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Full of hope the young prince started on his way； but no sooner was he outside the city walls than a hare sprang out of the bushes and ran before him； till they reached the mill。 As before； the animal dashed in through the open door； but this time he was not followed by the prince。 Wiser than his brothers； the young man turned away； saying to himself： 'There are as good hares in the forest as any that have come out of it； and when I have caught them； I can come back and look for you。'
For many hours he rode up and down the mountain； but saw nothing； and at last； tired of waiting； he went back to the mill。 Here he found an old woman sitting； whom he greeted pleasantly。
'Good morning to you； little mother；' he said； and the old woman answered： 'Good morning； my son。'
'Tell me； little mother；' went on the prince； 'where shall I find my hare？'
'My son；' replied the old woman； 'that was no hare； but a dragon who has led many men hither； and then has eaten them all。' At these words the prince's heart grew heavy； and he cried； 'Then my brothers must have come here； and have been eaten by the dragon！'
'You have guessed right；' answered the old woman； 'and I can give you no better counsel than to go home at once； before the same fate overtakes you。'
'Will you not come with me out of this dreadful place？' said the young man。
'He took me prisoner； too；' answered she； 'and I cannot shake off his chains。'
'Then listen to me；' cried the prince。 'When the dragon comes back； ask him where he always goes when he leaves here； and what makes him so strong； and when you have coaxed the secret from him； tell me the next time I come。'
So the prince went home； and the old woman remained in the mill； and as soon as the dragon returned she said to him：
'Where have you been all this timeyou must have travelled far？'
'Yes； little mother； I have indeed travelled far。' answered he。 Then the old woman began to flatter him； and to praise his cleverness； and when she thought she had got him into a good temper； she said： 'I have wondered so often where you get your strength from； I do wish you would tell me。 I would stoop and kiss the place out of pure love！' The dragon laughed at this； and answered：
'In the hearthstone yonder lies the secret of my strength。'
Then the old woman jumped up and kissed the hearth； whereat the dragon laughed the more； and said：
'You foolish creature！ I was only jesting。 It is not in the hearthstone； but in that tall tree that lies the secret of my strength。' Then the old woman jumped up again and put her arms round the tree； and kissed it heartily。 Loudly laughed the dragon when he saw what she was doing。
'Old fool；' he cried； as soon as he could speak； 'did you really believe that my strength came from that tree？'
'Where is it then？' asked the old woman； rather crossly； for she did not like being made fun of。
'My strength；' replied the dragon； 'lies far away； so far that you could never reach it。 Far； far from here is a kingdom； and by its capital city is a lake； and in the lake is a dragon； and inside the dragon is a wild boar； and inside the wild boar is a pigeon； and inside the pigeon a sparrow； and inside the sparrow is my strength。' And when the old woman heard this； she thought it was no use flattering him any longer； for never； never； could she take his strength from him。
The following morning； when the dragon had left the mill； the prince came back； and the old woman told him all that the creature had said。 He listened in silence； and then returned to the castle； where he put on a suit of shepherd's clothes； and taking a staff in his hand； he went forth to seek a place as tender of sheep。
For some time he wandered from village to village and from town to town； till he came at length to a large city in a distant kingdom； surrounded on three sides by a great lake； which happened to be the very lake in which the dragon lived。 As was his custom； he stopped everybody whom he met in the streets that looked likely to want a shepherd and begged them to engage him； but they all seemed to have shepherds of their own； or else not to need any。 The prince was beginning to lose heart； when a man who had overheard his question turned round and said that he had better go and ask the emperor； as he was in search of some one to see after his flocks。
'Will you take care of my sheep？' said the emperor； when the young man knelt before him。
'Most willingly； your Majesty；' answered the young man； and he listened obediently while the emperor told him what he was to do。
'Outside the city walls；' went on the emperor； 'you will find a large lake； and by its banks lie the richest meadows in my kingdom。 When you are leading out your flocks to pasture； they will all run straight to these meadows； and none that have gone there have ever been known to come back。 Take heed； therefore； my son； not to suffer your sheep to go where they will； but drive them to any spot that you think best。'
With a low bow the prince thanked the emperor for his warning； and promised to do his best to keep the sheep safe。 Then he left the palace and went to the market…place； where he bought two greyhounds； a hawk； and a set of pipes； after that he took the sheep out to pasture。 The instant the animals caught sight of the lake lying before them； they trotted off as fast as their legs would go to the green meadows lying round it。 The prince did not try to stop them； he only placed his hawk on the branch of a tree； laid his pipes on the grass； and bade the greyhounds sit still； then； rolling up his sleeves and trousers； he waded into the water crying as he did so： 'Dragon！ dragon！ if you are not a coward； come out and fight with me！' And a voice answered from the depths of the lake：
'I am waiting for you； O prince'； and the next minute the dragon reared himself out of the water； huge and horrible to see。 The prince sprang upon him and they grappled with each other and fought together till the sun was high； and it was noonday。 Then the dragon gasped：
'O prince； let me dip my burning head once into the lake； and I will hurl you up 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 would kiss me on the forehead； I would throw you up higher still！' And suddenly the dragon's hold loosened； and he fell back into the lake。
As soon as it was evening； the prince washed away all signs of the fight； took his hawk upon his shoulder； and his pipes under his arm； and with his greyhounds in front and his flock following after him he set out for the city。 As they all passed through the streets the people stared in wonder； for never before had any flock returned from the lake。
The next morning he rose early； and led his sheep down the road to the lake。 This time； however； the emperor sent two men on horseback to ride behind him； with orders to watch the prince all day long。 The horsemen kept the prince and his sheep in sight； without being seen themselves。 As soon as they beheld the sheep running towards the meadows； they turned aside up a steep hill； which overhung the lake。 When the shepherd reached the place he laid； as bef