The Two Brothers

Once upon a time there were two brothers, one rich and one poor. The rich brother was a goldsmith, and he had an evil heart. The poor brother made brooms for a living, and he was good and honest. The poor brother had two sons, twin brothers, who looked exactly alike, like two drops of water. The two boys often visited their rich uncle and sometimes got scraps of food to eat.

One day, the poor man went into the forest to gather firewood. There he saw a bird that was completely golden, more beautiful than any bird he had ever seen. He picked up a small stone and threw it at the bird. He was lucky enough to hit it, but only one golden feather fell down, and the bird flew away. The man took the feather and brought it to his brother. The goldsmith looked at it and said, "This is pure gold!" and gave him a lot of money for it.

The next day, the man climbed a birch tree to cut some branches. The same golden bird flew out, and when the man searched, he found a nest with a golden egg inside. He took the egg home and brought it to his brother. Again the goldsmith said, "This is pure gold," and gave him what it was worth.

Finally, the goldsmith said, "I would really like to have the bird itself." So the poor man went into the forest a third time, saw the golden bird sitting on the tree, threw a stone and brought it down. He carried it to his brother, who gave him a huge pile of gold for it. "Now I can get by," thought the poor man, and went home content.

The goldsmith was clever and cunning and knew exactly what kind of bird it was. He called his wife and said, "Roast this golden bird for me, and be careful that none of it is lost. I want to eat it all myself." But the bird was no ordinary bird. It was so wonderful that whoever ate its heart and liver would find a piece of gold under their pillow every morning.

The woman prepared the bird, put it on a spit, and began to roast it. While it was cooking, she had to leave the kitchen for a moment. At that moment, the two children of the poor broom-maker ran in, stood by the spit, and turned it around a few times. As they did, two small pieces of the bird fell into the dripping pan. One boy said, "Let's eat these two little bits. I'm so hungry, and no one will miss them." So they ate the pieces. When the woman came back and saw them eating, she asked, "What have you been eating?" "Two small pieces that fell out of the bird," they answered. " she said, very frightened. So that her husband wouldn't miss them and become angry, she quickly killed a young rooster, took out its heart and liver, and put them next to the golden bird. When the bird was ready, she brought it to the goldsmith, who ate it all by himself, leaving nothing.

The next morning, when he felt under his pillow, he expected to find a piece of gold, but there was no gold there, just like before.

The two children didn't know what good fortune had come to them. The next morning when they got up, something fell rattling to the ground. They picked it up and found two gold pieces! They took them to their father, who was astonished and said, "How can that have happened?" The next morning they found two more, and so it happened every day. Their father went to his brother and told him the strange story. The goldsmith immediately knew what had happened: the children had eaten the heart and liver of the golden bird. To take revenge, and because he was envious and hard-hearted, he said to the father, "Your children are in league with the Evil One. Do not take the gold, and do not let them stay in your house any longer, for the Evil One has power over them and may also ruin you." The father feared the Evil One, and though it pained him, he led the twins into the forest and left them there with a sad heart.

Now the two children ran through the forest, trying to find their way home, but they couldn't find it, and they only got more and more lost. Finally they met a huntsman, who asked, "Whose children are you?" "We are the poor broom-maker's boys," they replied, and they told him that their father wouldn't keep them anymore because a piece of gold appeared under their pillows every morning. "Come," said the huntsman, "that's not so bad, as long as you stay honest and aren't lazy." The good man liked the children and had none of his own, so he took them home and said, "I will be your father and raise you until you are grown." He taught them how to hunt, and the piece of gold each boy found every morning was saved for them in case they needed it later.

When they were grown up, their foster father took them into the forest one day and said, "Today you will take your trial shot, so that I can release you from your apprenticeship and make you huntsmen." They went with him and stayed a long time, but no game appeared. Then the huntsman looked up and saw a flock of wild geese flying in a triangle formation. He said to one of the brothers, "Shoot one from each corner." He did it and thus completed his trial shot. Soon another flock flew by in a figure-two formation, and the huntsman bade the other brother bring down one from each corner. His trial shot was also successful. "Now," said the foster father, "I declare you finished with your apprenticeship. You are skilled huntsmen." Then the two brothers went into the forest together, took counsel, and made a plan. That evening at supper, they said to their foster father, "We will not touch food until you grant us a request."

