'Alas!' said the man, 'my wife says I ought to have kept you and wished
something from you. She does not want to live any longer in the hut; she
would like a cottage.'
'Go home, then,' said the flounder; 'she has it.'
So the man went home, and there was his wife no longer in the hut, but
in its place was a beautiful cottage, and his wife was sitting in front
of the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said to him, 'Come
inside, and see if this is not much better.' They went in, and inside
the cottage was a tiny hall, and a beautiful sitting-room, and a bedroom
in which stood a bed, a kitchen and a dining-room all furnished with the
best of everything, and fitted up with every kind of tin and copper
utensil. And outside was a little yard in which were chickens and ducks,
and also a little garden with vegetables and fruit trees.
'See,' said the wife, 'isn't this nice?'
'Yes,' answered her husband; 'here we shall remain and live very
happily.'
'We will think about that,' said his wife.
With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went well
for a week or a fortnight, then the wife said:
'Listen, husband; the cottage is much too small, and so is the yard and
the garden; the flounder might just as well have sent us a larger house.
I should like to live in a great stone castle. Go down to the flounder,
and tell him to send us a castle.'
'Ah, wife!' said the fisherman, 'the cottage is quite good enough; why
do we choose to live in a castle?'
'Why?' said the wife. 'You go down; the flounder can quite well do
that.'
'No, wife,' said the man; 'the flounder gave us the cottage. I do not
like to go to him again; he might take it amiss.'
'Go,' said his wife. 'He can certainly give it us, and ought to do so
willingly. Go at once.'
The fisherman's heart was very heavy, and he did not like going. He said
to himself, 'It is not right.' Still, he went down.
When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark-blue, and
dull and thick, and no longer green and yellow, but it was still smooth.
So he stood there and said:
'Once a prince, but changed you be
Into a flounder in the sea.
Come! for my wife, Ilsebel,
Wishes what I dare not tell.'
'What does she want now?' said the flounder.
'Ah!' said the fisherman, half-ashamed, 'she wants to live in a great
stone castle.'
'Go home; she is standing before the door,' said the flounder.
The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When he came
near, there stood a great stone palace, and his wife was standing on the
steps, about to enter. She took him by the hand and said, 'Come inside.'
Then he went with her, and inside the castle was a large hall with a
marble floor, and there were heaps of servants who threw open the great
doors, and the walls were covered with beautiful tapestry, and in the
apartments were gilded chairs and tables, and crystal chandeliers hung
from the ceiling, and all the rooms were beautifully carpeted. The best
of food and drink also was set before them when they wished to dine. And
outside the house was a large courtyard with horse and cow stables and a
coach-house--all fine buildings; and a splendid garden with most
beautiful flowers and fruit, and in a park quite a league long were deer
and roe and hares, and everything one could wish for,
'Now,' said the wife, 'isn't this beautiful?'
'Yes, indeed,' said the fisherman. 'Now we will stay here and live in
this beautiful castle, and be very happy.'
'We will consider the matter,' said his wife, and they went to bed.
The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak, and looked out of
the bed at the beautiful country stretched before her. Her husband was
still sleeping, so she dug her elbows into his side and said:
'Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become the
king of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we choose to
be king.'
'Ah, wife!' replied her husband, 'why should we be king? _I_ don't want
to be king.'
'Well,' said his wife, 'if you don't want to be king, _I_ will be king.
Go down to the flounder; I will be king.'
'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'why do you want to be king? I can't
ask him that.'
'And why not?' said his wife. 'Go down at once. I must be king.'
So the fisherman went, though much vexed that his wife wanted to be
king. 'It is not right! It is not right,' he thought. He did not wish to
go, yet he went.
When he came to the sea, the water was a dark-grey colour, and it was
heaving against the shore. So he stood and said:
'Once a prince, but changed you be
Into a flounder in the sea.
Come! for my wife, Ilsebel,
Wishes what I dare not tell.'
