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golden clasp from the lion； and showed them to the maiden and asked
to whom they belonged。 She answered； the necklace and golden clasp
were mine； but I divided them among the animals who helped to conquer
the dragon。 Then spoke the huntsman； when I； tired of the fight； was
resting and sleeping； the marshal came and cut off my head。 Then he
carried away the king's daughter； and gave out that it was he who had
killed the dragon； but that he lied I prove with the tongues； the
handkerchief； and the necklace。
And then he related how his animals had healed him by means of a
wonderful root； and how he had traveled about with them for one year；
and had at length come there and had learnt the treachery of the
marshal by the inn…keeper's story。 Then the king asked his daughter；
is it true that this man killed the dragon。
And she answered； yes； it is true。 Now can I reveal the wicked deed
of the marshal； as it has come to light without my connivance； for he
wrung from me a promise to be silent。 For this reason； however； did
I make the condition that the marriage should not be solemnized for a
year and a day。 Then the king bade twelve councillors be summoned
who were to pronounce judgment on the marshal； and they sentenced him
to be torn to pieces by four bulls。
The marshal was therefore executed； but the king gave his daughter to
the huntsman； and named him his viceroy over the whole kingdom。 The
wedding was celebrated with great joy； and the young king caused his
father and his foster…father to be brought； and loaded them with
treasures。 Neither did he forget the inn…keeper； but sent for him
and said； behold； sir host； I have married the king's daughter； and
your house and yard are mine。
The host said； yes； according to justice it is so。 But the young
king said； it shall be done according to mercy； and told him that he
should keep his house and yard； and gave him the thousand pieces of
gold as well。
And now the young king and queen were thoroughly happy； and lived in
gladness together。 He often went out hunting because it was a
delight to him； and the faithful animals had to accompany him。 In
the neighborhood； however； there was a forest of which it was
reported that it was haunted； and that whosoever did but enter it did
not easily get out again。 But the young king had a great inclination
to hunt in it； and let the old king have no peace until he allowed
him to do so。 So he rode forth with a great following； and when he
came to the forest； he saw a snow…white hind； and said to his men；
wait here until I return； I want to hunt that beautiful creature； and
he rode into the forest after it； followed only by his animals。 The
attendants halted and waited until evening； but he did not return； so
they rode home； and told the young queen that the young king had
followed a white hind into the enchanted forest； and had not come
back again。 Then she was in the greatest concern about him。 He；
however； had still continued to ride on and on after the beautiful
wild animal； and had never been able to overtake it； when he thought
he was near enough to aim； he instantly saw it bound away into the
far distance； and at length it vanished altogether。 And now he
perceived that he had penetrated deep into the forest； and blew his
horn but he received no answer； for his attendants could not hear it。
And as night was falling； he saw that he could not get home that day；
so he dismounted from his horse； lighted himself a fire near a tree；
and resolved to spend the night by it。 While he was sitting by the
fire； and his animals also were lying down beside him； it seemed to
him that he heard a human voice。 He looked round； but could
perceived nothing。 Soon afterwards； he again heard a groan as if
from above； and then he looked up； and saw an old woman sitting in
the tree； who wailed unceasingly； oh； oh； oh； how cold I am。 Said
he； come down； and warm yourself if you are cold。 But she said； no；
your animals will bite me。 He answered； they will do you no harm；
old mother； do come down。 She； however； was a witch； and said； I
will throw down a wand from the tree； and if you strike them on the
back with it； they will do me no harm。 Then she threw him a small
wand； and he struck them with it； and instantly they lay still and
were turned into stone。 And when the witch was safe from the
animals； she leapt down and touched him also with a wand； and changed
him to stone。 Thereupon she laughed； and dragged him and the animals
into a vault； where many more such stones already lay。
As the young king did not come back at all； the queen's anguish and
care grew constantly greater。 And it so happened that at this very
time the other brother who had turned to the east when they
separated； came into the kingdom。 He had sought a situation； and had
found none； and had then traveled about here and there； and had made
his animals dance。 Then it came into his mind that he would just go
and look at the knife that they had thrust in the trunk of a tree at
their parting； that he might learn how his brother was。 When he got
there his brother's side of the knife was half rusted； and half
bright。 Then he was alarmed and thought； a great misfortune must
have befallen my brother； but perhaps I can still save him； for half
the knife is still bright。 He and his animals traveled towards the
west； and when he entered the gate of the town； the guard came to
meet him； and asked if he was to announce him to his consort the
young queen； who had for a couple of days been in the greatest sorrow
about his staying away； and was afraid he had been killed in the
enchanted forest。
The sentries； indeed； thought no otherwise than that he was the young
king himself； for he looked so like him； and had wild animals running
behind him。 Then he saw that they were speaking of his brother； and
thought； it will be better if I pass myself off for him； and then I
can rescue him more easily。 So he allowed himself to be escorted
into the castle by the guard； and was received with the greatest joy。
The young queen indeed thought that he was her husband； and asked him
why he had stayed away so long。 He answered； I had lost myself in a
forest； and could not find my way out again any sooner。 At night he
was taken to the royal bed； but he laid a two…edged sword between him
and the young queen； she did not know what that could mean； but did
not venture to ask。
He remained in the palace a couple of days； and in the meantime
inquired into everything which related to the enchanted forest； and
at last he said； I must hunt there once more。 The king and the young
queen wanted to persuade him not to do it； but he stood out against
them； and went forth with a larger following。 When he had got into
the forest； it fared with him as with his brother； he saw a white
hind and said to his men； stay here； and wait until I return； I want
to chase the lovely wild beast； and then he rode into the forest and
his animals ran after him。 But he could not overtake the hind； and
got so deep into the forest that he was forced to pass the night
there。 And when he had lighted a fire； he heard someone wailing
above him； oh； oh； oh； how cold I am。
Then he looked up； and the self…same witch was sitting in the tree。
Said he； if you are cold； come down； little old mother； and warm
yourself。 She answered； no； your animals will bite me。 But he said；
they will not hurt you。 Then she cried； I will throw down a wand to
you； and if you smite them with it they will do me no harm。 When the
huntsman heard that； he had no confidence in the old woman； and said；
I will not strike my animals。 Come down； or I will fetch you。 Then
she cried； what do you want。 You shall not touch me。 But he
replied； if you do not come； I will shoot you。 Said she； shoot away；
I do not fear your bullets。
Then he aimed； and fired at her； but the witch was proof against all
leaden bullets； and laughed shrilly and cried； you shall not hit me。
The huntsman knew what to do； tore three silver buttons off his coat；
and loaded his gun with them； for against them her arts were useless；
and when he fired she fell down at once with a scream。 Then he set
his foot on her and said； old witch； if you do not instantly confess
where my brother is； I will seize