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and then the next； till she was close to the door。 But just as she got
near the top she noticed that there were no bones left for the last
rung of the ladder。 What was she to do？ Without that last step
the whole ladder was useless。 She must have lost one of the bones。
Then suddenly an idea came to her。 Taking a knife she chopped
off her little finger； and placing it on the last step； it stuck as the
bones had done。 The ladder was complete； and with her child on
her arm she entered the door of the house。 Here she found everything
in perfect order。 Having taken some food； she laid the child
down to sleep in a trough that was on the floor； and sat down
herself to rest。
When her husband； the Pig； came back to his house； he was
startled by what he saw。 At first he could not believe his eyes；
and stared at the ladder of bones； and at the little finger on the top
of it。 He felt that some fresh magic must be at work； and in his
terror he almost turned away from the house； but then a better
idea came to him； and he changed himself into a dove； so that no
witchcraft could have power over him； and flew into the room
without touching the ladder。 Here he found a woman rocking a
child。 At the sight of her； looking so changed by all that she had
suffered for his sake； his heart was moved by such love and longing
and by so great a pity that he suddenly became a man。
The Princess stood up when she saw him。 and her heart beat
with fear； for she did not know him。 But when he had told her
who he was； in her great joy she forgot all her sufferings； and they
seemed as nothing to her。 He was a very handsome man； as
straight as a fir tree。 They sat down together and she told
him all her adventures； and he wept with pity at the tale。 And
then he told her his own history。
‘I am a King's son。 Once when my father was fighting against
some dragons； who were the scourge of our country； I slew the
youngest dragon。 His mother； who was a witch； cast a spell over me
and changed me into a Pig。 It was she who in the disguise of an
old woman gave you the thread to bind round my foot。 So that
instead of the three days that had to run before the spell was broken；
I was forced to remain a Pig for three more years。 Now that we
have suffered for each other； and have found each other again； let
us forget the past。'
And in their joy they kissed one another。
Next morning they set out early to return to his father's
kingdom。 Great was the rejoicing of all the people when they saw him
and his wife； his father and his mother embraced them both； and
there was feasting in the palace for three days and three nights。
Then they set out to see her father。 The old King nearly went
out of his mind with joy at beholding his daughter again。 When
she had told him all her adventures； he said to her：
‘Did not I tell you that I was quite sure that that creature who
wooed and won you as his wife had not been born a Pig？ You see；
my child； how wise you were in doing what I told you。'
And as the King was old and had no heirs； he put them on the
throne in his place。 And they ruled as only kings rule who have
suffered many things。 And if they are not dead they are still living
and ruling happily。＇8＇
＇8＇ Rumanische Marchen ubersetzt von Nite Kremnitz。