 Section 43 of the Green Fairy Book. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Ashley Jane. The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lan. The War of the Wolf and the Fox. There was once upon a time a man in his wife who had an old cat and an old dog. One day the man, whose name was Simon, said to his wife whose name was Susan, why should we keep her old cat any longer? She never catches any mice nowadays and is so useless that I have made at my mind to drown her. But his wife replied, don't do that for I'm sure she could still catch mice. Rubbish said Simon. The mice might dance on her and she would never catch one. I've quite made up my mind that the next time I see her I shall put her in the water. Susan was very unhappy when she heard this and so was the cat who had been listening to the conversation behind the stove. When Simon went off to his work the poor cat meowed so pitifully and looked up so pathetically into Susan's face that the woman quickly opened the door and said, life your life my poor little beast and get well away from here before your master returns. The cat took her advice and ran as quickly as her poor old legs would carry her into the water. And when Simon came home his wife told him that the cat had vanished. So much the better for her said Simon and now we have got rid of her. We must consider what we had to do with the old dog. He is quite deaf and blind and invariably barks when there is no need and makes no sound when there is. I think the best thing I can do with him is to hang him. But soft hearted Susan replied, please don't do so. He's surely not so useless as all that. Don't be foolish said her husband. The courtyard might be full of thieves and he'd never discover it. No, the first time I see him it's all up with him I can tell you. Susan was very unhappy at his words and so was the dog who was lying in the corner of the room and had heard everything. As soon as Simon had gone to his work he stood up and howled so touchingly that Susan quickly opened the door and said, fry for your life poor beast before your master gets home. And the dog ran into the water with his tail between his legs. When her husband returned his wife told him that the dog had disappeared. That's lucky for him said Simon. But Susan sighed for she had been very fond of the poor creature. Now it happened that the cat and dog met each other on their travels and though they had not been the best of friends at home they were quite glad to meet among strangers. They sat down under a holly tree and both poured forth their woes. Presently a fox passed by and seeing the pair sitting together in disconsolate fashion he asked them why they sat there and what they were grumbling about. The cat replied, I've caught many a mouse in my day but now that I'm old and past my work my master wants to drown me. And the dog said many a night if I watched and guarded my master's house and now that I am old and deaf he wants to hang me. The fox answered, that's the way of the world but I'll help you get back into your master's favour only you must help me in my own troubles. They promised to do their best and the fox continued. The wolf has declared war against me and is at this moment marching to meet me in company with the bear and the wild boar and tomorrow there will be a fierce battle between us. All right said the dog and the cat we will stand by you and if we are killed it is at any rate better to die on a field of battle than to perish ignably at home. And they shook paws and concluded the bargain. The fox sent word to the wolf to meet him at a certain place and the three set forth to encounter him and his friends. The wolf, the bear and the wild boar arrived on the spot first and when they had waited some time for the fox, the dog and the cat the bear said I'll climb up into the oak tree and look if I can see them coming. The first time he looked round he said I can see nothing and the second time he looked round he said I can still see nothing but the third time he said I see a mighty army in the distance and one of the warriors has the biggest lance you ever saw. This was the cat who was marching along with her tail erect and so they laughed and jeered and it was so hot that the bear said the enemy won't be here at this rate for many hours to come so I'll just curl myself up in the fork of the tree and have a little sleep. And the wolf lay down under the oak and the wild boar buried himself in some straw so that nothing was seen of him but one ear. And while they were lying there the fox, the cat and the dog arrived. When the cat saw the wild boar's ear she pounced upon it thinking it was a mouse in the straw. The wild boar got up in a dreadful fright gave one loud grunt and disappeared into the wood but the cat was even more startled than the boar and spitting with terror she scrambled up into the fork of the tree and as it happened right into the bear's face now it was the bear's turn to be alarmed and with a mighty growl he jumped down from the oak and fell right on top of the wolf and killed him as dead as a stone. On their way home from the ward the fox caught a score of mice and when they reached Simon's cottage he put them all on the stove and said to the cat, now go and fetch one mouse after the other and lay them down before your master. All right, said the cat and did exactly as the fox told her. When Susan saw this she said to her husband, just look here is our old cat back again and I see what a lot of mice she has caught. Wonders will never cease, cried