He asked, "What is your request?" They replied, "We have finished learning, and we must prove ourselves in the world. Please allow us to travel." The old man spoke joyfully, "You talk like brave huntsmen. That is what I have wished for. Go forth, and all will go well with you." Then they ate and drank joyfully together.

When the appointed day came, their foster father gave each of them a good gun and a dog, and let them take as many of their saved gold pieces as they wanted. He accompanied them part of the way and, when saying goodbye, gave them a bright knife. He said, "If you ever separate, stick this knife into a tree at the place where you part. When one of you returns, you will be able to see how your absent brother is faring. The side of the knife turned in the direction he went will rust if he dies, but it will stay bright as long as he lives."

The two brothers went further onward and came to a forest so large that they couldn't get out in one day. They spent the night there, eating what they had in their hunting pouches. They walked all the second day and still didn't get out. Having nothing to eat, one said, "We must shoot something or we'll starve." He loaded his gun and looked around. Just then, an old hare ran toward them. He aimed, but the hare cried, "Dear huntsman, let me live, and I will give you two little ones!" It sprang into the thicket and brought out two young hares. The little creatures played so merrily and were so pretty that the huntsmen couldn't bring themselves to kill them. They kept them, and the little hares followed on foot.

Soon after, a fox crept by. They were about to shoot, but the fox cried, "Dear huntsman, let me live, and I will also give you two little ones!" It brought two young foxes, and the huntsmen didn't kill them either. They gave them to the hares for company, and they followed behind.

Before long, a wolf strode out of the thicket. The huntsmen readied their guns, but the wolf cried, "Dear huntsman, let me live, and I will also give you two little ones!" They added the two wolves to the other animals, and they followed behind.

Then a bear came, wanting to trot a bit longer. It cried, "Dear huntsman, let me live, and I will also give you two little ones!" The two young bears joined the others, and now there were eight of them. Finally, who came? A lion came, tossing its mane. The huntsmen weren't frightened and aimed at it, but the lion also said, "Dear huntsman, let me live, and I will also give you two little ones!" It brought its cubs, and now the huntsmen had two lions, two bears, two wolves, two foxes, and two hares, all following them and serving them.

But their hunger wasn't satisfied yet. They said to the foxes, "Listen, you clever fellows, get us something to eat. You're cunning and sly." The foxes replied, "Not far from here is a village from which we have often brought fowl. We'll show you the way." So they went to the village, bought food for themselves and their animals, and then traveled on. The foxes knew the area well, especially the poultry yards, and guided the huntsmen.

Now they traveled for a while but couldn't find any places where they could stay together. So they said, "There's nothing else for it; we must part." They divided the animals so that each had a lion, a bear, a wolf, a fox, and a hare. Then they said goodbye, promised to love each other like brothers until death, and stuck the knife their foster father had given them into a tree. One brother went east, and the other went west.

The younger brother arrived with his animals in a town that was all draped in black cloth. He went into an inn and asked the innkeeper if he could accommodate his animals. The innkeeper gave him a stable with a hole in the wall. The hare crept out and fetched a cabbage head; the fox fetched a hen and then a rooster. But the wolf, bear, and lion were too big to get out, so the innkeeper had them taken to a meadow where a cow was lying, so they could eat their fill. After the huntsman had taken care of his animals, he asked the innkeeper why the town was hung with black. The host said, "Because the King's only daughter is to die tomorrow." The huntsman asked if she was deathly ill. "No," replied the host, "she is healthy and strong, but she must die!" " asked the huntsman. "There is a high hill outside the town where a dragon lives. Every year the dragon demands a pure virgin, or it will lay waste to the whole country.

All the maidens have been given to it, and now only the King's daughter is left. There is no mercy for her; she must be given to it tomorrow." Said the huntsman, "Why isn't the dragon killed?" "Ah," replied the host, "many knights have tried, but it cost them their lives. The King has promised that whoever conquers the dragon will have his daughter as wife and will rule the kingdom after him."

The huntsman said nothing more. The next morning, he took his animals and climbed the dragon's hill. At the top stood a small church, and on the altar were three full cups with the inscription: "Whoever empties these cups will become the strongest man on earth and will be able to wield the sword buried before the threshold." The huntsman didn't drink but went outside and looked for the sword in the ground. He couldn't move it. Then he went back in, emptied the cups, and now he was strong enough to lift the sword and wield it easily.

When the hour came for the princess to be handed over, the King, the marshal, and the courtiers accompanied her. From afar, she saw the huntsman on the dragon's hill and thought it was the dragon waiting for her. She didn't want to go up, but she had to, or the whole town would be destroyed. The King and courtiers returned home grieving, but the marshal was to stay and watch from a distance.

