Scarcely had the sun begun to peep over the hills next morning , when the princess stood by the shepherd 's side , ready to go to the lake . The shepherd was brimming over with joy , but the princess only wept bitterly . ` Dry your tears , I implore you , ' said he . ` If you will just do what I ask you , and when the time comes , run and kiss my forehead , you have nothing to fear . ' Merrily the shepherd blew on his pipes as he marched at the head of his flock , only stopping every now and then to say to the weeping girl at his side : ` Do not cry so , Heart of Gold ; trust me and fear nothing . ' And so they reached the lake . In an instant the sheep were scattered all over the meadows , and the prince placed his hawk on the tree , and his pipes on the grass , while he bade his greyhounds lie beside them . Then he rolled up his trousers and his sleeves , and waded into the water , calling : ` Dragon ! dragon ! if you are not a coward , come forth , and let us have one more fight together . ' And the dragon answered : ' I am waiting for you , O prince ' ; and the next minute he reared himself out of the water , huge and horrible to see . Swiftly he drew near to the bank , and the prince sprang to meet him , and they grasped each other round the body and fought till it was noon . And when the sun was at its hottest , the dragon cried : ' O prince , let me dip my burning head in the lake , and I will hurl you to the top of the sky . ' But the prince answered : ` Oh , ho ! my good dragon , do not crow too soon ! If the emperor 's daughter were only here , and she would kiss my forehead , I would throw you higher still . ' Hardly had he spoken , when the princess , who had been listening , ran up and kissed him on the forehead . Then the prince swung the dragon straight up into the clouds , and when he touched the earth again , he broke into a thousand pieces . Out of the pieces there sprang a wild boar and galloped away , but the prince called his hounds to give chase , and they caught the boar and tore it to bits . Out of the pieces there sprang a hare , and in a moment the greyhounds were after it , and they caught it and killed it ; and out of the hare there came a pigeon .
Quickly the prince let loose his hawk , which soared straight into the air , then swooped upon the bird and brought it XXXXX his master .
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