Break-of-Day stretched up and tried to pluck some leaves from the tree, but he couldn't. The hairs from the horses' manes were growing through them. "But where then are the horses?"

      "They are under the ground. Their stables lie at the end of the roots." Break-of-Day seized the trunk of a tree and tried to pull it up, but his feet sank into the ground. The Black Arab also pulled but his feet sank in as well.

      "Let us pull together, dear brother."

      Each of them took hold of one of the green trunks and when they pulled together, they drew out the trees with so much earth and stones round the roots, that all the land about was full of hills and rocks, and you can see them in Moldavia to this day.

      When this was done, Black Arab said to Break-of-Day: "Now go down, and go without fear. If you hear any horses neighing and kicking, don't be afraid, because they are waiting for somebody to take them out, and they are fretting with impatience. As soon as you come to the bottom, seize the two horses by the mane and pull them out. But by no means touch their bridles or saddles, or a great misfortune will come upon us."

      "I shall do as you say, dear brother."

      When Break-of-Day got down below he heard some horses neighing and the thunder of stamping hooves. But the brave lad took courage and went further, and there he saw two powerful horses of such indescribable beauty, as nobody had ever seen before. Beside them were their bridles and their saddles. They were decorated so marvellously with pure gold and silver, that the prince was charmed.

      "How can I leave such fine bridles and saddles behind?" said Break-of-Day to himself, and began to harness the horses.

      Then the gold and the silver ornaments began to shake and ring like bells. The ringing woke up the Tartar, prince of the underworld. When he saw what the brave lad was doing, he seized him by the scruff of the neck at once.

      "How did you dare to break into my stable? Why have you uprooted my trees?"

      The Tartar got in such a rage that in less time than it takes to fell he swallowed Break-of-Day, and kept him inside for a whole week. At the end of the week he let him out asking: "Well, how do you feel?" "Not bad? I am glad, that I am alive!"

      "So am I, because now I have someone to give a task to. For years I have been trying to take Ilyana Kosinzyana as my bride, but I have failed up till now. If you bring her to me, I'll present you with the horses, along with the bridles and the saddles, and you'll be free to go out into the wide world again."

      Break-of-Day agreed, and came up on the earth, and met the Black Arab.

      "Again you haven't taken notice of my words." "Again, dear brother."

      "Well, never mind," said the Black Arab pressing him to his bosom and kissing him glad to see him alive.

      "The Tartar has told me not to return to his kingdom without Ilyana Kosinzyana."

      "Then mount me and let us set out, as .we have a lot of difficulties and troubles ahead."

      "I can't, brother Arab, my strength has given out," answered Break-of-Day and began to sob and moan.

      When the Black Arab saw that Break-of-Day was so weak he was very grieved. He took his sword, cut a vein in his left arm, and gave Break-of-Day some of his blood to drink. "How do you feel now?" "I feel stronger than ever." "Well, then mount me and let us start."

      Break-of-Day bestrode him and rode for a very long time until he came to the border of Ilyana Kosinzyana's realm.

      "Brother Break-of-Day, try and step over the border with only one foot."

      Break-of-Day stepped over and his foot sank into the ground. "If there is no support, don't dare to step any further or otherwise all will be lost. Do as I tell you this time, not as you think. Let's make a proper road and then we'll proceed."

      The Black Arab went up to the mountains and found some rocks, took up a whole armful, carried them to the border, and together they paved a stone, road up to Ilyana Kosinzyana's palace.

      "Now you can go. I should like to go with you, but I am under a curse, and may not put my foot in her palace, so you'll have to do everything yourself. Be careful to do as I tell you, and follow my advice or we shall be in trouble again."

      "I shall do just as you tell me, dear brother."

      "When you cross the border, you'll meet twelve maidens with twelve bands playing, and they'll do their best to entice you to take them with you. Pretend that you haven't seen them and go on further. Near the palace you'll find a silk kerchief fringed with gold all around. You are not to touch it, or the kerchief will start up a storm, and will wake the guard. You go straight into the palace as a brave lad should do, and take Ilyana Kosinzyana by the hand, while she is sleeping. When she wakes she'll go with you wherever you'll tell her. Well, off you go, and do as I've told you."