When the King's daughter reached the top of the hill, she saw not the dragon but the young huntsman. He comforted her, said he would save her, led her into the church, and locked her in. Soon the seven-headed dragon came roaring. When it saw the huntsman, it was astonished and said, "What business do you have on this hill?" The huntsman answered, "I want to fight you." Said the dragon, "Many knights have lost their lives here. I will soon make an end of you too." It breathed fire from its seven jaws, intending to set the dry grass alight and suffocate the huntsman in the heat and smoke, but the animals ran up and trampled the fire. Then the dragon rushed at the huntsman, but he swung his sword and cut off three of its heads. The dragon became furious, rose into the air, and spat flames. The huntsman cut off three more heads. The monster weakened and sank down, but it still rushed at him.

The huntsman, with his last strength, cut off its tail, then called his animals, who tore the dragon to pieces.

When the battle was over, the huntsman unlocked the church and found the King's daughter lying on the floor, having fainted from fear and horror. He carried her out, and when she came to and opened her eyes, he showed her the dragon, all cut to pieces, and told her she was saved. She rejoiced and said, "Now you will be my dearest husband, for my father promised me to him who kills the dragon." Then she took off her coral necklace, divided it among the animals to reward them, and gave the golden clasp to the lion. She also gave the huntsman her handkerchief with her name on it. The huntsman cut the tongues out of the seven dragon heads, wrapped them in the handkerchief, and kept them carefully.

After that, being faint and weary from the fire and the battle, he said to the maiden, "We are both faint and weary. Let us sleep a while." She agreed, and they lay down on the ground. The huntsman said to the lion, "You shall keep watch so that no one surprises us in our sleep." Then they both fell asleep. The lion lay down beside them to watch, but he too was so weary from the fight that he called the bear and said, "Lie down near me. I must sleep a little. If anything comes, wake me." The bear lay down beside him, but he also was tired and called the wolf and said, "Lie down by me. I must sleep a little. If anything comes, wake me." The wolf lay down by him, but he too was tired and called the fox and said, "Lie down by me. I must sleep a little. If anything comes, wake me." The fox lay down beside him, but he too was weary and called the hare and said, "Lie down near me. I must sleep a little. If anything comes, wake me."

The hare sat down by him, but the poor hare was also tired and had no one to call to keep watch, so it fell asleep. And so the King's daughter, the huntsman, the lion, the bear, the wolf, the fox, and the hare were all sleeping soundly.

The marshal, who was supposed to watch from a distance, saw that the dragon didn't fly away with the maiden and that all was quiet on the hill. He took courage and climbed up. There lay the dragon hacked to pieces, and not far away were the King's daughter and a huntsman with his animals, all fast asleep. Because he was wicked and godless, he took his sword, cut off the huntsman's head, grabbed the maiden, and carried her down the hill. She woke up and was terrified, but the marshal said, "You are in my hands. You must say that I killed the dragon." She replied, "I cannot say that, for it was a huntsman with his animals who did it." He drew his sword and threatened to kill her if she didn't obey, so she had to make the promise. Then he took her to the King, who was overjoyed to see his dear child alive, for he had believed she had been torn to pieces by the monster.

The marshal said, "I have killed the dragon and saved the maiden and the kingdom. Therefore I demand her as my wife, as was promised." The King asked the maiden, "Is what he says true?" "Ah, yes," she answered, "it must be true. But I will not consent to the wedding until after a year and a day." For she hoped that within that time she would hear something of her dear huntsman.

The animals were still lying asleep beside their dead master on the dragon's hill. A large bumblebee came and landed on the hare's nose. The hare wiped it off with its paw and continued sleeping. The bumblebee came a second time, and the hare rubbed it off again and slept on. The third time, the bee stung the hare's nose, making it wake up. As soon as the hare woke up, it roused the fox, and the fox roused the wolf, and the wolf roused the bear, and the bear roused the lion. When the lion woke up and saw that the maiden was gone and his master was dead, he began to roar horribly and cried, "Who did that? Bear, why didn't you wake me?" " and the fox asked the hare, "Why didn't you wake me?" The poor hare didn't know what to answer, and the blame fell on it. They were about to attack it, but it begged them, "Don't kill me. I will bring our master back to life.

