that precisely at the end of one year he came back to the same town
where he had rescued the king's daughter from the dragon； and this
time the town was gaily hung with red cloth。 Then he said to the
host； what does this mean。 Last year the town was all hung with
black crape； what means the red cloth to…day。 The host answered；
last year our king's daughter was to have been delivered over to the
dragon； but the marshal fought with it and killed it； and so
to…morrow their wedding is to be solemnized； and that is why the town
was then hung with black crape for mourning； and is to…day covered
with red cloth for joy。
Next day when the wedding was to take place； the huntsman said at
mid…day to the inn…keeper； do you believe； sir host； that I while
with you here to…day shall eat bread from the king's own table。
Nay； said the host； I would bet a hundred pieces of gold that that
will not come true。 The huntsman accepted the wager； and set against
it a purse with just the same number of gold pieces。 Then he called
the hare and said； go； my dear runner； and fetch me some of the bread
which the king is eating。 Now the little hare was the lowest of the
animals； and could not transfer this order to any the others； but had
to get on his legs himself。 Alas。 Thought he； if I bound through the
streets thus alone； the butchers； dogs will all be after me。 It
happened as he expected； and the dogs came after him and wanted to
make holes in his good skin。 But he sprang away； you have never seen
the like； and sheltered himself in a sentry…box without the soldier
being aware of it。 Then the dogs came and wanted to have him out；
but the soldier did not understand a jest； and struck them with the
butt…end of his gun； till they ran away yelling and howling。 As soon
as the hare saw that the way was clear； he ran into the palace and
straight to the king's daughter； sat down under her chair； and
scratched at her foot。 Then she said； will you get away； and thought
it was her dog。 The hare scratched her foot for the second time； and
she again said； will you get away； and thought it was her dog。 But
the hare did not let itself be turned from its purpose； and scratched
her for the third time。 Then she peeped down； and knew the hare by
its collar。
She took him on her lap； carried him into her chamber； and said； dear
hare； what do you want。 He answered； my master； who killed the
dragon； is here； and has sent me to ask for a loaf of bread like that
which the king eats。 Then she was full of joy and had the baker
summoned； and ordered him to bring a loaf such as was eaten by the
king。 The little hare said； but the baker must likewise carry it
thither for me； that the butchers； dogs may do no harm to me。 The
baker carried if for him as far as the door of the inn； and then the
hare got on his hind legs； took the loaf in his front paws； and
carried it to his master。 Then said the huntsman； behold； sir host；
the hundred pieces of gold are mine。 The host was astonished； but
the huntsman went on to say； yes； sir host； I have the bread； but now
I will likewise have some of the king's roast meat。
The host said； I should indeed like to see that； but he would make no
more wagers。 The huntsman called the fox and said； my little fox； go
and fetch me some roast meat； such as the king eats。
The red fox knew the byways better； and went by holes and corners
without any dog seeing him； seated himself under the chair of the
king's daughter； and scratched her foot。 Then she looked down and
recognized the fox by its collar； took him into her chamber with her
and said； dear fox； what do you want。 He answered； my master； who
killed the dragon； is here； and has sent me。 I am to ask for some
roast meat such as the king is eating。 Then she made the cook come；
who was obliged to prepare a roast joint； the same as was eaten by
the king； and to carry it for the fox as far as the door。 Then the
fox took the dish； waved away with his tail the flies which had
settled on the meat； and then carried it to his master。 Behold； sir
host； said the huntsman； bread and meat are here but now I will also
have proper vegetables with it； such as are eaten by the king。 Then
he called the wolf； and said； dear wolf； go thither and fetch me
vegetables such as the king eats。
Then the wolf went straight to the palace； as he feared no one； and
when he got to the king's daughter's parlor； he tugged at the back of
her dress； so that she was forced to look round。 She recognized him
by his collar； and took him into her chamber with her； and said； dear
wolf； what do you want。 He answered； my master； who killed the
dragon； is here； I am to ask for some vegetables； such as the king
eats。 Then she made the cook come； and he had to make ready a dish
of vegetables； such as the king ate； and had to carry it for the wolf
as far as the door； and then the wolf took the dish from him； and
carried it to his master。 Behold； sir host； said the huntsman； now I
have bread and meat and vegetables； but I will also have some pastry
to eat like that which the king eats。 He called the bear； and said；
dear bear； you are fond of licking anything sweet； go and bring me