Simon. I certainly never thought the old cat would ever catch another mouse but Susan answered, there you see I always said our cat was a most excellent creature but you men always think you know best. In the meantime the fox said to the dog, our friend Simon has just killed a pig when it gets a little darker you must go into the torch yard and bark with all your might. All right, said the dog and as soon as it grew it does keep began to bark loudly. Susan who heard him first said to her husband, our dog must have come back for I hear him barking lustily. Do go out and see what's the matter, perhaps thieves may be stealing our sausages but Simon answered the foolish Brutus's deficit post and is always barking at nothing and he refused to get up. The next morning Susan got her pearly to go to church at the neighbouring town and she thought she would take some sausages to her aunt who lived there but when she went to her larder she found all the sausages gone and a great hole in the floor. She called out to her husband, I was perfectly right, thieves have been here last night and they have not left a single sausage. Oh, if you had only got up when I asked you to. Then Simon scratched his head and said I can't understand it at all, I certainly never believed the dog was so quick at hearing but Susan replied, I always told you our old dog was the best dog in the world as usual you thought you knew so much better, men are the same all the world over and the fox scored a point too but he had carried away the sausages himself. End of the War of the Wolf and the Fox, recording by Ashley Jane. Section 44 of the Green Fairy Book. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Soranka. The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. The story of the fisherman and his wife. There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a little hut close to the sea and the fisherman used to go down every day to fish and he would fish and fish so he used to sit with his rod and gaze into the shining water and he would gaze and gaze. Now once the line was pulled deep under the water and when he hauled it up he hauled a large flounder with it. The flounder said to him, listen fisherman, I pray you to let me go. I am not a real flounder, I am enchanted prince. What good will it do you if you kill me? I shall not taste nice. Put me back into the water and let me swim away. Well said the man, you need not make so much noise about it. I am sure I had much better let a flounder that can talk swim away. With these words he put him back again into the shining water and the flounder sank to the bottom leaving a long streak of blood behind. Then the fisherman got up and went home to his wife in the hut. Husband, said the wife, have you caught anything today? No, said the man. I caught a flounder who said he was an enchanted prince so I let him swim away again. Did you wish nothing from him? said his wife. No, said the man. What should I have wished from him? Ah, said the woman. It is dreadful to have to live all one's life in this hut that is so small and dirty. You ought to have wished for a cottage. Go now and call him. Say to him that we choose to have a cottage and he will certainly give it to you. Alas, said the man, why should I go down there again? Why? said his wife. You caught him and then let him go again. So he is sure to give you what you ask. Go down quickly. The man did not like going at all, but as his wife was not to be persuaded, he went down to the sea. When he came there the sea was quite green and yellow and was no longer shining. So he stood on the shore and said, Once a prince but changed you be into a flounder in the sea, Come, for my wife Isabel wishes what I dare not tell. Then the flounder came swimming up and said, Well, what does she want? Alas, said the man, my wife says I ought to have kept you and wished something from you. She does not want to live any longer in the hut. She would like a cottage. Go home then, said the flounder. She has it. So the man went home and there was his wife no longer in the hut, but in its place was a beautiful cottage and his wife was sitting in front of the door on a bench. She took him by the hand and said to him, Come inside and see if this is not much better. They went in and inside the cottage was a tiny hall and a beautiful sitting room and a bedroom in which stood a bed, a kitchen and a dining room all furnished with the best of everything and fitted up with every kind of tin and copper utensil. An outside was a little yard in which were chickens and ducks and also a little garden with vegetables and fruit trees. See, said the wife, isn't this nice? Yes, answered her husband. Here we shall remain and live very happily. We will think about that, said his wife. With these words they had their supper and went to bed. All went well for a week or a four night. Then the wife said, Listen husband, the cottage is much too small and so is the yard and the garden. The flounder might just as well have sent us a larger house. I should like to live in a great stone castle. Go down to the flounder and tell him to send us a castle. Ah, wife, said the fisherman. The cottage is quite good enough. Why do we choose to live in a castle? Why, said the wife, you go down. The flounder can quite well do that. No wife, said the man. The flounder gave us the cottage. I do not like to go to him again. He might take it amiss. Go, said his wife. He can certainly give it us and ought to do so willingly. Go at once. The fisherman's heart was very heavy and he did not