047-第2章

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followed　behind。　　It　was　not　long　before　a　wolf　strode　out　of　the
thicket。　　The　huntsmen　made　ready　to　shoot　him；　but　the　wolf　cried；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

The　huntsman　put　the　two　wolves　beside　the　other　animals；　and　they
followed　behind　them。　　Then　a　bear　came　who　wanted　to　trot　about　a
little　longer；　and　cried；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

The　two　young　bears　were　added　to　the　others；　and　there　were　already
eight　of　them。　　Then　who　should　come。　　A　lion　came；　and　tossed　his
mane。　　But　the　huntsmen　did　not　let　themselves　be　frightened　and
aimed　at　him　likewise；　but　the　lion　also　said；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

And　he　brought　his　little　ones　to　them；　and　now　the　huntsmen　had　two
lions；　two　bears；　two　wolves；　two　foxes；　and　two　hares；　who　followed
them　and　served　them。　　In　the　meantime　their　hunger　was　not　appeased
by　this；　and　they　said　to　the　foxes；　listen　you　sneakers；　provide　us
with　something　to　eat。　　You　are　crafty　and　cunning。　　They　replied；
not　far　from　here　lies　a　village；　from　which　we　have　already　brought
many　a　fowl。　　We　will　show　you　the　way　there。　　So　they　went　into　the
village；　bought　themselves　something　to　eat；　had　some　food　given　to
their　beasts；　and　then　traveled　onwards。　　The　foxes　knew　their　way
very　well　about　the　district　and　where　the　poultry…yards　were；　and
were　were　able　to　guide　the　huntsmen。

Now　they　traveled　about　for　a　while；　but　could　find　no　situation
where　they　could　remain　together；　so　they　said；　there　is　nothing　else
for　it；　we　must　part。　　They　divided　the　animals；　so　that　each　of　them
had　a　lion；　a　bear；　a　wolf；　a　fox；　and　a　hare；　then　they　took　leave
of　each　other；　promised　to　love　each　other　like　brothers　till　their
death；　and　stuck　the　knife　which　their　foster…father　had　given　them；
into　a　tree；　after　which　one　went　east　and　the　other　went　west。

The　younger；　however；　arrived　with　his　beasts　in　a　town　which　was　all
hung　with　black　crape。　　He　went　into　an　inn；　and　asked　the　host　if　he
could　accommodate　his　animals。　　The　innkeeper　gave　him　a　stable；
where　there　was　a　hole　in　the　wall；　and　the　hare　crept　out　and
fetched　himself　the　head　of　a　cabbage；　and　the　fox　fetched　himself　a
hen；　and　when　he　had　devoured　it　got　the　cock　as　well；　but　the　wolf；
the　bear；　and　the　lion　could　not　get　out　because　they　were　too　big。
Then　the　innkeeper　let　them　be　taken　to　a　place　where　a　cow　happened
to　be　lying　on　the　grass；　that　they　might　eat　till　they　were
satisfied。　　And　when　the　huntsman　had　taken　care　of　his　animals；　he
asked　the　innkeeper　why　the　town　was　thus　hung　with　black　crape。
Said　the　host；　because　our　king's　only　daughter　is　to　die　to…morrow。
The　huntsman　inquired；　is　she　sick　unto　death。　　No；　answered　the
host；　she　is　vigorous　and　healthy；　nevertheless　she　must　die。　　How　is
that；　asked　the　huntsman。

There　is　a　high　hill　without　the　town；　whereon　dwells　a　dragon　who
every　year　must　have　a　pure　virgin；　or　he　lays　the　whole　country
waste；　and　now　all　the　maidens　have　already　been　given　to　him；　and
there　is　no　longer　anyone　left　but　the　king's　daughter；　yet　there　is
no　mercy　for　her。　　She　must　be　given　up　to　him；　and　that　is　to　be
done　to…morrow。　　Said　the　huntsman；　why　is　the　dragon　not　killed。
Ah；　replied　the　host；　so　many　knights　have　tried　it；　but　it　has　cost
all　of　them　their　lives。　　The　king　has　promised　that　he　who　conquers
the　dragon　shall　have　his　daughter　to　wife；　and　shall　likewise　govern
the　kingdom　after　his　own　death。

The　huntsman　said　nothing　more　to　this；　but　next　morning　took　his
animals；　and　with　them　ascended　the　dragon's　hill。　　A　little　church
stood　at　the　top　of　it；　and　on　the　altar　three　full　cups　were
standing；　with　the　inscription。　　Whosoever　empties　the　cups　will
become　the　strongest　man　on　earth；　and　will　be　able　to　wield　the
sword　which　is　buried　before　the　threshold　of　the　door。　　The　huntsman
did　not　drink；　but　went　out　and　sought　for　the　sword　in　the　ground；
but　was　unable　to　move　it　from　its　place。　　Then　he　went　in　and
emptied　the　cups；　and　now　he　was　strong　enough　to　take　up　the　sword；
and　his　hand　could　quite　easily　wield　it。　　As　the　hour　came　when　the
maiden　was　to　be　delivered　over　to　the　dragon；　the　king；　the　marshal；
and　courtiers　accompanied　her。　　From　afar　she　saw　the　huntsman　on　the
dragon's　hill；　and　thought　it　was　the　dragon　standing　there　waiting
for　her；　and　did　not　want　to　go　up　to　him；　but　at　last；　because
otherwise　the　whole　town　would　have　been　destroyed；　she　was　forced　to
take　the　fatal　journey。　　The　king　and　courtiers　returned　home　full　of
grief。　　The　king's　marshal；　however；　was　to　stand　still；　and　see　all
from　a　distance。

