Anditwasalldoneashecommanded，and，leavingtheStarvationTower，hetooktheKing，hisfather-in-law，bythearm，andledhimintothenewpalace，wherethePrincesssatinfearandtrembling，awaitingherdeath。AndMartinspoketotheKing，saying，’Kingandroyalfather，Ihavesufferedmuchatthehandsofyourdaughter。Whatpunishmentshallbedealttoher？’
ThenthemildKinganswered:’BelovedPrinceandson-in-law，ifyouloveme，letyourangerbeturnedtograce——forgivemydaughter，andrestorehertoyourheartandfavour。’
AndMartin’sheartwassoftenedandheforgavehiswife，andtheylivedhappilytogethereverafter。Andhisoldmothercameandlivedwithhim，andheneverpartedwithSchurkaandWaska；andI
needhardlytellyouthatheneveragainlettheringoutofhispossession。
FromtheBukowinaer。VonWliolocki。
AyoungPrincewasridingonedaythroughameadowthatstretchedformilesinfrontofhim，whenhecametoadeepopenditch。Hewasturningasidetoavoidit，whenheheardthesoundofsomeonecryingintheditch。Hedismountedfromhishorse，andsteppedalonginthedirectionthesoundcamefrom。Tohisastonishmenthefoundanoldwoman，whobeggedhimtohelpheroutoftheditch。ThePrincebentdownandliftedheroutofherlivinggrave，askingheratthesametimehowshehadmanagedtogetthere。
’Myson，’answeredtheoldwoman，’Iamaverypoorwoman，andsoonaftermidnightIsetoutfortheneighbouringtowninordertosellmyeggsinthemarketonthefollowingmorning；butI
lostmywayinthedark，andfellintothisdeepditch，whereI
mighthaveremainedforeverbutforyourkindness。’
ThenthePrincesaidtoher，’Youcanhardlywalk；Iwillputyouonmyhorseandleadyouhome。Wheredoyoulive？’
’Overthere，attheedgeoftheforestinthelittlehutyouseeinthedistance，’repliedtheoldwoman。
ThePrinceliftedherontohishorse，andsoontheyreachedthehut，wheretheoldwomangotdown，andturningtothePrincesaid，’Justwaitamoment，andIwillgiveyousomething。’Andshedisappearedintoherhut，butreturnedverysoonandsaid，’YouareamightyPrince，butatthesametimeyouhaveakindheart，whichdeservestoberewarded。Wouldyouliketohavethemostbeautifulwomanintheworldforyourwife？’
’MostcertainlyIwould，’repliedthePrince。
Sotheoldwomancontinued，’ThemostbeautifulwomaninthewholeworldisthedaughteroftheQueenoftheFlowers，whohasbeencapturedbyadragon。Ifyouwishtomarryher，youmustfirstsetherfree，andthisIwillhelpyoutodo。Iwillgiveyouthislittlebell:ifyouringitonce，theKingoftheEagleswillappear；ifyouringittwice，theKingoftheFoxeswillcometoyou；andifyouringitthreetimes，youwillseetheKingoftheFishesbyyourside。Thesewillhelpyouifyouareinanydifficulty。Nowfarewell，andheavenprosperyourundertaking。’Shehandedhimthelittlebell，andtheredisappearedhutandall，asthoughtheearthhadswallowedherup。
ThenitdawnedonthePrincethathehadbeenspeakingtoagoodfairy，andputtingthelittlebellcarefullyinhispocket，herodehomeandtoldhisfatherthathemeanttosetthedaughteroftheFlowerQueenfree，andintendedsettingoutonthefollowingdayintothewideworldinsearchofthemaid。
SothenextmorningthePrincemountedhisfinehorseandlefthishome。Hehadroamedroundtheworldforawholeyear，andhishorsehaddiedofexhaustion，whilehehimselfhadsufferedmuchfromwantandmisery，butstillhehadcomeonnotraceofherhewasinsearchof。Atlastonedayhecametoahut，infrontofwhichsataveryoldman。ThePrinceaskedhim，’DoyounotknowwheretheDragonliveswhokeepsthedaughteroftheFlowerQueenprisoner？’
’No，Idonot，’answeredtheoldman。’Butifyougostraightalongthisroadforayear，youwillreachahutwheremyfatherlives，andpossiblyhemaybeabletotellyou。’
ThePrincethankedhimforhisinformation，andcontinuedhisjourneyforawholeyearalongthesameroad，andattheendofitcametothelittlehut，wherehefoundaveryoldman。Heaskedhimthesamequestion，andtheoldmananswered，’No，IdonotknowwheretheDragonlives。Butgostraightalongthisroadforanotheryear，andyouwillcometoahutinwhichmyfatherlives。Iknowhecantellyou。’
AndsothePrincewanderedonforanotheryear，alwaysonthesameroad，andatlastreachedthehutwherehefoundthethirdoldman。Heputthesamequestiontohimashehadputtohissonandgrandson；butthistimetheoldmananswered，’TheDragonlivesupthereonthemountain，andhehasjustbegunhisyearofsleep。Foronewholeyearheisalwaysawake，andthenexthesleeps。ButifyouwishtoseetheFlowerQueen’sdaughtergoupthesecondmountain:theDragon’soldmotherlivesthere，andshehasaballeverynight，towhichtheFlowerQueen’sdaughtergoesregularly。’
