Andrew Lang_Fairy Book 03 (46 page)

The Princess was quite overcome with terror and joy, and fell
fainting at the feet of her deliverer. When she recovered her
consciousness she begged the shepherd to return with her to her
father, who would reward him richly. But the youth answered that
he wanted to see something of the world, and that he would return
again in three years, and nothing would make him change this
resolve. The Princess seated herself once more in her carriage,
and, bidding each other farewell, she and the shepherd separated,
she to return home, and he to see the world.

But while the Princess was driving over a bridge the carriage
suddenly stood still, and the coachman turned round to her and
said, 'Your deliverer has gone, and doesn't thank you for your
gratitude. It would be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy;
therefore you may tell your father that it was I who slew the
dragon, and if you refuse to, I will throw you into the river, and
no one will be any the wiser, for they will think the dragon has
devoured you.'

The maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words; but
there was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give
out the coachman as her deliverer, and not to divulge the secret
to anyone. So they returned to the capital, and everyone was
delighted when they saw the Princess had returned unharmed; the
black flags were taken down from all the palace towers, and gay-
coloured ones put up in their place, and the King embraced his
daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of joy, and, turning
to the coachman, he said, 'You have not only saved the life of my
child, but you have also freed the country from a terrible
scourge; therefore, it is only fitting that you should be richly
rewarded. Take, therefore, my daughter for your wife; but as she
is still so young, do not let the marriage be celebrated for
another year.'

The coachman thanked the King for his graciousness, and was then
led away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and
graces that befitted his new position. But the poor Princess wept
bitterly, though she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone.
When the year was over, she begged so hard for another year's
respite that it was granted to her. But this year passed also, and
she threw herself at her father's feet, and begged so piteously
for one more year that the King's heart was melted, and he yielded
to her request, much to the Princess's joy, for she knew that her
real deliverer would appear at the end of the third year. And so
the year passed away like the other two, and the wedding-day was
fixed, and all the people were prepared to feast and make merry.

But on the wedding-day it happened that a stranger came to the
town with three black dogs. He asked what the meaning of all the
feasting and fuss was, and they told him that the King's daughter
was just going to be married to the man who had slain the terrible
dragon. The stranger at once denounced the coachman as a liar; but
no one would listen to him, and he was seized and thrown into a
cell with iron doors.

While he was lying on his straw pallet, pondering mournfully on
his fate, he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside;
then an idea dawned on him, and he called out as loudly as he
could, 'Mustard, come to my help,' and in a second he saw the paws
of his biggest dog at the window of his cell, and before he could
count two the creature had bitten through the iron bars and stood
beside him. Then they both let themselves out of the prison by the
window, and the poor youth was free once more, though he felt very
sad when he thought that another was to enjoy the reward that
rightfully belonged to him. He felt hungry too, so he called his
dog 'Salt,' and asked him to bring home some food. The faithful
creature trotted off, and soon returned with a table-napkin full
of the most delicious food, and the napkin itself was embroidered
with a kingly crown.

The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his
Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess's hand in an
appealing manner. With a joyful start she recognised the beast,
and bound her own table-napkin round his neck. Then she plucked up
her courage and told her father the whole story. The King at once
sent a servant to follow the dog, and in a short time the stranger
was led into the Kings presence. The former coachman grew as white
as a sheet when he saw the shepherd, and, falling on his knees,
begged for mercy and pardon. The Princess recognized her deliverer
at once, and did not need the proof of the two dragon's teeth
which he drew from his pocket. The coachman was thrown into a dark
dungeon, and the shepherd took his place at the Princess's side,
and this time, you may be sure, she did not beg for the wedding to
be put off.

The young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness,
when suddenly one day the former shepherd bethought himself of his
poor sister and expressed a wish to see her again, and to let her
share in his good fortune. So they sent a carriage to fetch her,
and soon she arrived at the court, and found herself once more in
her brother's arms. Then one of the dogs spoke and said, 'Our task
is done; you have no more need of us. We only waited to see that
you did not forget your sister in your prosperity.' And with these
words the three dogs became three birds and flew away into the
heavens.

Grimm.