When　the　king's　daughter　got　to　the　top　of　the　hill；　it　was　not　the
dragon　which　stood　there；　but　the　young　huntsman；　who　comforted　her；
and　said　he　would　save　her；　led　her　into　the　church；　and　locked　her
in。　　It　was　not　long　before　the　seven…headed　dragon　came　thither　with
loud　roaring。　　When　he　perceived　the　huntsman；　he　was　astonished　and
said；　what　business　have　you　here　on　the　hill。　　The　huntsman
answered；　I　want　to　fight　with　you。　　Said　the　dragon；　　many　knights
have　left　their　lives　here；　I　shall　soon　have　made　an　end　of　you　too；
and　he　breathed　fire　out　of　seven　jaws。

The　fire　was　to　have　lighted　the　dry　grass；　and　the　huntsman　was　to
have　been　suffocated　in　the　heat　and　smoke；　but　the　animals　came
running　up　and　trampled　out　the　fire。　　Then　the　dragon　rushed　upon
the　huntsman；　but　he　swung　his　sword　until　it　sang　through　the　air；
and　struck　off　three　of　his　heads。　　Then　the　dragon　grew　really
furious；　and　rose　up　in　the　air；　and　spat　out　flames　of　fire　over　the
huntsman；　and　was　about　to　plunge　down　on　him；　but　the　huntsman　once
more　drew　out　his　sword；　and　again　cut　off　three　of　his　heads。　　The
monster　became　faint　and　sank　down。

Nevertheless　it　was　just　able　to　rush　upon　the　huntsman；　when　he　with
his　last　strength　smote　its　tail　off；　and　as　he　could　fight　no
longer；　called　up　his　animals　who　tore　it　in　pieces。　　When　the
struggle　was　ended；　the　huntsman　unlocked　the　church；　and　found　the
king's　daughter　lying　on　the　floor；　as　she　had　lost　her　senses　with
anguish　and　terror　during　the　contest。　　He　carried　her　out；　and　when
she　came　to　herself　once　more；　and　opened　her　eyes；　he　showed　her　the
dragon　all　cut　to　pieces；　and　told　her　that　she　was　now　set　free。　She
rejoiced　and　said；　now　you　will　be　my　dearest　husband；　for　my　father
has　promised　me　to　him　who　kills　the　dragon。　　Thereupon　she　took　off
her　necklace　of　coral；　and　divided　it　amongst　the　animals　in　order　to
reward　them；　and　the　lion　received　the　golden　clasp。　　Her
pocket…handkerchief；　however；　on　which　was　her　name；　she　gave　to　the
huntsman；　who　went　and　cut　the　tongues　out　of　the　dragons；　seven
heads；　wrapped　them　in　the　handkerchief；　and　preserved　them
carefully。

That　done；　as　he　was　so　faint　and　weary　with　the　fire　and　the　battle；
he　said　to　the　maiden；　we　are　both　faint　and　weary；　we　will　sleep
awhile。　　Then　she　said；　yes；　and　they　lay　down　on　the　ground；　and　the
huntsman　said　to　the　lion；　you　shall　keep　watch；　that　no　one
surprises　us　in　our　sleep；　and　both　fell　asleep。　　The　lion　lay　down
beside　them　to　watch；　but　he　also　was　so　weary　with　the　fight；　that
he　called　to　the　bear　and　said；　lie　down　near　me；　I　must　sleep　a
little。　　If　anything　comes；　waken　me。　　Then　the　bear　lay　down　beside
him；　but　he　also　was　tired；　and　called　the　wolf　and　said；　lie　down　by
me；　I　must　sleep　a　little；　but　if　anything　comes；　waken　me。　　Then　the
wolf　lay　down　by　him；　but　he　was　tired　likewise；　and　called　the　fox
and　said；　lie　down　by　me；　I　must　sleep　a　little；　if　anything　comes
waken　me。　　Then　the　fox　lay　down　beside　him；　but　he　too　was　weary；
and　called　the　hare　and　said；　lie　down　near　me；　I　must　sleep　a
little；　and　if　anything　should　come；　waken　me。　　Then　the　hare　sat
down　by　him；　but　the　poor　hare　was　tired　too；　and　had　no　one　whom　he
could　call　there　to　keep　watch；　and　fell　asleep。　　And　now　the　king's
daughter；　the　huntsman；　the　lion；　the　bear；　the　wolf；　the　fox；　and
the　hare；　were　all　sleeping　a　sound　sleep。　　The　marshal；　however；　who
was　to　look　on　from　a　distance；　took　courage　when　he　did　not　see　the
dragon　flyi