SothePrincewentupthesecondmountain，wherehefoundacastleallmadeofgoldwithdiamondwindows。Heopenedthebiggateleadingintothecourtyard，andwasjustgoingtowalkin，whensevendragonsrushedonhimandaskedhimwhathewanted？
ThePrincereplied，’IhaveheardsomuchofthebeautyandkindnessoftheDragon’sMother，andwouldliketoenterherservice。’
Thisflatteringspeechpleasedthedragons，andtheeldestofthemsaid，’Well，youmaycomewithme，andIwilltakeyoutotheMotherDragon。’
Theyenteredthecastleandwalkedthroughtwelvesplendidhalls，allmadeofgoldanddiamonds。InthetwelfthroomtheyfoundtheMotherDragonseatedonadiamondthrone。Shewastheugliestwomanunderthesun，and，addedtoitall，shehadthreeheads。HerappearancewasagreatshocktothePrince，andsowashervoice，whichwaslikethecroakingofmanyravens。Sheaskedhim，’Whyhaveyoucomehere？’
ThePrinceansweredatonce，’Ihaveheardsomuchofyourbeautyandkindness，thatIwouldverymuchliketoenteryourservice。’
’Verywell，’saidtheMotherDragon；’butifyouwishtoentermyservice，youmustfirstleadmymareouttothemeadowandlookafterherforthreedays；butifyoudon’tbringherhomesafelyeveryevening，wewilleatyouup。’
ThePrinceundertookthetaskandledthemareouttothemeadow。
Butnosoonerhadtheyreachedthegrassthanshevanished。ThePrincesoughtforherinvain，andatlastindespairsatdownonabigstoneandcontemplatedhissadfate。Ashesatthuslostinthought，henoticedaneagleflyingoverhishead。Thenhesuddenlybethoughthimofhislittlebell，andtakingitoutofhispocketherangitonce。Inamomentheheardarustlingsoundintheairbesidehim，andtheKingoftheEaglessankathisfeet。
’Iknowwhatyouwantofme，’thebirdsaid。’YouarelookingfortheMotherDragon’smarewhoisgallopingaboutamongtheclouds。Iwillsummonalltheeaglesoftheairtogether，andorderthemtocatchthemareandbringhertoyou。’AndwiththesewordstheKingoftheEaglesflewaway。TowardseveningthePrinceheardamightyrushingsoundintheair，andwhenhelookeduphesawthousandsofeaglesdrivingthemarebeforethem。Theysankathisfeetontothegroundandgavethemareovertohim。ThenthePrincerodehometotheoldMotherDragon，whowasfullofwonderwhenshesawhim，andsaid，’Youhavesucceededto-dayinlookingaftermymare，andasarewardyoushallcometomyballto-night。’Shegavehimatthesametimeacloakmadeofcopper，andledhimtoabigroomwhereseveralyounghe-dragonsandshe-dragonsweredancingtogether。Here，too，wastheFlowerQueen’sbeautifuldaughter。Herdresswaswovenoutofthemostlovelyflowersintheworld，andhercomplexionwaslikeliliesandroses。AsthePrincewasdancingwithherhemanagedtowhisperinherear，’Ihavecometosetyoufree！’
Thenthebeautifulgirlsaidtohim，’Ifyousucceedinbringingthemarebacksafelythethirdday，asktheMotherDragontogiveyouafoalofthemareasareward。’
Theballcametoanendatmidnight，andearlynextmorningthePrinceagainledtheMotherDragon’smareoutintothemeadow。
Butagainshevanishedbeforehiseyes。Thenhetookouthislittlebellandrangittwice。
InamomenttheKingoftheFoxesstoodbeforehimandsaid:’I
knowalreadywhatyouwant，andwillsummonallthefoxesoftheworldtogethertofindthemarewhohashiddenherselfinahill。’
WiththesewordstheKingoftheFoxesdisappeared，andintheeveningmanythousandfoxesbroughtthemaretothePrince。
ThenherodehometotheMother-Dragon，fromwhomhereceivedthistimeacloakmadeofsilver，andagainsheledhimtotheball-room。
TheFlowerQueen’sdaughterwasdelightedtoseehimsafeandsound，andwhentheyweredancingtogethershewhisperedinhisear:’Ifyousucceedagainto-morrow，waitformewiththefoalinthemeadow。Aftertheballwewillflyawaytogether。’
OnthethirddaythePrinceledthemaretothemeadowagain；butoncemoreshevanishedbeforehiseyes。ThenthePrincetookouthislittlebellandrangitthreetimes。
InamomenttheKingoftheFishesappeared，andsaidtohim:’I
knowquitewellwhatyouwantmetodo，andIwillsummonallthefishesoftheseatogether，andtellthemtobringyoubackthemare，whoishidingherselfinariver。’
Towardseveningthemarewasreturnedtohim，andwhenheledherhometotheMotherDragonshesaidtohim:
’Youareabraveyouth，andIwillmakeyoumybody-servant。ButwhatshallIgiveyouasarewardtobeginwith？’
ThePrincebeggedforafoalofthemare，whichtheMotherDragonatoncegavehim，andoverandabove，acloakmadeofgold，forshehadfalleninlovewithhimbecausehehadpraisedherbeauty。