'What does she want now?' asked the flounder.
'Alas!' said the fisherman, 'she wants to be king.'
'Go home; she is that already,' said the flounder.
The fisherman went home, and when he came near the palace he saw that it
had become much larger, and that it had great towers and splendid
ornamental carving on it. A sentinel was standing before the gate, and
there were numbers of soldiers with kettledrums and trumpets. And when
he went into the palace, he found everything was of pure marble and
gold, and the curtains of damask with tassels of gold. Then the doors of
the hall flew open, and there stood the whole Court round his wife, who
was sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a great
golden crown, and had a sceptre of gold and precious stones in her hand,
and by her on either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head
taller than the other. Then he went before her and said:
'Ah, wife! are you king now?'
'Yes,' said his wife; 'now I am king.'
He stood looking at her, and when he had looked for some time, he said:
'Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king! Now we have nothing
more to wish for.'
'Nay, husband,' said his wife restlessly, 'my wishing powers are
boundless; I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the flounder;
king I am, now I must be emperor.'
'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'why do you want to be emperor?'
'Husband,' said she, 'go to the flounder; I _will_ be emperor.'
'Ah, wife,' he said, 'he cannot make you emperor; I don't like to ask
him that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom. Indeed and indeed he
cannot make you emperor.'
'What!' said his wife. 'I am king, and you are my husband. Will you go
at once? Go! If he can make king he can make emperor, and emperor I must
and will be. Go!'
So he had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened, and he
thought to himself, 'This can't be right; to be emperor is too
ambitious; the flounder will be tired out at last.'
Thinking this he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and thick,
and it was breaking high on the beach; the foam was flying about, and
the wind was blowing; everything looked bleak. The fisherman was chilled
with fear. He stood and said:
'Once a prince, but changed you be
Into a flounder in the sea.
Come! for my wife, Ilsebel,
Wishes what I dare not tell.'
'What does she want now?' asked the flounder.
'Alas! flounder,' he said, 'my wife wants to be emperor.'
'Go home,' said the flounder; 'she is that already.'
So the fisherman went home, and when he came there he saw the whole
castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with alabaster statues
and gold. Before the gate soldiers were marching, blowing trumpets and
beating drums. Inside the palace were walking barons, counts, and dukes,
acting as servants; they opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And
when he entered, he saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a
single block of gold, and which was quite six cubits high. She had on a
great golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliants
and sparkling gems. In one hand she held a sceptre, and in the other the
imperial globe, and on either side of her stood two rows of halberdiers,
each smaller than the other, from a seven-foot giant to the tiniest
little dwarf no higher than my little finger. Many princes and dukes
were standing before her. The fisherman went up to her quietly and said:
'Wife, are you emperor now?'
'Yes,' she said, 'I am emperor.'
He stood looking at her magnificence, and when he had watched her for
some time, said:
'Ah, wife, let that be enough, now that you are emperor.'
'Husband,' said she, 'why are you standing there? I am emperor now, and
I want to be pope too; go down to the flounder.'
'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, 'what more do you want? You cannot be
pope; there is only one pope in Christendom, and he cannot make you
that.'
'Husband,' she said, 'I _will_ be pope. Go down quickly; I must be pope
to-day.'
'No, wife,' said the fisherman; 'I can't ask him that. It is not right;
it is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope.'
'Husband, what nonsense!' said his wife. 'If he can make emperor, he can
make pope too. Go down this instant; I am emperor and you are my
husband. Will you be off at once?'
So he was frightened and went out; but he felt quite faint, and trembled
and shook, and his knees and legs began to give way under him. The wind
was blowing fiercely across the land, and the clouds flying across the
sky looked as gloomy as if it were night; the leaves were being blown
from the trees; the water was foaming and seething and dashing upon the
shore, and in the distance he saw the ships in great distress, dancing
and tossing on the waves. Still the sky was very blue in the middle,
although at the sides it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he
stood shuddering in anxiety, and said:
'Once a prince, but changed you be
Into a flounder in the sea.
