Anditwasalldoneashecommanded，and，leavingtheStarvationTower，hetooktheKing，hisfather-in-law，bythearm，andledhimintothenewpalace，wherethePrincesssatinfearandtrembling，awaitingherdeath。AndMartinspoketotheKing，saying，’Kingandroyalfather，Ihavesufferedmuchatthehandsofyourdaughter。Whatpunishmentshallbedealttoher？’
　　ThenthemildKinganswered:’BelovedPrinceandson-in-law，ifyouloveme，letyourangerbeturnedtograce——forgivemydaughter，andrestorehertoyourheartandfavour。’
　　AndMartin’sheartwassoftenedandheforgavehiswife，andtheylivedhappilytogethereverafter。Andhisoldmothercameandlivedwithhim，andheneverpartedwithSchurkaandWaska；andI
　　needhardlytellyouthatheneveragainlettheringoutofhispossession。
　　FromtheBukowinaer。VonWliolocki。
　　AyoungPrincewasridingonedaythroughameadowthatstretchedformilesinfrontofhim，whenhecametoadeepopenditch。Hewasturningasidetoavoidit，whenheheardthesoundofsomeonecryingintheditch。Hedismountedfromhishorse，andsteppedalonginthedirectionthesoundcamefrom。Tohisastonishmenthefoundanoldwoman，whobeggedhimtohelpheroutoftheditch。ThePrincebentdownandliftedheroutofherlivinggrave，askingheratthesametimehowshehadmanagedtogetthere。
　　’Myson，’answeredtheoldwoman，’Iamaverypoorwoman，andsoonaftermidnightIsetoutfortheneighbouringtowninordertosellmyeggsinthemarketonthefollowingmorning；butI
　　lostmywayinthedark，andfellintothisdeepditch，whereI
　　mighthaveremainedforeverbutforyourkindness。’
　　ThenthePrincesaidtoher，’Youcanhardlywalk；Iwillputyouonmyhorseandleadyouhome。Wheredoyoulive？’
　　’Overthere，attheedgeoftheforestinthelittlehutyouseeinthedistance，’repliedtheoldwoman。
　　ThePrinceliftedherontohishorse，andsoontheyreachedthehut，wheretheoldwomangotdown，andturningtothePrincesaid，’Justwaitamoment，andIwillgiveyousomething。’Andshedisappearedintoherhut，butreturnedverysoonandsaid，’YouareamightyPrince，butatthesametimeyouhaveakindheart，whichdeservestoberewarded。Wouldyouliketohavethemostbeautifulwomanintheworldforyourwife？’
　　’MostcertainlyIwould，’repliedthePrince。
　　Sotheoldwomancontinued，’ThemostbeautifulwomaninthewholeworldisthedaughteroftheQueenoftheFlowers，whohasbeencapturedbyadragon。Ifyouwishtomarryher，youmustfirstsetherfree，andthisIwillhelpyoutodo。Iwillgiveyouthislittlebell:ifyouringitonce，theKingoftheEagleswillappear；ifyouringittwice，theKingoftheFoxeswillcometoyou；andifyouringitthreetimes，youwillseetheKingoftheFishesbyyourside。Thesewillhelpyouifyouareinanydifficulty。Nowfarewell，andheavenprosperyourundertaking。’Shehandedhimthelittlebell，andtheredisappearedhutandall，asthoughtheearthhadswallowedherup。
　　ThenitdawnedonthePrincethathehadbeenspeakingtoagoodfairy，andputtingthelittlebellcarefullyinhispocket，herodehomeandtoldhisfatherthathemeanttosetthedaughteroftheFlowerQueenfree，andintendedsettingoutonthefollowingdayintothewideworldinsearchofthemaid。
　　SothenextmorningthePrincemountedhisfinehorseandlefthishome。Hehadroamedroundtheworldforawholeyear，andhishorsehaddiedofexhaustion，whilehehimselfhadsufferedmuchfromwantandmisery，butstillhehadcomeonnotraceofherhewasinsearchof。Atlastonedayhecametoahut，infrontofwhichsataveryoldman。ThePrinceaskedhim，’DoyounotknowwheretheDragonliveswhokeepsthedaughteroftheFlowerQueenprisoner？’
　　’No，Idonot，’answeredtheoldman。’Butifyougostraightalongthisroadforayear，youwillreachahutwheremyfatherlives，andpossiblyhemaybeabletotellyou。’
　　ThePrincethankedhimforhisinformation，andcontinuedhisjourneyforawholeyearalongthesameroad，andattheendofitcametothelittlehut，wherehefoundaveryoldman。Heaskedhimthesamequestion，andtheoldmananswered，’No，IdonotknowwheretheDragonlives。Butgostraightalongthisroadforanotheryear，andyouwillcometoahutinwhichmyfatherlives。Iknowhecantellyou。’
　　AndsothePrincewanderedonforanotheryear，alwaysonthesameroad，andatlastreachedthehutwherehefoundthethirdoldman。Heputthesamequestiontohimashehadputtohissonandgrandson；butthistimetheoldmananswered，’TheDragonlivesupthereonthemountain，andhehasjustbegunhisyearofsleep。Foronewholeyearheisalwaysawake，andthenexthesleeps。ButifyouwishtoseetheFlowerQueen’sdaughtergoupthesecondmountain:theDragon’soldmotherlivesthere，andshehasaballeverynight，towhichtheFlowerQueen’sdaughtergoesregularly。’
