When he passed through the gates all the people came out of their houses to stare in wonder , for never before had any flock returned from the lake . Meanwhile the two horsemen had ridden quickly back , and told the emperor all that they had seen and heard . The emperor listened eagerly to their tale , then called his daughter to him and repeated it to her . ` To-morrow , ' he said , when he had finished , ` you shall go with the shepherd to the lake , and then you shall kiss him on the forehead as he wishes . ' But when the princess heard these words , she burst into tears , and sobbed out : ` Will you really send me , your only child , to that dreadful place , from which most likely I shall never come back ? ' ` Fear nothing , my little daughter , all will be well . Many shepherds have gone to that lake and none have ever returned ; but this one has in these two days fought twice with the dragon and has escaped without a wound . So I hope to-morrow he will kill the dragon altogether , and deliver this land from the monster who has slain so many of our bravest men . ' 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 XXXXX the lake , and I will hurl you to the top of the sky . '
as at if in into over that to with without