Come! for my wife, Ilsebel,
Wishes what I dare not tell.'
'Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder.
'Alas!' said the fisherman, 'she wants to be pope.'
'Go home, then; she is that already,' said the flounder.
Then he went home, and when he came there he saw, as it were, a large
church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the people. The
interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of candles, and his
wife was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting on a much higher
throne, and she wore three great golden crowns. Round her were numbers
of Church dignitaries, and on either side were standing two rows of
tapers, the largest of them as tall as a steeple, and the smallest as
tiny as a Christmas-tree candle. All the emperors and kings were on
their knees before her, and were kissing her foot.
'Wife,' said the fisherman looking at her, 'are you pope now?'
'Yes,' said she; 'I am pope.'
So he stood staring at her, and it was as if he were looking at the
bright sun. When he had watched her for some time he said:
'Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope.'
But she sat as straight as a tree, and did not move or bend the least
bit. He said again:
'Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become anything
more.'
'We will think about that,' said his wife.
With these words they went to bed. But the woman was not content; her
greed would not allow her to sleep, and she kept on thinking and
thinking what she could still become. The fisherman slept well and
soundly, for he had done a great deal that day, but his wife could not
sleep at all, and turned from one side to another the whole night long,
and thought, till she could think no longer, what more she could become.
Then the sun began to rise, and when she saw the red dawn she went to
the end of the bed and looked at it, and as she was watching the sun
rise, out of the window, she thought, 'Ha! could I not make the sun and
man rise?'
[Illustration]
'Husband,' said she, poking him in the ribs with her elbows, 'wake up.
Go down to the flounder; I will be a god.'
The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that he
fell out of bed. He thought he had not heard aright, and opened his eyes
wide and said:
'What did you say, wife?'
'Husband,' she said, 'if I cannot make the sun and man rise when I
appear I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can make
the sun and man rise.'
He looked at her in horror, and a shudder ran over him.
'Go down at once; I will be a god.'
[Illustration]
'Alas! wife,' said the fisherman, falling on his knees before her, 'the
flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope he can make you. I implore
you, be content and remain pope.'
Then she flew into a passion, her hair hung wildly about her face, she
pushed him with her foot and screamed:
'I am not contented, and I shall not be contented! Will you go?'
So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible, and ran away as if he
were mad.
But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand.
Houses and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being shaken,
and pieces of rock were rolling in the sea. The sky was as black as ink,
it was thundering and lightening, and the sea was tossing in great waves
as high as church towers and mountains, and each had a white crest of
foam.
So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice:
'Once a prince, but changed you be
Into a flounder in the sea.
Come! for my wife, Ilsebel,
Wishes what I dare not tell.'
'Well, what does she want now?' asked the flounder.
'Alas!' said he, 'she wants to be a god.'
'Go home, then; she is sitting again in the hut.'
And there they are sitting to this day.
Grimm.
_THE THREE MUSICIANS_
Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on their
travels. They had all learnt music from the same master, and they
determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in foreign lands.
They wandered merrily from place to place and made quite a good living,
and were much appreciated by everyone who heard them play. One evening
they came to a village where they delighted all the company with their
beautiful music. At last they ceased playing, and began to eat and drink
and listen to the talk that was going on around them. They heard all the
gossip of the place, and many wonderful things were related and
discussed. At last the conversation fell on a castle in the
neighbourhood, about which many strange and marvellous things were told.
One person said that hidden treasure was to be found there; another that
the richest food was always to be had there, although the castle was
uninhabited; and a third, that an evil spirit dwelt within the walls, so
terrible, that anyone who forced his way into the castle came out of it
more dead than alive.
As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they agreed
to go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, to find and
carry away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, to make the
attempt separately, one after the other, according to age, and they
settled that a whole day was to be given to each adventurer in which to
try his luck.
