When she is seated I shall begin to neigh and kick , and you must say that I have never carried a woman before , and that you had better get up behind so as to be able to manage me . Once on my back we will go like the wind to the king 's palace . ' Jose did exactly as the horse told him , and everything fell out as the animal prophesied ; so that it was not until they were galloping breathlessly towards the palace that the princess knew that she was taken captive . She said nothing , however , but quietly opened her apron which contained the bran for the chickens , and in a moment it lay scattered on the ground . ` Oh , I have let fall my bran ! ' cried she ; ` please get down and pick it up for me . ' But Jose only answered : ` We shall find plenty of bran where we are going . ' And the horse galloped on . They were now passing through a forest , and the princess took out her handkerchief and threw it upwards , so that it stuck in one of the topmost branches of a tree . ` Dear me ; how stupid ! I have let my handkerchief blow away , ' said she . ` Will you climb up and get it for me ? ' But Jose answered : ` We shall find plenty of handkerchiefs where we are going . ' And the horse galloped on . After the wood they reached a river , and the princess slipped a ring off her finger and let it roll into the water . ` How careless of me , ' gasped she , beginning to sob . ' I have lost my favourite ring ; DO stop for a moment and look if you can see it . ' But Jose answered : ` You will find plenty of rings where you are going . ' And the horse galloped on . At last they entered the palace gates , and the king 's heart bounded with joy at beholding his beloved Princess Bella-Flor .
But the XXXXX brushed him aside as if he had been a fly , and locked herself into the nearest room , which she would not open for all his entreaties .
back everything finger ground handkerchief palace princess ring river woman