` If you will loosen these cords I will tie you up with them as firmly as I can . ' This was soon done , and then the young man drove off the sheep , leaving their real shepherd to repent of his folly ; and before he had gone very far he met with a horse boy and a driver of oxen , and he persuaded them to turn with him and to seek for adventures . By these and many other tricks he soon became so celebrated that his fame reached the king 's ears , and his majesty was filled with curiosity to see the man who had managed to outwit everybody . So he commanded his guards to capture the young man and bring him before him . And when the young man stood before the king , the king spoke to him and said , ` By your tricks and the pranks that you have played on other people , you have , in the eye of the law , forfeited your life . But on one condition I will spare you , and that is , if you will bring me the flying horse that belongs to the great dragon . Fail in this , and you shall be hewn in a thousand pieces . ' ` If that is all , ' said the youth , ` you shall soon have it . ' So he went out and made his way straight to the stable where the flying horse was tethered . He stretched his hand cautiously out to seize the bridle , when the horse suddenly began to neigh as loud as he could . Now the room in which the dragon slept was just above the stable , and at the sound of the neighing he woke and cried to the horse , ` What is the matter , my treasure ? is anything hurting you ? ' After waiting a little while the young man tried again to loose the horse , but a second time it neighed so loudly that the dragon woke up in a hurry and called out to know why the horse was making such a noise . But when the same thing happened the third time , the dragon lost his temper , and went down into the stable and took a whip and gave the horse a good beating . This offended the horse and made him angry , and when the young man stretched out his hand to untie his head , he made no further fuss , but suffered himself to be led quietly away . Once clear of the stable the young man sprang on his back and galloped off , calling over his shoulder , ` Hi ! dragon ! dragon ! if anyone asks you what has become of your horse , you can say that I have got him ! ' But the king said , ` The flying horse is all very well , but I want something more .
You must bring me the covering with the little bells that lies XXXXX the bed of the dragon , or I will have you hewn into a thousand pieces . '
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