As soon as the little man had in some measure recovered from his alarm, his small, squeaky, cracked voice was heard saying, “Couldn’t you have held me more gently?  See my little coat; you have rent and damaged it in a fine manner, you clumsy, officious things!” Then he picked up a sack of jewels, and slipped out of sight behind a piece of rock.

The maidens by this time were quite used to his ungrateful, ungracious ways; so they took no notice of it, but went on their way, made their purchases, and then were ready to return to their happy home.

[Illustration:  Painted by Jennie Harbour snow-white and rose-red]

On their way back, suddenly, once more they ran across their dwarf friend.

Upon a clear space he had turned out his sack of jewels, so that he could count and admire them, for he had not imagined that anybody would at so late an hour be coming across the common.  The setting sun was shining upon the brilliant stones, and their changing hues and sparkling rays caused the children to pause to admire them also.

“What are you gazing at?” cried the dwarf, at the same time becoming red with rage; “and what are you standing there for, making ugly faces?”

It is probable that he might have proceeded in the same complimentary manner, but suddenly a great growl was heard near by them, and a big bear joined the party.  Up jumped the dwarf in extremest terror, but could not get to his hiding-place, the bear was too close to him; so he cried out in very evident anguish—­

“Dear Mr. Bear, forgive me, I pray!  I will render to you all my treasure.  Just see those precious stones lying there!  Grant me my life!  What would you do with such an insignificant little fellow?  You would not notice me between your teeth.  See, though, those two children, they would be delicate morsels, and are as plump as partridges; I beg of you to take them, good Mr. Bear, and let me go.”

But the bear would not be moved by his speeches.  He gave the ill-disposed creature a blow with his paw, and he lay lifeless on the ground.  Meanwhile, the maidens were running away, making off for home as well as they could; but all of a sudden they were stopped by a well-known voice that called out, “Snow-White, Rose-Red, stay!  Do not fear.  I will accompany you.”

The bear quickly came towards them, but as he reached their side, suddenly the bear-skin slipped to the ground, and there before them was standing a handsome man, completely garmented in gold, who said, “I am a king’s son, who was enchanted by the wicked dwarf lying over there.  He stole my treasure, and compelled me to roam the woods transformed into a big bear until his death should set me free.  Therefore he has only received a well-deserved punishment.”

[Illustration:  “The Bearskin slipped to the ground.”]

Then Rose-Red and Snow-White and the Prince all went back to the cottage, and some time afterwards Snow-White married the Prince, and Rose-Red, his brother, who shared between them the enormous treasure which the dwarf had collected in his cave.