She took the knife and tried to strike the youth , and he even tried to cut himself with it , but found it impossible . Then he asked the maiden to show him how to split stones and rocks with the help of the ring . So she led him into a courtyard where stood a great boulder-stone . ` Now , ' she said , ` put the ring upon the thumb of your left hand , and you will see how strong that hand has become . The youth did so , and found to his astonishment that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a thousand pieces . Then the youth bethought him that he who does not use his luck when he has it is a fool , and that this was a chance which once lost might never return . So while they stood laughing at the shattered stone he placed the ring , as if in play , upon the third finger of his left hand . ` Now , ' said the maiden , ` you are invisible to me until you take the ring off again . ' But the youth had no mind to do that ; on the contrary , he went farther off , then put the ring on the little finger of his left hand , and soared into the air like a bird . When the maiden saw him flying away she thought at first that he was still in play , and cried , ` Come back , friend , for now you see I have told you the truth . ' But the young man never came back . Then the maiden saw she was deceived , and bitterly repented that she had ever trusted him with the ring . The young man never halted in his flight until he reached the dwelling of the wise magician who had taught him the speech of birds . The magician was delighted to find that his search had been successful , and at once set to work to interpret the secret signs engraved upon the ring , but it took him seven weeks to make them out clearly . Then he gave the youth the following instructions how to overcome the Dragon of the North : ` You must have an iron horse cast , which must have little wheels under each foot . You must also be armed with a spear two fathoms long , which you will be able to wield by means of the magic ring upon your left thumb . The spear must be as thick in the middle as a large tree , and both its ends must be sharp . In the middle of the spear you must have two strong chains ten fathoms in length . As soon as the Dragon has made himself fast to the spear , which you must thrust through his jaws , you must spring quickly from the iron horse and fasten the ends of the chains firmly to the ground with iron stakes , so that he can not get away from them . After two or three days the monster 's strength will be so far exhausted that you will be able to come near him .
Then you can put Solomon 's ring upon your left thumb and give him the finishing stroke , but keep the ring on your third finger until you have come close XXXXX him , so that the monster can not see you , else he might strike you dead with his long tail .
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