I know a mountain where a root grows that, when placed in anyone's mouth, heals all illnesses and wounds. But the mountain is two hundred hours' journey away." The lion said, "You must run there and back in twenty-four hours and bring the root with you." The hare sprang away, and in twenty-four hours it was back with the root. The lion put the huntsman's head back on, and the hare placed the root in his mouth. Immediately everything joined together again, his heart beat, and life returned. The huntsman woke up and was alarmed not to see the maiden. He thought, "She must have gone away while I was sleeping to get rid of me." In his haste, the lion had put his master's head on backward, but because of his unhappy thoughts, the huntsman didn't notice until noon, when he went to eat and found his head turned the wrong way. He asked the animals what had happened.

Then the lion told him how they had all fallen asleep, found him dead with his head cut off, and how the hare had brought the life-giving root. In his haste, he had set the head on wrong but would fix it. So he tore the huntsman's head off again, turned it around, and the hare healed it with the root.

Now the huntsman was sad and traveled about the world, making his animals dance for people. After exactly one year, he came back to the same town where he had rescued the King's daughter. This time, the town was cheerfully hung with red cloth. He asked the innkeeper, "What does this mean? Last year the town was all hung with black crape. What does the red cloth mean today?" The host answered, "Last year, our King's daughter was to be given to the dragon, but the marshal fought and killed it. So tomorrow their wedding will be held. That's why the town was hung with black crape for mourning and is now covered with red cloth for joy."

The next day, when the wedding was to take place, the huntsman said to the innkeeper at midday, "Do you believe, sir host, that I will eat bread from the King's own table here today?" "Nay," said the host, "I would bet a hundred gold pieces that won't happen." The huntsman accepted the bet and put a purse with the same number of gold pieces on the table. Then he called the hare and said, "Go, my dear runner, and fetch me some of the bread the King is eating." The little hare thought, "Alas! If I run through the streets alone, the butchers' dogs will chase me." And indeed, the dogs came after him, wanting to bite him. But the hare sprang away and hid in a sentry box without the soldier noticing. The dogs came and tried to get him out, but the soldier hit them with the butt of his gun until they ran away yelping.

As soon as the way was clear, the hare ran into the palace, straight to the King's daughter, and sat under her chair, scratching her foot. " thinking it was her dog. The hare scratched her foot a second time, and she again said, "Will you go away?" But it scratched her a third time. Then she looked down, recognized the hare by its collar, took it on her lap, carried it into her chamber, and said, "Dear hare, what do you want?" It answered, "My master, who killed the dragon, is here and sent me to ask for a loaf of bread like the King eats." She was full of joy and had the baker bring a loaf such as the King ate. The hare said, "But the baker must carry it for me, so the dogs don't hurt me." The baker carried it to the inn door, and then the hare took the loaf in its front paws and carried it to his master. The huntsman said, "Behold, sir host, the hundred gold pieces are mine."

The host was astonished, but the huntsman continued, "Yes, sir host, I have the bread, but now I will also have some of the King's roast meat."

The host said, "I'd like to see that," but he wouldn't make any more bets. The huntsman called the fox and said, "My little fox, go and fetch me some roast meat such as the King eats." The red fox knew the side paths and went through holes and corners without being seen by any dog. He sat under the King's daughter's chair and scratched her foot. She looked down, recognized the fox by its collar, took it into her chamber, and said, "Dear fox, what do you want?" It answered, "My master, who killed the dragon, is here and sent me to ask for some roast meat such as the King is eating." Then she made the cook prepare a roast joint like the King ate and have it carried to the door for the fox. The fox took the dish, waved away the flies with its tail, and carried it to his master. "Behold, sir host," said the huntsman, "bread and meat are here. But now I will also have vegetables such as the King eats."

He called the wolf and said, "Dear wolf, go and fetch me vegetables such as the King eats." The wolf went straight to the palace, fearing no one, and when he reached the King's daughter's chamber, he tugged at the back of her dress. She recognized him by his collar, took him into her chamber, and said, "Dear wolf, what do you want?" He answered, "My master, who killed the dragon, is here. I am to ask for vegetables such as the King eats." She made the cook prepare a dish of vegetables like the King's and have it carried to the door for the wolf, who then carried it to his master. "Behold, sir host," said the huntsman, "now I have bread, meat, and vegetables. But I will also have some pastry such as the King eats." He called the bear and said, "Dear bear, you like sweet things. Go and bring me some confectionery such as the King eats." The bear trotted to the palace.

