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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 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。