started to run away.  But the prince shouted to his shepherd dogs:  “Hold it! don’t let it go!” and the dogs sprang up and after it, caught it, and soon tore it to pieces.  But out of the boar flew a pigeon, and the prince loosed the falcon, and the falcon caught the pigeon and brought it into the prince’s hands.  The prince said to it:  “Tell me now, where are my brothers?” The pigeon replied:  “I will; only do me no harm.  Immediately behind your father’s town is a water-mill, and in the water-mill are three wands that have sprouted up.  Cut these three wands up from below, and strike with them upon their root; an iron door will immediately open into a large vault.  In that vault are many people, old and young, rich and poor, small and great, wives and maidens, so that you could settle a populous empire; there, too, are your brothers.”  When the pigeon had told him all this, the prince immediately wrung its neck.

The emperor had gone out in person, and posted himself on the hill from which the grooms had viewed the shepherd, and he, too, was a spectator of all that had taken place.  After the shepherd had thus obtained the dragon’s head, twilight began to approach.  He washed himself nicely, took the falcon on his shoulder, the hounds behind him, and the bagpipes under his arm, played as he went, drove the sheep, and proceeded to the emperor’s palace, with the damsel at his side still in terror.  When they came to the town, all the town assembled as to see a wonder.  The emperor, who had seen all his heroism from the hill, called him into his presence, and gave him his daughter, went immediately to church, had them married, and held a wedding festival for a week.  After this the prince told him who and whence he was, and the emperor and the whole town rejoiced still more.  Then, as the prince was urgent to go to his own home, the emperor gave him a large escort, and equipped him for the journey.  When they were in the neighbourhood of the water-mill, the prince halted his attendants, went inside, cut up the three wands, and struck the root with them, and the iron door opened at once.  In the vault was a vast multitude of people.  The prince ordered them to come out one by one, and go whither each would, and stood himself at the door.  They came out thus one after another, and lo! there were his brothers also, whom he embraced and kissed.  When the whole multitude had come out, they thanked him for releasing and delivering them, and went each to his own home.  But he went to his father’s house with his brothers and bride, and there lived and reigned to the end of his days.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 6:  This is intended as an insult.  “Azhdaja,” a dragon, is feminine in Servian.]

XV

THE GOOD CHILDREN