Rushing through the court to their master 's aid , the fox gnawed the cord in two that bound the prince 's thumbs behind his back , and the lion flung himself on the robber , and when he had killed him and torn him in pieces each of the beasts carried off a bone . Then the prince turned to the step-sister and said : ' I will not kill you , but I will leave you here to repent . ' And he fastened her with a chain to the wall , and put a great bowl in front of her and said , ' I will not see you again till you have filled this bowl with your 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 XXXXX him dead on the roadside .
back father left lion people pieces sea-shore slew step-sister wall