find the horse.

When they came to a certain inner door the wolf told the prince to remain outside, while he went in. In a short time he returned and said, "My dear Prince, the horse is most securely watched, but I have bewitched all the guards, and if you will only be careful not to touch the wall yourself, or let the horse touch it as you go out, there is no danger and the game is yours."

The prince made up his mind to be more than cautious this time. He found all the guards fast asleep, and slipping into the horse's stall, he seized it by the bridle and led it out. But unfortunately, before they were quite clear of the stables, a gadfly stung the horse causing it to switch its tail, whereby it touched the wall. In a moment all the guards awoke, seized the prince and beat him mercilessly with their whips, after which they bound him with chains and flung him into a dungeon. Next morning they brought him before the emperor, who treated him exactly as the king with the golden bird had done, and commanded that he be beheaded on the following day.

When the wolf-magician saw the prince had failed this time too, he transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with an even more gorgeous retinue to the court of the emperor. He was courteously received and entertained, and once more he led the conversation to the subject of slaves, and asked to see the bold robber who dared to break into the emperor's stable. The emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had before at the court of the emperor with the golden bird. The prisoner's life was to be spared only on condition that within three days he should obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom no mortal had ever approached.

Depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the prince left his gloomy prison. But to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf before he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature pretended he knew nothing of what had happened, and asked how he had fared with the horse. The prince told him all about his misadventure and the condition on which the emperor had promised to spare his life. Then the wolf said if he would only trust in him and do exactly what he told him, he would certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon they bent their steps toward the sea, which stretched out before them as far as their eyes could see, the waves dancing and glittering in the bright sunshine.

"Now," continued the wolf, "I am going to turn myself into a boat full of beautiful silken merchandise. You must jump boldly into the boat and steer with my tail in your hand, right out to the open sea. You will soon come upon the golden mermaid. Whatever you do, don't follow her if she calls you, but on the contrary say to her, 'The buyer comes to the seller, not the seller to the buyer.' After which you must steer toward the land and she will follow you, for she won't be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on board your ship."

The prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, whereupon the wolf changed himself into a ship full of the most exquisite silks, of every shade and color imaginable. The astonished prince stepped into the boat and, holding the wolf's tail in his hand, steered boldly out into the open sea, where the sun was gilding the blue waves with its golden rays. Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship, beckoning and calling to him to follow her. But mindful of the wolf's warning, he told her that if she wished to buy anything she must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round and steered back toward the land.

The mermaid called out to him to stand still, but he refused to listen and never paused till he reached the shore. Here he stopped and waited for the mermaid. When she drew near the boat he saw she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had ever beheld. She swam round the ship for some time, and then swung herself gracefully on board. Then the prince seized her in his arms, and kissing her tenderly on the cheeks and lips, he told her she was his forever. At the same moment the boat turned into a wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that she clung to the prince for protection.

So the golden mermaid was successfully caught and she soon felt quite happy when she saw she had nothing to fear either from the prince or the wolf. She rode on the wolf's back, and the prince rode behind her. When they reached the country ruled over by the emperor with the golden horse, the prince jumped down and, helping the mermaid to alight, led her before the emperor. At the sight of the beautiful mermaid and of the grim wolf, who stuck close to the prince this time, the guards all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three stood before his imperial majesty. When the emperor heard from the prince how he had gained possession of his fair prize, he knew at once that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot gave up all claim to the beautiful mermaid.

"Dear youth," he said, "forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and as a sign that you pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge your power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have succeeded in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal has ever been able to approach."

Then they all sat down to a great feast, and the prince had to relate his adventures all over again, to the wonder and astonishment of the whole company. But the prince was anxious to return to his own kingdom, so as soon as the feast was over he took farewell of the emperor and set out on his homeward-way. He lifted the mermaid on to the golden horse and swung himself up behind her. And so they rode on merrily with the wolf trotting behind, till they came to the country of the emperor with the golden bird. The renown of the prince and his adventures had gone before him, and the emperor sat on his throne eagerly awaiting the arrival of the prince and his companions.

When the three rode into the courtyard of the palace they were surprised and delighted to find everything festively illuminated for their reception. When the prince and the golden mermaid, with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps of the palace, the emperor came forward to meet them and led them to the throne room. At the same moment a servant appeared with the golden bird in its golden cage, and the emperor begged the prince to accept it and forgive the indignity he had suffered at his hands. Then the emperor bent low before the beautiful mermaid and, offering her his arm, led her in to dinner, closely followed by the prince and his friend, the wolf, who seating himself at table, was not the least embarrassed that no one had invited him.

As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the prince and his mermaid took leave of the emperor and, seating themselves on the golden horse, continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf turned to the prince and said: "Dear friends, I must now bid you farewell, but I leave you under such happy circumstances I cannot feel our parting is a sad one."

The prince was very unhappy when he heard these words and begged the wolf to stay with them always. But this the good creature refused to do, though he thanked the prince kindly for his invitation and called out as he disappeared into the thicket: "Should any evil befall you, dear Prince, you may rely on my friendship and gratitude."

These were the wolf's parting words, and the prince could not restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the distance. But one glance at his beloved mermaid cheered him up again, and they continued on their journey merrily.

The news of the prince's adventures had already reached his father's court, and everyone was astonished at the success of the once despised prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain sought the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their younger brother's good fortune and plotted against him.

They hid themselves in the wood through which the prince must pass on his way to the palace, and having beaten him to death, they carried off the golden horse and the golden bird. But nothing would persuade the golden mermaid to go with them or move from the spot. Since she had left the sea, she had become so attached to her prince she asked nothing else than to live or die with him.

For many weeks the poor mermaid watched over the dead body of her prince, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one day their old friend the wolf appeared, and said, "Cover the prince's body with all the leaves and flowers you can find in the wood."

She did as he told her, and then the wolf breathed over the flowery grave, and, to and behold! The prince lay sleeping as peacefully as a child.

"Now you may wake him if you like," said the wolf. And the mermaid bent over him and gently kissed the wounds on his forehead, and the prince awoke. How delighted he was to find his beautiful mermaid beside him, though he was grieved over the loss of the golden bird and the golden horse. After a time the wolf, who had likewise embraced the prince, advised them to continue their journey, and once more the prince and his lovely bride mounted on the faithful beast's back.

The king's joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the beautiful golden mermaid most cordially, too, and the prince was made to tell his adventures from the beginning. The poor old father grew very sad when he heard of the shameful conduct of his elder sons and had them called before him. They turned as white as death when they saw their brother, standing beside them alive and well, and so startled were they when the king asked them why they had behaved so wickedly to their brother, they could think of no lie, but confessed at once they had slain the young prince to obtain possession of the golden horse and the golden bird.