The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so in
the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the castle he
found the outer gate open, quite as if he were an expected guest, but no
sooner had he stepped across the entry than the heavy door closed behind
him with a bang, and was bolted with a huge iron bar, exactly as if a
sentinel were doing his office and keeping watch, but no human being was
to be seen anywhere. An awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was
hopeless to think of turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of
finding gold and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force
his way further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered,
through lofty halls, splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs,
everything beautifully arranged, and all kept in the most perfect order.
But the silence of death reigned everywhere, and no living thing, not
even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding, the youth felt his spirits
return to him when he entered the lower regions of the castle, for in
the kitchen the most tempting and delicious food was spread out, the
cellars were full of the most costly wine, and the store-room crammed
with pots of every sort of jam you can imagine. A cheerful fire was
burning in the kitchen, before which a roast was being basted by unseen
hands, and all kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being
prepared in like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think, he was
ushered into a little room by invisible hands, and there a table was
spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in the
kitchen.
The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it which
echoed through the silent halls, and then he fell to and began to eat a
hearty meal. Before long, however, the door opened and a tiny man
stepped into the room, not more than three feet high, clothed in a
dressing-gown, and with a small wrinkled face, and a grey beard which
reached down to the silver buckles of his shoes. And the little man sat
down beside the fiddler and shared his meal. When they got to the game
course the fiddler handed the dwarf a knife and fork, and begged him to
help himself first, and then to pass the dish on. The little creature
nodded, but helped himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat
he had carved on to the floor.
The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the twinkling
of an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and beat him till he
was black and blue all over his head and body. At last, when the fiddler
was nearly dead, the little wretch left off, and shoved the poor fellow
out of the iron gate which he had entered in such good spirits a few
hours before. The fresh air revived him a little, and in a short time he
was able to stagger with aching limbs back to the inn where his
companions were staying. It was night when he reached the place, and the
other two musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much
astonished at finding the fiddler in bed beside them, and overwhelmed
him with questions; but their friend hid his back and face, and answered
them very shortly, saying, 'Go there yourselves, and see what's to be
seen! It is a ticklish matter, that I can assure you.'
[Illustration]
The second musician, who was a trumpeter, now made his way to the
castle, and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the fiddler.
He was just as hospitably entertained at first, and then just as
cruelly beaten and belaboured, so that next morning he too lay in his
bed like a wounded hare, assuring his friends that the task of getting
into the haunted castle was no enviable one. Notwithstanding the warning
of his companions, the third musician, who played the flute, was still
determined to try his luck, and, full of courage and daring, he set out,
resolved, if possible, to find and secure the hidden treasure.
Fearlessly he wandered through the whole castle, and as he roamed
through the splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it
would be to live there always, especially with a full larder and cellar
at his disposal. A table was spread for him too, and when he had
wandered about for some time, singing and playing the flute, he sat
down as his companions had done, prepared to enjoy the delicious food
that was spread out in front of him. Then the little man with the beard
entered as before and seated himself beside the flute-player, who wasn't
the least startled at his appearance, but chatted away to him as if he
had known him all his life. But he didn't find his companion very
communicative. At last they came to the game, and, as usual, the little
man let his piece fall on the ground. The flute-player was
good-naturedly just going to pick it up, when he perceived that the
little dwarf was in the act of springing on his back. Then he turned
round sharply, and, seizing the little creature by his beard, he gave
him such a shaking that he tore his beard out, and the dwarf sank
groaning to the ground.
But as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so strong
that he was fit for anything, and he perceived all sorts of things in
the castle that he had not noticed before, but, on the other hand, all
strength seemed to have gone from the little man. He whined and sobbed
out: 'Give, oh give me my beard again, and I will instruct you in all
the magic art that surrounds this castle, and will help you to carry-off
the hidden treasure, which will make you rich and happy for ever.'
