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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　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　tow