　　SothePrincewentupthesecondmountain，wherehefoundacastleallmadeofgoldwithdiamondwindows。Heopenedthebiggateleadingintothecourtyard，andwasjustgoingtowalkin，whensevendragonsrushedonhimandaskedhimwhathewanted？
　　ThePrincereplied，’IhaveheardsomuchofthebeautyandkindnessoftheDragon’sMother，andwouldliketoenterherservice。’
　　Thisflatteringspeechpleasedthedragons，andtheeldestofthemsaid，’Well，youmaycomewithme，andIwilltakeyoutotheMotherDragon。’
　　Theyenteredthecastleandwalkedthroughtwelvesplendidhalls，allmadeofgoldanddiamonds。InthetwelfthroomtheyfoundtheMotherDragonseatedonadiamondthrone。Shewastheugliestwomanunderthesun，and，addedtoitall，shehadthreeheads。HerappearancewasagreatshocktothePrince，andsowashervoice，whichwaslikethecroakingofmanyravens。Sheaskedhim，’Whyhaveyoucomehere？’
　　ThePrinceansweredatonce，’Ihaveheardsomuchofyourbeautyandkindness，thatIwouldverymuchliketoenteryourservice。’
　　’Verywell，’saidtheMotherDragon；’butifyouwishtoentermyservice，youmustfirstleadmymareouttothemeadowandlookafterherforthreedays；butifyoudon’tbringherhomesafelyeveryevening，wewilleatyouup。’
　　ThePrinceundertookthetaskandledthemareouttothemeadow。
　　Butnosoonerhadtheyreachedthegrassthanshevanished。ThePrincesoughtforherinvain，andatlastindespairsatdownonabigstoneandcontemplatedhissadfate。Ashesatthuslostinthought，henoticedaneagleflyingoverhishead。Thenhesuddenlybethoughthimofhislittlebell，andtakingitoutofhispocketherangitonce。Inamomentheheardarustlingsoundintheairbesidehim，andtheKingoftheEaglessankathisfeet。
　　’Iknowwhatyouwantofme，’thebirdsaid。’YouarelookingfortheMotherDragon’smarewhoisgallopingaboutamongtheclouds。Iwillsummonalltheeaglesoftheairtogether，andorderthemtocatchthemareandbringhertoyou。’AndwiththesewordstheKingoftheEaglesflewaway。TowardseveningthePrinceheardamightyrushingsoundintheair，andwhenhelookeduphesawthousandsofeaglesdrivingthemarebeforethem。Theysankathisfeetontothegroundandgavethemareovertohim。ThenthePrincerodehometotheoldMotherDragon，whowasfullofwonderwhenshesawhim，andsaid，’Youhavesucceededto-dayinlookingaftermymare，andasarewardyoushallcometomyballto-night。’Shegavehimatthesametimeacloakmadeofcopper，andledhimtoabigroomwhereseveralyounghe-dragonsandshe-dragonsweredancingtogether。Here，too，wastheFlowerQueen’sbeautifuldaughter。Herdresswaswovenoutofthemostlovelyflowersintheworld，andhercomplexionwaslikeliliesandroses。AsthePrincewasdancingwithherhemanagedtowhisperinherear，’Ihavecometosetyoufree！’
　　Thenthebeautifulgirlsaidtohim，’Ifyousucceedinbringingthemarebacksafelythethirdday，asktheMotherDragontogiveyouafoalofthemareasareward。’
　　Theballcametoanendatmidnight，andearlynextmorningthePrinceagainledtheMotherDragon’smareoutintothemeadow。
　　Butagainshevanishedbeforehiseyes。Thenhetookouthislittlebellandrangittwice。
　　InamomenttheKingoftheFoxesstoodbeforehimandsaid:’I
　　knowalreadywhatyouwant，andwillsummonallthefoxesoftheworldtogethertofindthemarewhohashiddenherselfinahill。’
　　WiththesewordstheKingoftheFoxesdisappeared，andintheeveningmanythousandfoxesbroughtthemaretothePrince。
　　ThenherodehometotheMother-Dragon，fromwhomhereceivedthistimeacloakmadeofsilver，andagainsheledhimtotheball-room。
　　TheFlowerQueen’sdaughterwasdelightedtoseehimsafeandsound，andwhentheyweredancingtogethershewhisperedinhisear:’Ifyousucceedagainto-morrow，waitformewiththefoalinthemeadow。Aftertheballwewillflyawaytogether。’
　　OnthethirddaythePrinceledthemaretothemeadowagain；butoncemoreshevanishedbeforehiseyes。ThenthePrincetookouthislittlebellandrangitthreetimes。
　　InamomenttheKingoftheFishesappeared，andsaidtohim:’I
　　knowquitewellwhatyouwantmetodo，andIwillsummonallthefishesoftheseatogether，andtellthemtobringyoubackthemare，whoishidingherselfinariver。’
　　Towardseveningthemarewasreturnedtohim，andwhenheledherhometotheMotherDragonshesaidtohim:
　　’Youareabraveyouth，andIwillmakeyoumybody-servant。ButwhatshallIgiveyouasarewardtobeginwith？’
　　ThePrincebeggedforafoalofthemare，whichtheMotherDragonatoncegavehim，andoverandabove，acloakmadeofgold，forshehadfalleninlovewithhimbecausehehadpraisedherbeauty。