some confectionery； such as the king eats。
The the bear trotted to the palace； and everyone got out of his way；
but when he went to the guard； they presented their muskets； and
would not let him go into the royal palace。 But he got up on his
hind legs； and gave them a few boxes on the ears； right and left；
with his paws； so that the whole watch broke up； and then he went
straight to the king's daughter； placed himself behind her； and
growled a little。 Then she looked behind her； knew the bear； and
bade him go into her room with her； and said； dear bear； what do you
want。 He answered； my master； who killed the dragon； is here； and I
am to ask for some confectionery such as the king eats。 Then she
summoned her confectioner； who had to bake confectionery such as the
king ate； and carry it to the door for the bear。 Then the bear first
licked up the comfits which had rolled down； and then he stood
upright； took the dish； and carried it to his master。 Behold； sir
host； said the huntsman； now I have bread； meat； vegetables and
confectionery； but I will drink wine also； and such as the king
drinks。 He called his lion to him and said； dear lion； you yourself
like to drink till you are tipsy； go and fetch me some wine； such as
is drunk by the king。
Then the lion strode through the streets； and the people fled from
him； and when he came to the watch； they wanted to bar the way
against him； but he did but roar once； and they all ran away。 Then
the lion went to the royal apartment； and knocked at the door with
his tail。 The the king's daughter came forth； and was almost afraid
of the lion； but she knew him by the golden clasp of her necklace；
and bade him go with her into her chamber； and said； dear lion； what
will you have。 He answered； my master； who killed the dragon； is
here； and I am to ask for some wine such as is drunk by the king。
Then she bade the cup…bearer be called； who was to give the lion some
wine like that which was drunk by the king。 The lion said； I will go
with him； and see that I get the right wine。 Then he went down with
the cup…bearer； and when they were below； the cup…bearer wanted to
draw him some of the common wine that was drunk by the king's
servants； but the lion said； stop； I will taste the wine first； and
he drew half a measure； and swallowed it down at one draught。 No；
said he； that is not right。 The cup…bearer looked at him askance；
but went on； and was about to give him some out of another barrel
which was for the king's marshal。 The lion said； stop； let me taste
the wine first； and drew half a measure and drank it。 That is
better； but still not right； said he。 Then the cup…bearer grew angry
and said； how can a stupid animal like you understand wine。 But the
lion gave him a blow behind the ears； which made him fall down by no
means gently； and when he had got up again； he conducted the lion
quite silently into a little cellar apart； where the king's wine lay；
from which no one ever drank。 The lion first drew half a measure and
tried the wine； and then he said； that may possibly be the right
sort； and bade the cup…bearer fill six bottles of it。 And now they
went upstairs again； but when the lion came out of the cellar into
the open air； he reeled here and there； and was rather drunk； and the
cup…bearer was forced to carry the wine as far as the door for him；
and then the lion took the handle of the basket in his mouth； and
took it to his master。 The huntsman said； behold； sir host； here
have I bread； meat； vegetables； confectionery and wine such as the
king has； and now I will dine with my animals； and he sat down and
ate and drank； and gave the hare； the fox； the wolf； the bear； and
the lion also to eat and to drink； and was joyful； for he saw that
the king's daughter still loved him。 And when he had finished his
dinner； he said； sir host； now have I eaten and drunk； as the king
eats and drinks； and now I will go to the king's court and marry the
king's daughter。
Said the host； how can that be； when she already has a betrothed
husband； and when the wedding is to be solemnized to…day。 Then the
huntsman drew forth the handerchief which the king's daughter had
given him on the dragon's hill； and in which were folded the
monster's seven tongues； and said； that which I hold in my hand shall
help me to do it。 Then the innkeeper looked at the handkerchief； and
said； whatever I believe； I do not believe that； and I am willing to
stake my house and courtyard on it。 The huntsman； however； took a
bag with a thousand gold pieces； put it on the table； and said； I
stake that on it。
Now the king said to his daughter； at the royal table； what did all
the wild animals want； which have been coming to you； and going in
and out of my palace。 She replied； I may not tell you； but send and
have the master of these animals brought； and you will do well。 The
king sent a servant to the inn； and invited the stranger； and the
servant came just as the huntsman had laid his wager with the
innkeeper。 Then said he； behold； sir host； now the king sends his
servant and invites me； but I do not go in this way。
And he said to the servant；