the first time as he came in and stood by her side. So
they were married, and a great wedding-feast was held, a banquet fit
for the son of a king.

[Illustration: She saw the Lindworm for the first time as he came in and
stood by her side.]

When the feast was over, the bridegroom and bride were conducted to
their apartment, with music, and torches, and a great procession. As
soon as the door was shut, the _Lindworm_ turned to her and said,
"Fair maiden, shed a shift!" The shepherd's daughter answered him,
"_Prince Lindworm_, slough a skin!"--"No one has ever dared tell me to
do that before!" said he.--"But I command you to do it now!" said she.
Then he began to moan and wriggle: and in a few minutes a long
snake-skin lay upon the floor beside him. The girl drew off her first
shift, and spread it on top of the skin.

The _Lindworm_ said again to her, "Fair maiden, shed a shift."

The shepherd's daughter answered him, "_Prince Lindworm_, slough a
skin."

"No one has ever dared tell me to do that before," said he.--"But I
command you to do it now," said she. Then with groans and moans he
cast off the second skin: and she covered it with her second shift.
The _Lindworm_ said for the third time, "Fair maiden, shed a shift."
The shepherd's daughter answered him again, "_Prince Lindworm_, slough
a skin."--"No one has ever dared tell me to do that before," said he,
and his little eyes rolled furiously. But the girl was not afraid, and
once more she commanded him to do as she bade.

And so this went on until nine _Lindworm_ skins were lying on the
floor, each of them covered with a snow-white shift. And there was
nothing left of the _Lindworm_ but a huge thick mass, most horrible to
see. Then the girl seized the whips, dipped them in the lye, and
whipped him as hard as ever she could. Next, she bathed him all over
in the fresh milk. Lastly, she dragged him on to the bed and put her
arms round him. And she fell fast asleep that very moment.

Next morning very early, the _King_ and the courtiers came and peeped
in through the keyhole. They wanted to know what had become of the
girl, but none of them dared enter the room. However, in the end,
growing bolder, they opened the door a tiny bit. And there they saw
the girl, all fresh and rosy, and beside her lay--no _Lindworm_, but
the handsomest prince that any one could wish to see.

The _King_ ran out and fetched the _Queen_: and after that, there were
such rejoicings in