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 in the lake , and I will hurl you 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 she would kiss my forehead , I would throw you higher still . ' Hardly had he spoken , when the princess , who had been listening , ran up and kissed him on the forehead . Then the prince swung the dragon straight up into the clouds , and when he touched the earth again , he broke into a thousand pieces . Out of the pieces there sprang a wild boar and galloped away , but the prince called his hounds to give chase , and they caught the boar and tore it to bits . Out of the pieces there sprang a hare , and in a moment the greyhounds were after it , and they caught it and killed it ; and out of the hare there came a pigeon . Quickly the prince let loose his hawk , which soared straight into the air , then swooped upon the bird and brought it to his master . The prince cut open its body and found the sparrow inside , as the old woman had said . ` Now , ' cried the prince , holding the sparrow in his hand , ` now you shall tell me where I can find my brothers . ' ` Do not hurt me , ' answered the sparrow , ` and I will tell you with all my heart . ' Behind your father 's castle stands a mill , and in the mill are three slender twigs . Cut off these twigs and strike their roots with them , and the iron door of a cellar will open . In the cellar you will find as many people , young and old , women and children , as would fill a kingdom , and among them are your brothers . ' By this time twilight had fallen , so the prince washed himself in the lake , took the hawk on his shoulder and the pipes under his arm , and with his greyhounds before him and his flock behind him , marched gaily into the town , the princess following them all , still trembling with fright . And so they passed through the streets , thronged with a wondering crowd , till they reached the castle . Unknown to anyone , the emperor had stolen out on horseback , and had hidden himself on the hill , where he could see all that happened . When all was over , and the power of the dragon was broken for ever , he rode quickly back to the castle , and was ready to receive the prince with open arms , and to promise him his daughter to wife .
The wedding took place with great splendour , and for a whole week the town was hung with coloured lamps , and tables were spread XXXXX the hall of the castle for all who chose to come and eat .
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