Everyone moved out of his way, but at the guardhouse, the soldiers pointed their muskets and wouldn't let him in. He rose on his hind legs and boxed their ears with his paws, right and left, so that the whole guard scattered. Then he went straight to the King's daughter, stood behind her, and growled a little. She looked behind, recognized the bear, and took him into her room, saying, "Dear bear, what do you want?" He answered, "My master, who killed the dragon, is here, and I am to ask for confectionery such as the King eats." She summoned the confectioner, who made sweets like the King ate and carried them to the door for the bear. The bear first licked up the dropped sweets, then stood upright, took the dish, and carried it to his master. "Behold, sir host," said the huntsman, "now I have bread, meat, vegetables, and confectionery. But I will also drink wine such as the King drinks."

He called the lion and said, "Dear lion, you like to drink. Go and fetch me some wine such as the King drinks." The lion strode through the streets, and people fled. When he reached the guard, they tried to block him, but he only roared, and they all ran away. The lion went to the royal apartment and knocked with his tail. The King's daughter came out, almost frightened, but recognized him by the golden clasp of her necklace and took him into her chamber, asking, "Dear lion, what do you want?" He answered, "My master, who killed the dragon, is here, and I am to ask for wine such as the King drinks." She called the cupbearer, who was to give the lion wine like the King's. The lion said, "I will go with him and see that I get the right wine." He went down with the cupbearer. The cupbearer wanted to give him ordinary wine that the King's servants drank, but the lion said, "Stop! Let me taste it first."

He drew half a measure, swallowed it at once, and said, "No, that's not right." The cupbearer gave him wine from another barrel meant for the marshal. The lion tasted it and said, "That's better, but still not right." The cupbearer grew angry and said, "How can a stupid animal like you understand wine?" The lion gave him a blow behind the ears, making him fall down roughly. When he got up, he silently led the lion to a small cellar apart where the King's own wine was kept, which no one else ever drank. The lion tasted it and said, "This might be the right kind," and told the cupbearer to fill six bottles. They went upstairs, but when the lion came out of the cellar into the open air, he staggered a bit, being rather drunk. The cupbearer had to carry the wine to the door for him, and then the lion took the basket handle in his mouth and brought it to his master.

The huntsman said, "Behold, sir host, I have bread, meat, vegetables, confectionery, and wine such as the King has. Now I will dine with my animals." He sat down, ate and drank, and also gave food and drink to the hare, fox, wolf, bear, and lion, joyful that the King's daughter still loved him. After dinner, he said, "Sir host, I have eaten and drunk as the King eats and drinks. Now I will go to the King's court and marry the King's daughter." The host said, "How can that be, since she already has a bridegroom and the wedding is today?" The huntsman pulled out the handkerchief the princess had given him on the dragon's hill, with the seven dragon tongues folded inside, and said, "What I hold in my hand will help me." The innkeeper looked at it and said, "I don't believe it. I'll bet my house and yard on it." The huntsman put a bag of a thousand gold pieces on the table and said, "I bet that."

Now at the royal table, the King said to his daughter, "What did all those wild animals want, coming and going in my palace?" She replied, "I cannot tell you. But send for the master of these animals, and you will do well." The King sent a servant to the inn to invite the stranger. The servant arrived just as the huntsman had made his bet with the innkeeper. The huntsman said, "Behold, sir host, now the King sends for me, but I won't go like this." He said to the servant, "I request the King to send me royal clothing, a carriage with six horses, and servants to attend me." When the King heard this, he asked his daughter what to do. She said, "Have him fetched as he desires, and you will do well." The King sent royal apparel, a carriage with six horses, and servants. When the huntsman saw them coming, he said, "Behold, sir host, now I am fetched as I wished."

He donned the royal garments, took the handkerchief with the dragon tongues, and drove to the King. When the King saw him coming, he asked his daughter, "How shall I receive him?" She answered, "Go to meet him, and you will do well." The King went to meet him and led him in, and his animals followed. The King gave him a seat next to himself and his daughter, while the marshal, as bridegroom, sat on the other side, but he no longer recognized the huntsman.

Just then, the seven heads of the dragon were brought in as a spectacle. The King said, "The marshal cut off these seven heads, so today I give him my daughter as wife." The huntsman stood up, opened the seven mouths, and said, "Where are the seven tongues of the dragon?" The marshal grew pale and terrified, and at last he said in anguish, "Dragons have no tongues." The huntsman said, "Liars deserve none, but the dragon's tongues are the tokens of the victor." He unfolded the handkerchief, and there lay all seven tongues. He put each tongue in the mouth to which it belonged, and it fit perfectly. Then he took the handkerchief with the princess's embroidered name and showed it to her, asking who she had given it to. She replied, "To him who killed the dragon." Then he called his animals, took the collar off each and the golden clasp from the lion, and showed them to her, asking who they belonged to.