But the cunning flute-player replied: 'I will give you back your beard,
but you must first help me as you have promised to do. Till you have
done so, I don't let your beard out of my hands.'
Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfil his promise, though he
had had no intention of doing so, and had only desired to get his beard
back. He made the youth follow him through dark secret passages,
underground vaults, and grey rocks till at last they came to an open
field, which looked as if it belonged to a more beautiful world than
ours. Then they came to a stream of rushing water; but the little man
drew out a wand and touched the waves, whereupon the waters parted and
stood still, and the two crossed the river with dry feet. And how
beautiful everything on the other side was! lovely green paths leading
through woods and fields covered with flowers, birds with gold and
silver feathers singing on the trees, lovely butterflies and glittering
beetles fluttered and crawled about, and dear little beasts hid in the
bushes and hedges. The sky above them was not blue, but like rays of
pure gold, and the stars looked twice their usual size, and far more
brilliant than on our earth.
[Illustration]
The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man led him
into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one they had left.
Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They wandered all through the
castle, and came at last to a room in the middle of which stood a bed
hung all round with heavy curtains. Over the bed hung a bird's cage, and
the bird inside it was singing beautiful songs into the silent space.
The little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the
youth to approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold a
lovely maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with
golden hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond
crown sparkled on her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her in its
spell, and no noise seemed able to waken the sleeper.
Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: 'See, here
is the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This splendid castle
and this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds of years she has
slept this magic sleep, and during all that time no human being has been
able to find their way here. I alone have kept guard over her, and have
gone daily to my own castle to get food and to beat the greedy
gold-seekers who forced their way into my dwelling. I have watched over
the Princess carefully all these years and saw that no stranger came
near her, but all my magic power lay in my beard, and now that you have
taken it away I am helpless, and can no longer hold the beautiful
Princess in her enchanted sleep, but am forced to reveal my treasured
secret to you. So set to work and do as I tell you. Take the bird which
hangs over the Princess's head, and which by its song sang her into this
enchanted sleep--a song which it has had to continue ever since; take it
and kill it, and cut its little heart out and burn it to a powder, and
then put it into the Princess's mouth; then she will instantly awaken,
and will bestow on you her heart and hand, her kingdom and castle, and
all her treasures.
The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not wait long
to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and promptly, and
having cut the little bird's heart out he proceeded to make it into a
powder. No sooner had he placed it in the Princess's mouth than she
opened her lovely eyes, and, looking up into the happy youth's face, she
kissed him tenderly, thanked him for freeing her from her magic sleep,
and promised to be his wife. At the same moment a sound as of thunder
was heard all over the castle, and on all the staircases and in every
room sounds were to be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female,
flocked into the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing
the Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the castle
to their different occupations.
But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from the
youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an end of all
their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were once more on his
chin, he would be able to do what he liked with them all. But the clever
flute-player was quite a match for the little man in cunning, and said:
'All right, you needn't be afraid, you shall get your beard back before
we part; but you must allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on
your homeward way.'
The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went together
through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, and came at last
to the river which flowed for miles round the Princess's land and formed
the boundary of her kingdom. There was no bridge or ferry-boat to be
seen anywhere, and it was impossible to get over to the other side, for
the boldest swimmer would not have dared to brave the fierce current and
roaring waters. Then the youth said to the dwarf: 'Give me your wand in
order that I may part the waves.'
[Illustration]
And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth still
kept his beard from him; but the wicked little creature chuckled with
joy and thought to himself: 'The foolish youth will hand me my beard as
soon as we have crossed the river, and then my power will return, and I
will seize my wand and prevent them both ever returning to their
beautiful country.'
But the dwarf's wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. The
happy youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at once parted
and stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and crossed the stream.