like going. He said to himself, It is not right. Still, he went down. When he came to the sea, the water was all violet and dark blue and dull and thick and no longer green and yellow, but it was still smooth. So he stood there and said, Once a prince but changed you be into a flounder in the sea. Come, for my wife, Isabelle, wishes what I dare not tell. What does she want now? Said the flounder. Ah, said the fisherman, half ashamed. She wants to live in a great stone castle. Go home. She is standing before the door. So the flounder. The fisherman went home and thought he would find no house. When he came near, there stood a great stone palace and his wife was standing on the steps about to enter. She took him by the hand and said, Come inside. Then he went with her and inside the castle was a large hall with a marble floor. And there were heaps of servants who threw open the great doors and the walls were covered with beautiful tapestry and in the apartments were gilded chairs and tables and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and all the rooms were beautifully carpeted. The best of food and drink also was set before them when they wished to dine. And outside the house was a large courtyard with horse and cow stables and a coach house. All fine buildings and a splendid garden with most beautiful flowers and fruit. And in a park quite a leak long were deers and row and hairs and everything one could wish for. Now, said the wife, isn't this beautiful? Yes indeed, said the fisherman. Now we will stay here and live in this beautiful castle and be very happy. We will consider the matter, said his wife and they went to bed. The next morning the wife woke up first at daybreak and looked out of bed at the beautiful country stretch before her. Her husband was still sleeping so she dug her elbows into his side and said, Husband, get up and look out of the window. Could we not become the king of all this land? Go down to the flounder and tell him we choose to be king. Ah, wife, replied the husband. Why should we be king? I don't want to be king. Well, said his wife, if you don't want to be king, I will be king. Go down to the flounder. I will be king. Alas, wife, why do you want to be king? I can't ask him that. And why not? said his wife. Go down at once. I must be king. So the fisherman went the much fex that his wife wanted to be king. It is not right. It is not right. He thought. He did not wish to go yet. He went. And when he came to the sea, the water was a dark gray color and it was heaving against the shore. So he stood and said, Once a prince but changed you be into a flounder in the sea. Come, for my wife, Isabel, wishes what I dare not tell. What does she want now? asked the flounder. Alas, said the fisherman. She wants to be king. Go home. She is that already? said the flounder. The fisherman went home and when he came near the palace he saw that it had become much larger and that it had great towers and splendid ornamental carving on it. A centennial was standing before the gate and there were numbers of soldiers with kettle drums and trumpets. And when he went into the palace he found everything was pure marble and gold in the curtains of Damascus with tassels of gold. Then the doors of the hall flew open and there stood the whole court round his wife who was sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds. She wore a great golden crown and had a scepter of gold and precious stones in her hand. And by her on either side stood six pages in a row, each one a head taller than the other. Then he went before her and said, Ah, wife, are you king now? Yes, said his wife. Now I am king. He stood looking at her and when he had looked for some time he said, Let that be enough, wife, now that you are king. Now we have nothing more to wish for. Nay, husband, said his wife relentlessly. My wishing powers are boundless. I cannot restrain them any longer. Go down to the flounder. King I am, now I must be emperor. Alas, wife, said the fisherman, why do you want to be emperor? Husband, she said, go to the flounder. I will be emperor. Ah, wife, he said, he cannot make you emperor. I don't like to ask him that. There is only one emperor in the kingdom, indeed and indeed he cannot make you emperor. What? said his wife. I am king and you are my husband. Will you go at once? Go. If he can make king, he can make emperor. An emperor I must and will be. Go. So we had to go. But as he went, he felt quite frightened and he thought to himself, this can't be right to be emperor's too ambitious. The flounder will be tired out at last. Thinking thus he came to the shore. The sea was quite black and thick and it was breaking high on the beach. The foam was flying about and the wind was blowing. Everything looked bleak. The fisherman was chilled with fear. He stood and said, once a prince but changed you be into a flounder in the sea, come for my wife Isabel, wishes what I dare not tell. What does she want now, as the flounder? A last flounder, he said. My wife wants to be emperor. Go home, said the flounder. She is that already. So the fisherman went home and when he came there he saw the whole castle was made of polished marble, ornamented with alabaster statues and gold. Before the gates soldiers were marching blowing trumpets and beating drums. Inside the palace were walking barons, counts and dukes, acting as servants. They opened the door, which was of beaten gold. And when he entered he saw his wife upon a throne which was made out of a single block of gold and which was quite six