anges of shepherds, and of all that went out to
the lake not one has returned; but _he_ had been contending with the
dragon for two whole days and it has done him no hurt. I assure you, in
God's name, that he is able to overcome the dragon, only go to-morrow
with him to see whether he will free us from this mischief which has
destroyed so many people."

When, on the morrow, the day dawned and the sun came forth, up rose the
shepherd, up rose the maiden too, to begin to prepare for going to the
lake. The shepherd was cheerful, more cheerful than ever, but the
emperor's daughter was sad and shed tears. The shepherd comforted her:
"Lady sister, I pray you, do not weep, but do what I tell you. When it
is time, run up and kiss me, and fear not." As he went and drove the
sheep, the shepherd was thoroughly cheery, and played a merry tune on
his bagpipes; but the damsel did nothing but weep as she went beside
him, and he several times left off playing and turned toward her: "Weep
not, golden one; fear nought." When they arrived at the lake, the sheep
immediately spread round it, and the prince placed the falcon on the
stump, and the hounds and bagpipes under it, then tucked up his hose and
sleeves, waded into the water, and shouted: "Dragon! dragon! Come out to
single combat with me; let us measure ourselves once more, unless you're
a woman!" The dragon replied: "I will, prince; now, now!" Erelong,
there was the dragon! it was huge, it was terrible, it was disgusting!
When it came out, they seized each other by the middle, and wrestled a
summer's day till afternoon. But when the afternoon heat came on, the
dragon said: "Let me go, prince, that I may moisten my parched head in
the lake, and toss you to the skies." The prince replied: "Come, dragon,
don't talk nonsense; if I had the emperor's daughter to kiss me on the
forehead, I would toss you much higher." When he said this, the
emperor's daughter ran up and kissed him on the face, on the eye, and on
the forehead. Then he swung the dragon, and tossed it high into the air,
and when it fell to the ground it burst into pieces. But as it burst
into pieces, out of it sprang a wild boar, and started to run away. But
the prince shouted to his shepherd dogs: "Hold it! don't let it go!" and
the dogs sprang up and after it, caught it, and soon tore it to pieces.
But out of the boar flew a pigeon, and the prince loosed the falcon, and
the falcon caught the pigeon and brought it into the p