No sooner had he done so than the waters closed behind him, and the
youth and his lovely bride stood safe on the other side. Then they threw
his beard to the old man across the river, but they kept his wand, so
that the wicked dwarf could never again enter their kingdom. So the
happy couple returned to their castle, and lived there in peace and
plenty for ever after. But the other two musicians waited in vain for
the return of their companion; and when he never came they said: 'Ah,
he's gone to play the flute,' till the saying passed into a proverb, and
was always said of anyone who set out to perform a task from which he
never returned.
Grimm.
_THE THREE DOGS_
There was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son and a
daughter. When he was on his death-bed he turned to them and said, 'I
have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small house; divide them
between you, as you like, but don't quarrel over them whatever you do.'
When the shepherd was dead, the brother asked his sister which she would
like best, the sheep or the little house; and when she had chosen the
house he said, 'Then I'll take the sheep and go out to seek my fortune
in the wide world. I don't see why I shouldn't be as lucky as many
another who has set out on the same search, and it wasn't for nothing
that I was born on a Sunday.'
And so he started on his travels, driving his three sheep in front of
him, and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn't mean to favour
him at all. One day he was sitting disconsolately at a cross road, when
a man suddenly appeared before him with three black dogs, each one
bigger than the other.
'Hullo, my fine fellow,' said the man, 'I see you have three fat sheep.
I'll tell you what; if you'll give them to me, I'll give you my three
dogs.'
In spite of his sadness, the youth smiled and replied, 'What would I do
with your dogs? My sheep at least feed themselves, but I should have to
find food for the dogs.'
'My dogs are not like other dogs,' said the stranger; 'they will feed
you instead of you them, and will make your fortune. The smallest one is
called "Salt," and will bring you food whenever you wish; the second is
called "Pepper," and will tear anyone to pieces who offers to hurt you;
and the great big strong one is called "Mustard," and is so powerful
that it will break iron or steel with its teeth.'
The shepherd at last let himself be persuaded, and gave the stranger his
sheep. In order to test the truth of his statement about the dogs, he
said at once, 'Salt, I am hungry,' and before the words were out of his
mouth the dog had disappeared, and returned in a few minutes with a
large basket full of the most delicious food. Then the youth
congratulated himself on the bargain he had made, and continued his
journey in the best of spirits.
[Illustration]
One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the
horses were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was clothed
in crape from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a
black dress crying bitterly. The horses advanced slowly and mournfully,
with their heads bent on the ground.
'Coachman, what's the meaning of all this grief?' asked the shepherd.
At first the coachman wouldn't say anything, but when the youth pressed
him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighbourhood, and
required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden. This year the lot
had fallen on the King's daughter, and the whole country was filled with
woe and lamentation in consequence.
The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined to
follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a high
mountain. The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to meet her
terrible fate. The coachman perceived that the shepherd wished to follow
her, and warned him not to do so if he valued his life; but the shepherd
wouldn't listen to his advice. When they had climbed about half-way up
the hill they saw a terrible-looking monster with the body of a snake,
and with huge wings and claws, coming towards them, breathing forth
flames of fire, and preparing to seize its victim. Then the shepherd
called, 'Pepper, come to the rescue,' and the second dog set upon the
dragon, and after a fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that
the monster rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last. Then
the dog ate up the body, all except its two front teeth, which the
shepherd picked up and put in his pocket.
The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell fainting
at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her consciousness she
begged the shepherd to return with her to her father, who would reward
him richly. But the youth answered that he wanted to see something of
the world, and that he would return again in three years, and nothing
would make him change this resolve. The Princess seated herself once
more in her carriage, and, bidding each other farewell, she and the
shepherd separated, she to return home, and he to see the world.
But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage suddenly
stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and said, 'Your
deliverer has gone, and doesn't thank you for your gratitude. It would
be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy; therefore you may tell your
father that it was I who slew the dragon, and if you refuse to, I will
throw you into the river, and no one will be any the wiser, for they
will think the dragon has devoured you.'