cubits high. She had on a great golden crown which was three yards high and set with brilliance and sparkling gems. In one hand she held deceptor and in the other the imperial globe. And on either side of her stood two rows of palpiteers, each smaller than the other, from the seven foot giant to the tiniest dwarf no higher than my little finger. Many princes and dukes were standing before her. The fisherman went up to her quietly and said, Wife, are you emperor now? Yes, she said, I am emperor. He stood looking at her magnificence and when he had watched her for some time he said, Ah, wife, let that be enough now that you are emperor. Husband, she said, Why are you standing there? I am emperor now and I want to be pope too. Go down to the flounder. Alas, wife, said the fisherman, What more do you want? You cannot be pope. There is only one pope in Christendom and he cannot make you that. Husband, I will be pope. Go down quickly. I must be pope today. No, wife, said the fisherman. I can't ask him that. It is not right. It is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope. Husband, what nonsense, said his wife. If he can make emperor, he can make pope too. Go down this instant. I am emperor and you are my husband. Will you be off at once? So he was frightened and run out, but he felt quite faint and trembled and shook and his knees and legs began to give way under him. The wind was blowing fiercely across the land and the clouds flying across the sky looked as gloomy as if it were night. The leaves were being blown from the trees. The water was foaming and seething and dashing upon the shore and in the distance he saw the ships in great distress, dancing and tossing on the waves. Still the sky was very blue in the middle, although at the sides it was an angry red as in a great storm. So he stood shuddering in anxiety and said, Once a prince but changed you be into a flounder in the sea, come from my wife Isabel, wishes what I dare not tell. Well, what does she want now as the flounder? Alas, said the fisherman, she wants to be pope. Go home then, she was that already, said the flounder. Then he went home and when he came there he saw as it were a large church surrounded by palaces. He pushed his way through the people, the interior was lit up with thousands and thousands of candles and his wife was dressed in cloth of gold and was sitting on a much higher throne and she wore three great golden crowns. Round were her numbers of church dignitaries and on either side were standing two rows of tapers, the largest of them as tall as a staple and the smallest as tiny as a Christmas tree candle. All the emperors and kings were on their knees before her and were kissing her foot. Wife, said the fisherman, looking at her, are you pope now? Yes, she said, I am pope. So he stood staring at her and it was as if he were looking at the bright sun. When he had watched her for some time he said, Ah, wife, let it be enough now that you are pope. But she sat as straight as a tree and did not move or bend the least bit. He said again, Wife, be content now that you are pope. You cannot become anything more. We will think about that, said his wife. With these words they went to bed, but the woman was not content. Her greed would not allow her to sleep and she kept thinking and thinking what she could still become. The fisherman slept well and soundly, for he had done a great deal that day that his wife could not sleep at all and turned from one side to another the whole night long and thought till she could think no longer what more she could become. Then the sun began to rise and when she saw the red dawn she went to the end of the bed and looked at it. And as she was watching the sun rise out of the window she thought, Ha, could I not make the sun and man rise? Husband, she said, poking him in the ribs with her elbows. Wake up, go down to the flounder. I will be a god. The fisherman was still half asleep, yet he was so frightened that he fell out of bed. He thought he had not heard a right and opened his eyes wide and said, What did you say, wife? Husband, she said, If I cannot make the sun and man rise when I appear, I cannot rest. I shall never have a quiet moment till I can make the sun and man rise. He looked at her in horror and a shutter ran over him. Go down at once. I will be a god. A last wife of the fisherman falling on his knees before her. The flounder cannot do that. Emperor and pope, he can make you. I implore you, be content and remain pope. Then she flew into a passion. Her hair hung wildly about her face. She pushed him with her foot and screamed, I am not contented and I shall never be contented. Will you go? So he hurried on his clothes as fast as possible and ran away as if he were mad. But the storm was raging so fiercely that he could scarcely stand. Houses and trees were being blown down, the mountains were being shaken, and pieces of rocks were rolling in the sea. The sky was as black as ink and it was thundering and lightening. And the sea was tossing in great waves as high as church towers and mountains. And each had a white crest of foam. So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice. Once a prince but changed you be into a flounder in the sea, come for my wife Isabel, wishes what I dare not tell. Well, what does she want now? asked the flounder. Alas! said he. She wants to be a god. Go home then. She was sitting again in the hut. And there they are sitting to this day, grim. End of The Story of the Fisherman and His Wife Recording by Elizabeth Sarenka Once