rned in a few minutes with a
large basket full of the most delicious food. Then the youth
congratulated himself on the bargain he had made, and continued his
journey in the best of spirits.
[Illustration]
One day he met a carriage and pair, all draped in black; even the
horses were covered with black trappings, and the coachman was clothed
in crape from top to toe. Inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a
black dress crying bitterly. The horses advanced slowly and mournfully,
with their heads bent on the ground.
'Coachman, what's the meaning of all this grief?' asked the shepherd.
At first the coachman wouldn't say anything, but when the youth pressed
him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighbourhood, and
required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden. This year the lot
had fallen on the King's daughter, and the whole country was filled with
woe and lamentation in consequence.
The shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden, and determined to
follow the carriage. In a little it halted at the foot of a high
mountain. The girl got out, and walked slowly and sadly to meet her
terrible fate. The coachman perceived that the shepherd wished to follow
her, and warned him not to do so if he valued his life; but the shepherd
wouldn't listen to his advice. When they had climbed about half-way up
the hill they saw a terrible-looking monster with the body of a snake,
and with huge wings and claws, coming towards them, breathing forth
flames of fire, and preparing to seize its victim. Then the shepherd
called, 'Pepper, come to the rescue,' and the second dog set upon the
dragon, and after a fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that
the monster rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last. Then
the dog ate up the body, all except its two front teeth, which the
shepherd picked up and put in his pocket.
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 drivin
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