` We must hurry , ' said the horse . After they had galloped for some time , the horse said again : ` Look behind , and see if he is still at some distance . ' ` He is quite close , ' answered the prince . ` Then throw the looking-glass on the ground , ' said the horse . So the prince threw it ; and when the magician came up , the roan horse stepped on the mirror , and crash ! his foot went through the glass , and he stumbled and fell , cutting his feet so badly that there was nothing for the old man to do but to go slowly back with him to the stables , and put new shoes on his feet . Then they started once more in pursuit of the prince , for the magician set great value on the horse , and was determined not to lose it . In the meanwhile the prince had gone a great distance ; but the quick ears of the black horse detected the sound of following feet from afar . ` Dismount , ' he said to the prince ; ` put your ear to the ground , and tell me if you do not hear a sound . ' So the prince dismounted and listened . ' I seem to hear the earth tremble , ' he said ; ' I think he can not be very far off . ' ` Mount me at once , ' answered the horse , ` and I will gallop as fast as I can . ' And he set off so fast that the earth seemed to fly from under his hoofs . ` Look back once more , ' he said , after a short time , ` and see if he is in sight . ' ' I see a cloud and a flame , ' answered the prince ; ` but a long way off . ' ` We must make haste , ' said the horse . And shortly after he said : ` Look back again ; he ca n't be far off now . ' The prince turned in his saddle , and exclaimed : ` He is close behind us , in a minute the flame from his horse 's nostrils will reach us . ' ` Then throw the brush on the ground , ' said the horse . And the prince threw it , and in an instant the brush was changed into such a thick wood that even a bird could not have got through it , and when the old man got up to it the roan horse came suddenly to a stand-still , not able to advance a step into the thick tangle .
So there was XXXXX for the magician to do but to retrace his steps , to fetch an axe , with which he cut himself a way through the wood .
brush ear glass haste hoofs magician nothing time way wood