` Tell me , little mother , ' went on the prince , ` where shall I find my hare ? ' ` My son , ' replied the old woman , ` that was no hare , but a dragon who has led many men hither , and then has eaten them all . ' At these words the prince 's heart grew heavy , and he cried , ` Then my brothers must have come here , and have been eaten by the dragon ! ' ` You have guessed right , ' answered the old woman ; ` and I can give you no better counsel than to go home at once , before the same fate overtakes you . ' ` Will you not come with me out of this dreadful place ? ' said the young man . ` He took me prisoner , too , ' answered she , ` and I can not shake off his chains . ' ` Then listen to me , ' cried the prince . ` When the dragon comes back , ask him where he always goes when he leaves here , and what makes him so strong ; and when you have coaxed the secret from him , tell me the next time I come . ' So the prince went home , and the old woman remained in the mill , and as soon as the dragon returned she said to him : ` Where have you been all this time -- you must have travelled far ? ' ` Yes , little mother , I have indeed travelled far . ' answered he . Then the old woman began to flatter him , and to praise his cleverness ; and when she thought she had got him into a good temper , she said : ' I have wondered so often where you get your strength from ; I do wish you would tell me . I would stoop and kiss the place out of pure love ! ' The dragon laughed at this , and answered : ` In the hearthstone yonder lies the secret of my strength . ' Then the old woman jumped up and kissed the hearth ; whereat the dragon laughed the more , and said : ` You foolish creature ! I was only jesting . It is not in the hearthstone , but in that tall tree that lies the secret of my strength . ' Then the old woman jumped up again and put her arms round the tree , and kissed it heartily . Loudly laughed the dragon when he saw what she was doing .
` Old fool , ' he cried , as soon as he could speak , ` did you really believe that my strength came XXXXX that tree ? '
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