r seven years,' said the dragon, I will lead you through the midst
of the army so that no one shall catch you.' 'We have no choice, and
must take your offer,' said they. Then the dragon seized them in his
claws, took them through the air over the army, and set them down on
the earth a long way from it.

He gave them a little whip, saying, 'Whip and slash with this, and as
much money as you want will jump up before you. You can then live as
great lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages. But after
seven years you are mine.' Then he put a book before them, which he
made all three of them sign. 'I will then give you a riddle,' he said;
'if you guess it, you shall be free and out of my power.' The dragon
then flew away, and they journeyed on with their little whip. They had
as much money as they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way
into the world. Wherever they went they lived in merrymaking and
splendour, drove about with horses and carriages, ate and drank, but
did nothing wrong.

[Illustration: The Dragon Carries Off the Three Soldiers]

The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly
ended two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened, but the third
made light of it, saying, 'Don't be afraid, brothers, I wasn't born
yesterday; I will guess the riddle.'

They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. An
old woman passed by, and asked them why they were so sad. 'Alas! what
have you to do with it? You cannot help us.' 'Who knows?' she
answered. 'Only confide your trouble in me.'

Then they told her that they had become the servants of the Dragon for
seven long years, and how he had given them money as plentifully as
blackberries; but as they had signed their names they were his, unless
when the seven years had passed they could guess a riddle. The old
woman said, 'If you would help yourselves, one of you must go into the
wood, and there he will come upon a tumble-down building of rocks
which looks like a little house. He must go in, and there he will find
help.'

The two melancholy ones thought, 'That won't save us!' and they
remained where they were. But the third and merry one jumped up and
went into the wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut sat a very
old woman, who was the Dragon's grandmother. She asked him how he
came, and what was his business there. He told her all that happened,
and because she was pleased with him she took compassion on him, a