047-第3章

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was　to　look　on　from　a　distance；　took　courage　when　he　did　not　see　the
dragon　flying　away　with　the　maiden；　and　finding　that　all　the　hill　had
become　quiet；　ascended　it。

There　lay　the　dragon　hacked　and　hewn　to　pieces　on　the　ground；　and　not
far　from　it　were　the　king's　daughter　and　a　huntsman　with　his　animals；
and　all　of　them　were　sunk　in　a　sound　sleep。　　And　as　he　was　wicked　and
godless　he　took　his　sword；　cut　off　the　huntsman's　head；　and　seized
the　maiden　in　his　arms；　and　carried　her　down　the　hill。　　Then　she
awoke　and　was　terrified；　but　the　marshal　said；　you　are　in　my　hands；
you　shall　say　that　it　was　I　who　killed　the　dragon。

I　cannot　do　that；　she　replied；　for　it　was　a　huntsman　with　his　animals
who　did　it。　　Then　he　drew　his　sword；　and　threatened　to　kill　her　if
she　did　not　obey　him；　and　so　compelled　her　that　she　promised　it。
Then　he　took　her　to　the　king；　who　did　not　know　how　to　contain　himself
for　joy　when　he　once　more　looked　on　his　dear　child　in　life；　whom　he
had　believed　to　have　been　torn　to　pieces　by　the　monster。　　The　marshal
said　to　him；　I　have　killed　the　dragon；　and　delivered　the　maiden　and
the　whole　kingdom　as　well；　therefore　I　demand　her　as　my　wife；　as　was
promised。　　The　king　said　to　the　maiden；　is　what　he　says　true。　　Ah；
yes；　she　answered；　it　must　indeed　be　true；　but　I　will　not　consent　to
have　the　wedding　celebrated　until　after　a　year　and　a　day；　for　she
thought　in　that　time　she　should　hear　something　of　her　dear　huntsman。

The　animals；　however；　were　still　lying　sleeping　beside　their　dead
master　on　the　dragon's　hill；　and　there　came　a　great　bumble…bee　and
lighted　on　the　hare's　nose；　but　the　hare　wiped　it　off　with　his　paw；
and　went　on　sleeping。　　The　bumble…bee　came　a　second　time；　but　the
hare　again　rubbed　it　off　and　slept　on。　　Then　it　came　for　the　third
time；　and　stung　his　nose　so　that　he　awoke。　　As　soon　as　the　hare　was
awake；　he　roused　the　fox；　and　the　fox；　the　wolf；　and　the　wolf　the
bear；　and　the　bear　the　lion。　　And　when　the　lion　awoke　and　saw　that
the　maiden　was　gone；　and　his　master　was　dead；　he　began　to　roar
frightfully　and　cried；　who　has　done　that。　　Bear；　why　did　you　not
waken　me。　　The　bear　asked　the　wolf；　why　did　you　not　waken　me。　　And
the　wolf　the　fox；　why　did　you　not　waken　me。　　And　the　fox　the　hare；
why　did　you　not　waken　me。　　The　poor　hare　alone　did　not　know　what
answer　to　make；　and　the　blame　rested　with　him。　　Then　they　were　just
going　to　fall　upon　him；　but　he　entreated　them　and　said；　kill　me　not；
I　will　bring　our　master　to　life　again。　　I　know　a　mountain　on　which　a
root　grows　which；　when　placed　in　the　mouth　of　anyone；　cures　him　of
all　illness　and　every　wound。　　But　the　mountain　lies　two　hundred
hours；　journey　from　here。

The　lion　said；　in　four…and…twenty　hours　must　you　have　run　thither　and
have　come　back；　and　have　brought　the　root　with　you。　Then　the　hare
sprang　away；　and　in　four…and…twenty　hours　he　was　back；　and　brought
the　root　with　him。　　The　lion　put　the　huntsman's　head　on　again；　and
the　hare　placed　the　root　in　his　mouth；　and　immediately　everything
united　together　again；　and　his　heart　beat；　and　life　came　back。　　Then
the　huntsman　awoke；　and　was　alarmed　when　he　did　not　see　the　maiden；
and　thought；　she　must　have　gone　away　whilst　I　was　sleeping；　in　order
to　get　rid　of　me。　　The　lion　in　his　great　haste　had　put　his　master's
head　on　the　wrong　way　round；　but　the　huntsman　did　not　observe　it
because　of　his　melancholy　thoughts　about　the　king's　daughter。　　But　at
noon；　when　he　was　going　to　eat　something；　he　saw　that　his　head　was
turned　backwards　and　could　not　understand　it；　and　asked　the　animals
what　had　happened　to　him　in　his　sleep。　　Then　the　lion　told　him　that
they；　too；　had　all　fallen　asleep　from　weariness；　and　on　awaking；　had
found　him　dead　with　his　head　cut　off；　that　the　hare　had　brought　the
life…giving　root；　and　that　he；　in　his　haste；　had　laid　hold　of　the
head　the　wrong　way；　but　that　he　would　repair　his　mistake。　　Then　he
tore　the　huntsman's　head　off　again；　turned　it　round；　and　the　hare
healed　it　with　the　root。

