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 to him , so that the monster can not see you , else he might strike you dead with his long tail . But when all is done , take care you do not lose the ring , and that no one takes it from you by cunning . ' The young man thanked the magician for his directions , and promised , should they succeed , to reward him . But the magician answered , ' I have profited so much by the wisdom the ring has taught me that I desire no other reward . ' Then they parted , and the youth quickly flew home through the air . After remaining in his own home for some weeks , he heard people say that the terrible Dragon of the North was not far off , and might shortly be expected in the country . The King announced publicly that he would give his daughter in marriage , as well as a large part of his kingdom , to whosoever should free the country from the monster . The youth then went to the King and told him that he had good hopes of subduing the Dragon , if the King would grant him all he desired for the purpose . The King willingly agreed , and the iron horse , the great spear , and the chains were all prepared as the youth requested . When all was ready , it was found that the iron horse was so heavy that a hundred men could not move it from the spot , so the youth found there was nothing for it but to move it with his own strength by means of the magic ring . The Dragon was now so near that in a couple of springs he would be over the frontier . The youth now began to consider how he should act , for if he had to push the iron horse from behind he could not ride upon it as the sorcerer had said he must . But a raven unexpectedly gave him this advice : ` Ride upon the horse , and push the spear against the ground , as if you were pushing off a boat from the land . ' The youth did so , and found that in this way he could easily move forwards . The Dragon had his monstrous jaws wide open , all ready for his expected prey . A few paces nearer , and man and horse would have been swallowed up by them ! The youth trembled with horror , and his blood ran cold , yet he did not lose his courage ; but , holding the iron spear upright in his hand , he brought it down with all his might right through the monster 's lower jaw . Then quick as lightning he sprang from his horse before the Dragon had time to shut his mouth . A fearful clap like thunder , which could be heard for miles around , now warned him that the Dragon 's jaws had closed upon the spear .
When the youth turned round he saw the point of the spear sticking up high above the Dragon 's upper jaw , and knew that the other end must be fastened firmly XXXXX the ground ; but the Dragon had got his teeth fixed in the iron horse , which was now useless .
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