ur tears.'

So saying, he called his beasts, and set out on his travels. When he had
gone a little way he came to an inn. Everyone in the inn seemed so sad
that he asked them what was the matter.

'Ah,' replied they, 'to-day our king's daughter is to die. She is to be
handed over to a dreadful nine-headed dragon.'

Then the prince said: 'Why should she die? I am very strong, I will save
her.'

And he set out to the sea-shore, where the dragon was to meet the
princess. And as he waited with his beasts round him a great procession
came along, accompanying the unfortunate princess: and when the shore
was reached all the people left her, and returned sadly to their houses.
But the prince remained, and soon he saw a movement in the water a long
way off. As it came nearer, he knew what it was, for skimming swiftly
along the waters came a monster dragon with nine heads. Then the prince
took counsel with his beasts, and as the dragon approached the shore
the fox drew his brush through the water and blinded the dragon by
scattering the salt water in his eyes, while the bear and the lion threw
up more water with their paws, so that the monster was bewildered and
could see nothing. Then the prince rushed forward with his sword and
killed the dragon, and the beasts tore the body in pieces.

Then the princess turned to the prince and thanked him for delivering
her from the dragon, and she said to him:

'Step into this carriage with me, and we will drive back to my father's
palace.' And she gave him a ring and half of her handkerchief. But on
the way back the coachman and footman spoke to one another and said:

'Why should we drive this stranger back to the palace? Let us kill him,
and then we can say to the king that we slew the dragon and saved the
princess, and one of us shall marry her.'

So they killed the prince, and left him dead on the roadside. And the
faithful beasts came round the dead body and wept, and wondered what
they should do. Then suddenly the wolf had an idea, and he started off
into the wood, where he found an ox, which he straightway killed. Then
he called the fox, and told him to mount guard over the dead ox, and if
a bird came past and tried to peck at the flesh he was to catch it and
bring it to the lion. Soon after a crow flew past, and began to peck
at the dead ox. In a moment the fox had caught it and brought it to the
lion. Then the lion said to the crow:

'We will not kill you if you will promi