The prince sprang upon him and they grappled with each other and fought together till the sun was high , and it was noonday . Then the dragon gasped : ' O prince , let me dip my burning head once into the lake , and I will hurl you up 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 would kiss me on the forehead , I would throw you up higher still ! ' And suddenly the dragon 's hold loosened , and he fell back into the lake . As soon as it was evening , the prince washed away all signs of the fight , took his hawk upon his shoulder , and his pipes under his arm , and with his greyhounds in front and his flock following after him he set out for the city . As they all passed through the streets the people stared in wonder , for never before had any flock returned from the lake . The next morning he rose early , and led his sheep down the road to the lake . This time , however , the emperor sent two men on horseback to ride behind him , with orders to watch the prince all day long . The horsemen kept the prince and his sheep in sight , without being seen themselves . As soon as they beheld the sheep running towards the meadows , they turned aside up a steep hill , which overhung the lake . When the shepherd reached the place he laid , as before , his pipes on the grass and bade the greyhounds sit beside them , while the hawk he perched on the branch of the tree . Then he rolled up his trousers and his sleeves , and waded into the water crying : ` Dragon ! dragon ! if you are not a coward , come out and fight with me ! ' 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 . Again they clasped each other tight round the body and fought till it was noon , and when the sun was at its hottest , the dragon gasped : ' O prince , let me dip my burning head once in the lake , and I will hurl you up 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 would kiss me XXXXX the forehead , I would throw you up higher still ! '
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