upon a time three musicians left their home and set out on their travels. They had all learned music from the same master and they determined to stick together and to seek their fortune in foreign lands. They wandered merrily from place to place and made quite a good living and were much appreciated by everyone who heard them play. One evening they came to a village where they delighted all the company with their beautiful music. At last they seized playing and began to eat and drink and listened to the talk that was going on around them. They heard all the gossip of the place and many wonderful things were related and discussed. At last the conversation fell on a castle in the neighbourhood about which many strange and marvellous things were told. One person said that hidden treasure was to be found there. Another that the richest food was always to be had there. Although the castle was uninhabited. And a third that an evil spirit dwelt within the walls so terrible that anyone who forced his way into the castle came out of it more dead than alive. As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they agreed to go and examine the mysterious castle and, if possible, to find and carry away the hidden treasure. They determined too to make the attempt separately, one after the other, according to age. And they settled that a whole day was to be given to each adventurer in which to try his luck. The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures and did so in the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the castle he found the outer gate open quite as if he were an expected guest. But no sooner had he stepped across the entry than the heavy door closed behind him with a bang and was bolted with a huge iron bar exactly as if a sentinel were doing his office and keeping watch but no human being was to be seen anywhere. An awful terror overcame the fiddler but it was hopeless to think of turning back or of standing still and the hopes of finding gold and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force his way further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered. Through lofty halls, splendid rooms and lovely little boudoirs everything beautifully arranged and all kept in the most perfect order. But the silence of death reigned everywhere and no living thing, not even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding the youth felt his spirits return to him when he entered the lower regions of the castle for in the kitchen the most tempting and delicious food was spread out the cellars were full of the most costly wine and the storeroom crammed with pots of every sort of jam you can imagine. A cheerful fire was burning in the kitchen before which a roast was being basted by unseen hands and all kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being prepared in like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think he was ushered into a little room by invisible hands and there a table was spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in the kitchen. The youth first seized his fiddle and played a beautiful air on it which echoed through the silent halls and then he fell too and began to eat a hearty meal. Before long however the door opened and a tiny man stepped into the room not more than three feet high clothed in a dressing gown and with a small wrinkled face and a grey beard which reached down to the silver buckles of his shoes and the little man sat down beside the fiddler and shared his meal. When they got to the game course the fiddler handed the dwarf a knife and fork and begged him to help himself first and then to pass the dish on. The little creature nodded but helped himself so clumsily that he dropped the piece of meat he had carved onto the floor. The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up but in the twinkling of an eye the little man had jumped onto his back and beat him till he was black and blue all over his head and body at last when the fiddler was nearly dead the little wretch left off and shoved the poor fellow out of the iron gate which he had entered in such good spirits a few hours before. The fresh air revived him a little and in a short time he was able to stagger with aching limbs back to the inn where his companions were staying. It was night when he reached the place and the other two musicians were fast asleep. The next morning they were much astonished at finding the fiddler in bed beside them and overwhelmed him with questions but their friend hid his back and face and answered them very shortly saying go there yourselves and see what's to be seen it is a ticklish matter that I can assure you. The second musician who was a trumpeter now made his way to the castle and everything happened to him exactly as it had to the fiddler he was just as hospitably entertained at first and then just as cruelly beaten and belabored so that the next morning he too lay in his bed like a wounded hare assuming his friends that the task of getting into the haunted castle was no enviable one. Notwithstanding the warning of his companions the third musician who played the flute was still determined to try his luck and full of courage and daring he set out, resolved if possible to find and secure the hidden treasure. Fearlessly he wandered the whole castle and as he roamed through the splendid empty apartments he thought to himself how nice it would be to live there always especially with a full larder and seller at his disposal. A table was spread for him too and when he wandered about for some