He did not keep them long , but they saw by his face that nothing good awaited them . ` The marriage can not take place , ' he said shortly , 'till the youth has joined to their roots all the trees he cut down yesterday . ' This sounded much more difficult than what he had done before , and he turned in despair to the Sister of the Sun . ` It is all right , ' she whispered encouragingly . ` Take this water and sprinkle it on one of the fallen trees , and say to it : `` So let all the trees of the forest stand upright , '' and in a moment they will be erect again . ' And the young man did what he was told , and left the forest looking exactly as it had done before . Now , surely , thought the princess , there was no longer any need to put off the wedding ; and she gave orders that all should be ready for the following day . But again the old man interfered , and declared that without the king 's permission no marriage could take place . For the third time his majesty was sent for , and for the third time he proclaimed that he could not give his consent until the bridegroom should have slain a serpent which dwelt in a broad river that flowed at the back of the castle . Everyone knew stories of this terrible serpent , though no one had actually seen it ; but from time to time a child strayed from home and never came back , and then mothers would forbid the other children to go near the river , which had juicy fruits and lovely flowers growing along its banks . So no wonder the youth trembled and turned pale when he heard what lay before him . ` You will succeed in this also , ' whispered the Sister of the Sun , pressing his hand , ` for in my ship is a magic sword which will cut through everything . Go down to the river and unfasten a boat which lies moored there , and throw the chips into the water . When the serpent rears up its body you will cut off its three heads with one blow of your sword . Then take the tip of each tongue and go with it to-morrow morning into the king 's kitchen . If the king himself should enter , just say to him : `` Here are three gifts I offer you in return for the services you demanded of me ! '' and throw the tips of the serpent 's tongues at him , and hasten to the ship as fast as your legs will carry you . But be sure you take great care never to look behind you . ' The young man did exactly what the princess had told him . The three chips which he flung into the river became a boat , and , as he steered across the stream , the serpent put up its head and hissed loudly .
The youth had his sword ready , and XXXXX another second the three heads were bobbing on the water .
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