The　huntsman；　however；　was　sad　at　heart；　and　traveled　about　the
world；　and　made　his　animals　dance　before　people。　　It　came　to　pass
that　precisely　at　the　end　of　one　year　he　came　back　to　the　same　town
where　he　had　rescued　the　king's　daughter　from　the　dragon；　and　this
time　the　town　was　gaily　hung　with　red　cloth。　　Then　he　said　to　the
host；　what　does　this　mean。　　Last　year　the　town　was　all　hung　with
black　crape；　what　means　the　red　cloth　to…day。　　The　host　answered；
last　year　our　king's　daughter　was　to　have　been　delivered　over　to　the
dragon；　but　the　marshal　fought　with　it　and　killed　it；　and　so
to…morrow　their　wedding　is　to　be　solemnized；　and　that　is　why　the　town
was　then　hung　with　black　crape　for　mourning；　and　is　to…day　covered
with　red　cloth　for　joy。

Next　day　when　the　wedding　was　to　take　place；　the　huntsman　said　at
mid…day　to　the　inn…keeper；　do　you　believe；　sir　host；　that　I　while
with　you　here　to…day　shall　eat　bread　from　the　king's　own　table。

Nay；　said　the　host；　I　would　bet　a　hundred　pieces　of　gold　that　that
will　not　come　true。　　The　huntsman　accepted　the　wager；　and　set　against
it　a　purse　with　just　the　same　number　of　gold　pieces。　Then　he　called
the　hare　and　said；　go；　my　dear　runner；　and　fetch　me　some　of　the　bread
which　the　king　is　eating。　　Now　the　little　hare　was　the　lowest　of　the
animals；　and　could　not　transfer　this　order　to　any　the　others；　but　had
to　get　on　his　legs　himself。　　Alas。　Thought　he；　if　I　bound　through　the
streets　thus　alone；　the　butchers；　dogs　will　all　be　after　me。　　It
happened　as　he　expected；　and　the　dogs　came　after　him　and　wanted　to
make　holes　in　his　good　skin。　　But　he　sprang　away；　you　have　never　seen
the　like；　and　sheltered　himself　in　a　sentry…box　without　the　soldier
being　aware　of　it。　　Then　the　dogs　came　and　wanted　to　have　him　out；
but　the　soldier　did　not　understand　a　jest；　and　struck　them　with　the
butt…end　of　his　gun；　till　they　ran　away　yelling　and　howling。　　As　soon
as　the　hare　saw　that　the　way　was　clear；　he　ran　into　the　palace　and
straight　to　the　king's　daughter；　sat　down　under　her　chair；　and
scratched　at　her　foot。　　Then　she　said；　will　you　get　away；　and　thought
it　was　her　dog。　　The　hare　scratched　her　foot　for　the　second　time；　and
she　again　said；　will　you　get　away；　and　thought　it　was　her　dog。　　But
the　hare　did　not　let　itself　be　turned　from　its　purpose；　and　scratched
her　for　the　third　time。　　Then　she　peeped　down；　and　knew　the　hare　by
its　collar。

She　took　him　on　her　lap；　carried　him　into　her　chamber；　and　said；　dear
hare；　what　do　you　want。　　He　answered；　my　master；　who　killed　the
dragon；　is　here；　and　has　sent　me　to　ask　for　a　loaf　of　bread　like　that
which　the　king　eats。　　Then　she　was　full　of　joy　and　had　the　baker
summoned；　and　ordered　him　to　bring　a　loaf　such　as　was　eaten　by　the
king。　　The　little　hare　said；　but　the　baker　must　likewise　carry　it
thither　for　me；　that　the　butchers；　dogs　may　do　no　harm　to　me。　　The
baker　carried　if　for　him　as　far　as　the　door　of　the　inn；　and　then　the
hare　got　on　his　hind　legs；　took　the　loaf　in　his　front　paws；　and
carried　it　to　his　master。　　Then　said　the　huntsman；　behold；　sir　host；
the　hundred　pieces　of　gold　are　mine。　　The　host　was　astonished；　but
the　huntsman　went　on　to　say；　yes；　sir　host；　I　have　the　bread；　but　now
I　will　likewise　have　some　of　the　king's　roast　meat。

The　host　said；　I　should　indeed　like　to　see　that；　but　he　would　make　no
more　wagers。　　The　huntsman　called　the　fox　and　said；　my　little　fox；　go
and　fetch　me　some　roast　meat；　such　as　the　king　eats。

The　red　fox　knew　the　byways　better；　and　went　by　holes　and　corners
without　any　dog　seeing　him；　seated　himself　under　the　chair　of　the
king's　daughter；　and　scratched　her　foot。　　Then　she　looked　down　and
recognized　the　fox　by　its　collar；　took　him　into　her　chamber　with　her
and　said；　dear　fox；　what　do　you　want。　　He　answered；　my　master；　who
killed　the　dragon；　is　here；　and　has　sent　me。　　I　am　to　ask　for　some
roast　meat　such　as　the　king　is　eating。　　Then　she　made　the　cook　come；
who　was　obliged　to　prepare　a　roast　joint；　the　same　as　was　eaten　by
the　king；　and　to　carry　it　for　the　fox　as　far　as　the　door。　　Then　the
fox　took　the　dish；　waved　away　with　his　tail　the　flies　which　had
settled　on　the　meat；　and　then　carried　it　to　his　master。　　Behold；　sir
host；　said　the　huntsman；　bread　and　meat　are　here　but　now　I　will　also
have　proper　vegetables　with　it；　such　as　are　ea