time singing and playing the flute he sat down as his companions had done prepared to enjoy the delicious food that was spread out in front of him. Then the little man with the beard entered as before and seated himself beside the flute player who wasn't the least startled at his appearance but chatted away to him as if he had known him all his life but he didn't find his companion very communicative. At last they came to the game and as usual the little man let his piece fall on the ground the flute player was good-naturedly just going to pick it up when he perceived that the little dwarf was in the act of springing on his back. Then he turned round sharply and seizing the little creature by his beard he gave him such a shaking that he tore his beard out and the dwarf sank groaning to the ground but as soon as the youth had the beard in his hands he felt so strong that he was fit for anything and he perceived all sorts of things in the castle that he had not noticed before but on the other hand all strength seemed to have gone from the little man. He whined and sobbed out give, oh, give me my beard again and I will instruct you in the magic art that surrounds this castle and will help you to carry off the hidden treasure which will make you rich and happy forever. But the cunning flute player replied I will give you back your beard but you must first help me as you have promised to do till you have done so I don't let your beard out of my hands. Then the old man found himself obliged to fulfill his promise though he had had no intention of doing so and had only desired to get his beard back. He made the youth follow him through the dark secret passages underground vaults and grey rocks to let last they came to an open field which looked as if it belonged to a more beautiful world than ours. Then they came to a stream of rushing water but the little man drew out a wand and touched the waves whereupon the water parted and stood still and the two crossed the river with dry feet and how beautiful everything on the other side was lovely green paths leading through woods and fields covered with flowers birds with gold and silver feathers singing on the trees lovely butterflies and glittering beetles fluttered and crawled about and dear little beasts hid in the bushes and hedges the sky above them was not blue but like rays of pure gold and the stars looked twice their actual size and far more brilliant than on our earth. The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man led him into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one they had left here too the deepest silence reigned they wandered all through the castle and came at last to a room in the middle of which stood a bed hung all around with heavy curtains over the bed hung a bird's cage and the bird inside it was singing beautiful songs into the silent space the little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and back into the youth to approach on the rich silk curtains embroidered with gold a lovely maiden lay sleeping she was as beautiful as an angel with golden hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders and a diamond crown sparkled on her forehead but a sleep as of death held her in its spell and no noise seemed able to wake in the sleeper then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said, see here is the sleeping child she is a mighty princess this splendid castle and this enchanted land are hers but for hundreds of years she has slept this magic sleep and during all that time no human being has been able to find their way here I alone have kept guard over her and have gone daily to my own castle to get food and to beat the greedy gold seekers who forced their way into my dwelling I have watched over the princess carefully all these years and saw that no stranger came near her all my magic power lay in my beard and now that you have taken it away I am helpless and can no longer hold the beautiful princess in her enchanted sleep but I am forced to reveal my treasured secret to you so set to work and do as I tell you take the bird which hangs over the princess's head and which by its song sang her into this enchanted sleep a song which it has had to continue ever since take it and kill it take this little heart out and burn it to a powder and then put it into the princess's mouth then she will instantly awaken and will bestow on you her heart and her hand her kingdom and castle and all her treasures the little dwarf paused quite worn out and the youth did not wait long to do his bidding he did all he was told carefully and promptly and having cut the little bird's heart out he proceeded to make it into a powder he placed it in the princess's mouth then she opened her lovely eyes and looking up into the happy youth's face she kissed him tenderly thanked him for freeing her from the magic sleep and promised to be his wife at the same moment a sound as of thunder was heard all over the castle and on all the staircases and in every room sounds were to be heard then a troop of servants, male and female flocked into the apartment where the happy couple sat and after wishing the princess and her bridegroom joy they dispersed all over the castle to their different occupations but the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from the youth for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an end of all their happiness he knew that if only his beard were once more on his chin he would be able to do what he liked with them all but the clever flute player was quite a