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 from that tree ? ' ` Where is it then ? ' asked the old woman , rather crossly , for she did not like being made fun of . ` My strength , ' replied the dragon , ` lies far away ; so far that you could never reach it . Far , far from here is a kingdom , and by its capital city is a lake , and in the lake is a dragon , and inside the dragon is a wild boar , and inside the wild boar is a pigeon , and inside the pigeon a sparrow , and inside the sparrow is my strength . ' And when the old woman heard this , she thought it was no use flattering him any longer , for never , never , could she take his strength from him . The following morning , when the dragon had left the mill , the prince came back , and the old woman told him all that the creature had said . He listened in silence , and then returned to the castle , where he put on a suit of shepherd 's clothes , and taking a staff in his hand , he went forth to seek a place as tender of sheep . For some time he wandered from village to village and from town to town , till he came at length to a large city in a distant kingdom , surrounded on three sides by a great lake , which happened to be the very lake in which the dragon lived . As was his custom , he stopped everybody whom he met in the streets that looked likely to want a shepherd and begged them to engage him , but they all seemed to have shepherds of their own , or else not to need any . The prince was beginning to lose heart , when a man who had overheard his question turned round and said that he had better go and ask the emperor , as he was in search of some one to see after his flocks . ` Will you take care of my sheep ? ' said the emperor , when the young man knelt before him . ` Most willingly , your Majesty , ' answered the young man , and he listened obediently while the emperor told him what he was to do . ` Outside the city walls , ' went on the emperor , ` you will find a large lake , and by its banks lie the richest meadows in my kingdom . When you are leading out your flocks to pasture , they will all run straight to these meadows , and none that have gone there have ever been known to come back . Take heed , therefore , my son , not to suffer your sheep to go where they will , but drive them to any spot that you think best . '
With a low bow the prince thanked the emperor for his warning , and promised to do his best XXXXX keep the sheep safe .
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