The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but there
was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give out the
coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret to anyone. So
they returned to the capital, and everyone was delighted when they saw
the Princess had returned unharmed; the black flags were taken down from
all the palace towers, and gay-coloured ones put up in their place, and
the King embraced his daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of
joy, and, turning to the coachman, he said, 'You have not only saved the
life of my child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible
scourge; therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly
rewarded. Take, therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she is
still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for another year.'
The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then led
away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and graces that
befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept bitterly, though
she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone. When the year was over,
she begged so hard for another year's respite that it was granted to
her. But this year passed also, and she threw herself at her father's
feet, and begged so piteously for one more year that the King's heart
was melted, and he yielded to her request, much to the Princess's joy,
for she knew that her real deliverer would appear at the end of the
third year. And so the year passed away like the other two, and the
wedding-day was fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and
make merry.
But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the town with
three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the feasting and fuss
was, and they told him that the King's daughter was just going to be
married to the man who had slain the terrible dragon. The stranger at
once denounced the coachman as a liar; but no one would listen to him,
and he was seized and thrown into a cell with iron doors.
[Illustration]
While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on his
fate, he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside; then an
idea dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he could, 'Mustard,
come to my help,' and in a second he saw the paws of his biggest dog at
the window of his cell, and before he could count two the creature had
bitten through the iron bars and stood beside him. Then they both let
themselves out of the prison by the window, and the poor youth was free
once more, though he felt very sad when he thought that another was to
enjoy the reward that rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, so
he called his dog 'Salt,' and asked him to bring home some food. The
faithful creature trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin
full of the most delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered
with a kingly crown.
The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his
Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess's hand in an
appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast, and
bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up her
courage and told her father the whole story. The King at once sent a
servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger was led into
the King's presence. The former coachman grew as white as a sheet when
he saw the shepherd, and, falling on his knees, begged for mercy and
pardon. The Princess recognised her deliverer at once, and did not need
the proof of the two dragon's teeth which he drew from his pocket. The
coachman was thrown into a dark dungeon, and the shepherd took his place
at the Princess's side, and this time, you may be sure, she did not beg
for the wedding to be put off.
The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness, when
suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his poor
sister and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her share in
his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her, and soon she
arrived at the court, and found herself once more in her brother's arms.
Then one of the dogs spoke and said, 'Our task is done; you have no more
need of us. We only waited to see that you did not forget your sister in
your prosperity.' And with these words the three dogs became three birds
and flew away into the heavens.
Grimm.
Spottiswoode & Co. Ltd., Printers, New-street Square, London.
=Transcriber's Notes:=
Page 31, "Are you here?" changed to "Are you here?'"
Page 47, "such beautifu things" changed to "such beautiful things"
Page 78, "for your good." changed to "for your good.'"
Page 81, "cannot tell you." changed to "cannot tell you.'"
Page 108, "I would have" changed to "It would have"
Page 113, "Leaty Palace" changed to "Leafy Palace"
Page 126, "the direction he" changed to "the directions he"
Page 129, "'Hi. good dog!'" changed to "'Hi, good dog!'"
Page 155, "rests with mo" changed to "rests with me"
Page 181, "finished John" changed to "finished John."
Page 191, "you wont forget" changed to "you won't forget"
Page 205, "before him. so" changed to "before him, so"
Page 210, "to be sure," changed to "to be sure,'"
Page 211, "they wont be" changed to "they won't be"
Page 219, "replied, Very well" changed to "replied, 'Very well"
Page 222, "thought Prince Milan." changed to "thought Prince Milan,"
Page 229, "house was changed" changed to "house was changed."
Page 234, "as herd girl" changed to "as herd-girl"
Page 251, "IN MY CHAIR!" changed to "IN MY CHAIR!'"
Page 277, "a women beside" changed to "a woman beside"
Page 326, "the man, I've" changed to "the man, 'I've"
Page 347, "is yours. The" changed to "is yours.' The"