Iwanich put the fox 's hairs with the scale and the feather , and as it was getting dark he hastened home with his horses . In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end , and in three more days the year was up , and he would be able to get his reward and leave the witch . On the first evening of these last three days , when he came home and was eating his supper , he noticed the old woman stealing into the stables . The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do . He crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch telling the horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep , and then to go and hide themselves in the river , and to stay there till she told them to return ; and if they did n't do as she told them the old woman threatened to beat them till they bled . When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room , determined that nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day . On the following morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as usual , but bound a cord round them both which he kept in his hand . But after a few hours , by the magic arts of the old witch , he was overpowered by sleep , and the mare and foal escaped and did as they had been told to do . The Prince did not awake till late in the evening ; and when he did , he found , to his horror , that the horses had disappeared . Filled with despair , he cursed the moment when he had entered the service of the cruel witch , and already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp spike beside the others . Then he suddenly remembered the fish 's scale , which , with the eagle 's feather and the fox 's hairs , he always carried about with him . He drew the scale from his pocket , and hurrying to the river he threw it in . In a minute the grateful fish swam towards the bank on which Iwanich was standing , and said : ` What do you command , my friend and benefactor ? ' The Prince replied : ' I had to look after a mare and foal , and they have run away from me and have hidden themselves in the river ; if you wish to save my life drive them back to the land . ' ` Wait a moment , ' answered the fish , ` and I and my friends will soon drive them out of the water . ' With these words the creature disappeared into the depths of the stream . Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the waters , the waves dashed against the banks , the foam was tossed into the air , and the two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry land , trembling and shaking with fear . Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare 's back , seized the foal by its bridle , and hastened home in the highest spirits . When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could hardly conceal her wrath , and as soon as she had placed Iwanich 's supper before him she stole away again to the stables . The Prince followed her , and heard her scolding the beasts harshly for not having hidden themselves better .
She bade them wait next XXXXX till Iwanich was asleep and then to hide themselves in the clouds , and to remain there till she called .
despair hairs horror moment morning sleep sound spike supper waters