match for the little man in cunning and said, all right you needn't be afraid you shall get your beard back before we part but you must allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on your homeward way the dwarf could not refuse this request and so they all went together through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows and came at last to the river which flowed for miles round the princess's land and formed the boundary of her kingdom there was no bridge or ferry boat to be seen anywhere and it was impossible to get over to the other side for the boldest swimmer would not have dared to brave the fierce current and roaring waters then the youth said to the dwarf give me your wand in order that I may part the waves and the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth still kept his beard from him but the wicked little creature chuckled with joy and thought to himself the foolish youth will hand me my beard as soon as we have crossed the river and then my power will return and I will seize my wand and prevent them both ever returning to the beautiful country but the dwarf's wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment the happy youth struck the water with his wand and the waves at once parted and stood still and the dwarf went on in front and crossed the stream no sooner had he done so than the waters closed behind him and the youth and his lovely bride stood safe on the other side then they threw his beard to the old man across the river but they kept his wand so that the wicked dwarf could never again enter the kingdom so the happy couple returned to their castle and lived there in peace and plenty for ever after but the other two musicians waited in vain for the return of their companion and when he never came they said ah he's gone to play the flute till the saying passed into a proverb and was always said of anyone who set out to perform a task from which he never returned grim end of the three musicians part 45 section 46 of the Green Fairy Book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Jadapi The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang The Three Dogs part 46 there was once upon a time a shepherd who had two children, a son and a daughter when he was on his death bed he turned to them and said I have nothing to leave you but three sheep and a small house divide them between you as you like but don't quarrel over them whatever you do when the shepherd was dead the brother asked his sister which she would like best the sheep or the little house and when she had chosen the house he said then I'll take the sheep and go out to seek my fortune in the wide world I don't see why I shouldn't be as lucky as many another who has set out on the same search and it isn't for nothing that I was born on a Sunday and so he started on his travels driving his three sheep in front of him and for a long time it seemed as if fortune didn't mean to favour him at all one day he was sitting disconsolently at a cross-road when a man suddenly appeared before him with three black dogs each one bigger than the other hello my fine fellow said the man I see you have three fat sheep I'll tell you what if you'll give them to me I'll give you my three dogs in spite of his sadness the youth smiled and replied what would I do with your dogs my sheep at least feed themselves but I should have to find food for the dogs my dogs are not like other dogs said the stranger they will feed you instead of you them and will make your fortune the smallest one is called salt and will bring you food whenever you wish the second is called pepper and will tear anyone to pieces who offers to hurt you and the great big strong one is called mustard and is so powerful that it will break iron or steel with its teeth the shepherd at last let himself be persuaded and gave the stranger his sheep in order to test the truth of his statement about the dogs he said at once salt I'm hungry and before the words were out of his mouth the dog had disappeared and returned in a few minutes with a large basket full of the most delicious food then the youth congratulated himself on the bargain he had made and continued his journey in the best of spirits one day he met a carriage and pair all draped in black even the horses were covered with black trappings and the coachman was clothed in crepe from top to toe inside the carriage sat a beautiful girl in a black dress crying bitterly the horses advanced slowly and mournfully with their heads bent on the ground coachman what's the meaning of all this grief asked the shepherd at first the coachman wouldn't say anything but when the youth pressed him he told him that a huge dragon dwelt in the neighborhood and required yearly the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden this year the lot had fallen on the king's daughter and the whole country was filled with woe and lamentation in consequence the shepherd felt very sorry for the lovely maiden and determined to follow the carriage in a little it halted at the foot of a high mountain the girl got out and walked slowly and sadly to meet her terrible fate the coachman perceived that the shepherd wished to follow her and wanted him not to do so if he valued his life but the shepherd wouldn't listen to his advice when they had climbed about halfway up the hill they saw a terrible looking monster with the body of a snake and with huge wings and claws coming towards them breathing forth flames of fire and preparing to seize its victim then the shepherd called pepper come to the