The next morning, when it was daylight, the master-cook took the beautiful roses that lay strewn on the floor and with them decorated the dishes for the king’s table.  The king so much admired the flowers that he ordered the master-cook to be called to him, and asked him where he had found such magnificent roses.  The cook told him all that had happened, and what the duck had said to the little dog.  When the king heard it he was much perplexed, and he told the cook to let him know as soon as the bird showed itself again.

The next night the little duck again came to the kitchen, and spoke to the dog as before.  The cook sent word to the king, and he came just as the bird went out at the door.  However he saw the beautiful roses lying all over the kitchen floor, and from them came such a delightful scent that the like had never been known.

The king made up his mind that if the duck came again he would see it, so he lay in wait for it.  He waited a long while, when, at midnight, the little bird, as before, came walking up to the dog which lay on the hearth, and said—­

“Poor little Snow-white! once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions.  Now you must lie on grey ashes.  Ah! my poor brother, who is in the lions’ den.  Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord’s arms.”

Then it went on—­

“Alas! poor me!  I shall see thee no more.”

Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses.  As the bird was about to go away, the king sprang out and caught it by the foot.  Then the bird changed its form and became a horrible dragon, but the king held it fast.  It changed itself again, and took the forms of snakes, wolves, and other fierce animals, but the king did not lose his hold.  Then the mermaid pulled hard at the chain, but the king held so fast that the chain broke in two with a great snap and rattling.  That moment there stood there a beautiful maiden much more beautiful than that in the fine picture.  She thanked the king for having saved her from the power of the mermaid.  The king was very glad, and took the beautiful maiden in his arms, kissed her, and said—­

“I will have no one else in the world for my queen, and now I well see that your brother was guiltless.”

Then he sent off at once to the lions’ den to learn if the young man was yet alive.  There the young man was safe and sound among the wild beasts, which had done him no injury.  Then the king was in a happy mood, and rejoiced that everything had chanced so well.  The brother and sister told him all that the step-mother had done.

When it was daylight the king ordered a great feast to be got ready, and asked the foremost people in the country to the palace.  As they all sat at table and were very merry, the king told a story of a brother and sister who had been treacherously dealt with by a step-mother, and he related all that had happened from beginning to end.  When the tale was ended the king’s folk looked at one another, and all agreed that the conduct of the step-mother in the tale was a piece of unexampled wickedness.