rescue and the second dog was a dragon and after a fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that the monster rolled over and a few moments breathed its last then the dog ate up the body all except its two front teeth which the shepherd picked up and put in his pocket the princess was quite overcome with terror and joy and fell fainting at the feet of her deliverer and in the wilderness she begged the shepherd to return with her to her father who would reward him richly but the youth answered that he wanted to see something of the world and that he would return again in three years and nothing would make him change this resolve the princess seated herself once more in her carriage and bidding each other farewell she and the shepherd separated she to return home and the princess was driving over a bridge the carriage suddenly stood still and the coachman turned round to her and said your deliverer has gone and doesn't thank you for your gratitude it would be nice of you to make a poor fellow happy therefore you may tell your father that it was I who slew the dragon and if you refuse to I will throw you into the river and no one will be any the wiser for they will think the dragon has devoured you the maiden was in a dreadful state when she heard these words but there was nothing for her to do but to swear that she would give out the coachman as her deliverer and not to divulge the secret to anyone so they returned to the capital and everyone was delighted when they saw the princess had returned unharmed the black flags were taken down from all the palace towers and gay colored ones put up in their place and the king embraced his daughter and her supposed rescuer with tears of joy and turning to the coachman he said you have not only saved the life of my child but you have also freed the country from a terrible scourge therefore it is only fitting that you should be richly rewarded take therefore my daughter for your wife but as she is still so young do not let the marriage be celebrated the coachman thanked the king for his graciousness and was then led away to be richly dressed and instructed in all the arts and graces that befitted his new position but the poor princess wept bitterly though she did not dare to confide her grief to anyone when the year was over she begged so hard for another year's respite that it was granted to her but this year passed also and she threw herself at her father's feet and begged so piteously for one more year that the king's heart was melted and he yielded to her request much to the princess's joy for she knew that her real deliverer would appear at the end of the third year and so the year passed away like the other two and the wedding day was fixed and all the people were prepared to feast and make merry but on the wedding day a stranger came to the town with three black dogs he asked what the meaning of all the feasting and fussed was and they told him that the king's daughter was just going to be married to the man who would slain the terrible dragon the stranger at once denounced the coachman as a liar but no one would listen to him and he was seized and thrown into a cell with iron doors while he was lying on his straw palette pondering mournfully on his fate he thought he heard the low whining of his dogs outside then an idea dawned on him and he called out as loudly as he could mustered come to my help and in a second he saw the paws of his biggest dog at the window of his cell and before he could count too the creature had bitten through the iron bars and stood beside him then they both let themselves out of the prison by the window their poor youth was free once more though he felt very sad when he thought that another was to enjoy the reward that rightfully belonged to him he felt hungry too so he called his dog salt and asked him to bring him some food the faithful creature trotted off and soon returned with a table napkin full of the most delicious food and the napkin itself was embroidered with a kingly crown the king had just seated himself all his court when the dog appeared and licked the princess's hand in an appealing manner with a joyful start she recognized the beast and bound her own table napkin around his neck then she plucked up her courage and told her father the whole story the king at once sent a servant to follow the dog and in a short time the stranger was led into the king's presence the former coachman grew as white as a sheet when he saw the shepherd and falling on his knees begged for mercy and pardon the princess recognized her deliverer at once and did not need the proof of the two dragons teeth which he drew from his pocket the coachman was thrown into a dark dungeon and the shepherd took his place at the princess's side and this time you may be sure she did not beg for the wedding to be put off the young couple lived for some time in great peace and happiness and suddenly one day the former shepherd be thought himself of his poor sister and expressed a wish to see her again and to let her share in his good fortune so they sent a carriage to fetch her and soon she arrived at the court and found herself once more in her brother's arms then one of the dog spoke and said our task is done you have no more need of us we only waited to see that you did not have your sister in your prosperity and with these words the three dogs became three birds and flew away into the heavens grim and of the three dogs part 46 recording by Jadapi www.publicdomainaudiobooks.blogspot.com and of the green fairy book by Andrew Lang