She answered, "The necklace and golden clasp were mine, but I divided them among the animals that helped to kill the dragon." Then the huntsman said, "When I, tired from the fight, was resting and sleeping, the marshal came and cut off my head. He then carried away the King's daughter and claimed that he had killed the dragon. But I prove he lied with the tongues, the handkerchief, and the necklace." He told how his animals had healed him with a wonderful root, and how he had traveled with them for a year, returning to learn of the marshal's treachery from the innkeeper's story.

The King asked his daughter, "Is it true that this man killed the dragon?" She answered, "Yes, it is true. Now I can reveal the marshal's wicked deed, since it has been brought to light without my complicity. He forced me to promise silence. But I made the condition that the wedding would not take place until after a year and a day." The King summoned twelve judges to pronounce sentence on the marshal. They sentenced him to be torn apart by four bulls. The marshal was executed, and the King gave his daughter to the huntsman and made him viceroy over the whole kingdom. The wedding was celebrated with great joy, and the young King had his father and foster father brought and loaded them with treasures. He didn't forget the innkeeper either; he sent for him and said, "Behold, sir host, I have married the King's daughter, and your house and yard are mine." The host said, "Yes, according to justice."

But the young King said, "It shall be done according to mercy," and told him to keep his house and yard, and gave him the thousand gold pieces as well.

Now the young King and Queen were thoroughly happy and lived in joy together. He often went hunting, for it delighted him, and his faithful animals had to accompany him. In the neighborhood, there was a forest that was said to be haunted; whoever entered it did not easily come out again. The young King had a great desire to hunt there and gave the old King no peace until he allowed him. So he rode out with a large following. When they reached the forest, he saw a snow-white hart and said to his people, "Wait here until I return. I want to chase that beautiful creature." He rode into the forest after it, followed only by his animals. His attendants waited until evening, but he didn't return. So they rode home and told the young Queen that the young King had followed a white hart into the enchanted forest and had not come back. She was greatly worried about him.

He, however, kept riding after the beautiful animal but could never catch it. When he thought he was close enough to shoot, it bounded far away, and eventually it vanished completely. He realized he had gone deep into the forest, blew his horn, but no answer came because his attendants couldn't hear it. Night fell, and he saw he couldn't get home that day, so he dismounted, lit a fire near a tree, and decided to spend the night there. As he sat by the fire with his animals lying around him, he thought he heard a human voice. He looked around but saw nothing. Soon he heard a groan from above and looked up. An old woman sat in the tree, wailing, "Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am!" He said, "Come down and warm yourself if you are cold." But she said, "No, your animals will bite me." He answered, "They will not hurt you, old mother. Please come down." She was a witch and said, "I will throw down a wand.

If you strike them on the back with it, they will not harm me." She threw him a small wand, and he struck them with it. Instantly they lay still and turned to stone. When the witch was safe, she leaped down, touched him with a wand, and turned him to stone. Then she laughed, dragged him and the animals into a vault where many more stones lay.

As the young King didn't return, the Queen's worry grew. It happened that the other brother, who had gone east when they separated, came to the kingdom. He had looked for work but found none and had traveled about with his dancing animals. Then he remembered the knife they had stuck in the tree and decided to check how his brother was. When he got there, his brother's side of the knife was half rusted and half bright. He was alarmed and thought, "A great misfortune must have befallen my brother. But perhaps I can still save him, for half the knife is still bright." He traveled west with his animals. When he entered the town gate, the guard came to meet him and asked if they should announce him to his consort, the young Queen, who had been in great sorrow for days, fearing he had been killed in the enchanted forest. The sentries thought he was the young King himself, as he looked so much like him and had wild animals following him.

He realized they were speaking of his brother and thought, "It will be better if I pretend to be him, then I can rescue him more easily." So he let himself be escorted to the castle and was received with great joy. The young Queen thought he was her husband and asked why he had stayed away so long. He answered, "I lost myself in a forest and couldn't find my way out sooner." That night, he was taken to the royal bed, but he placed a double-edged sword between him and the young Queen. She didn't know what that meant but didn't dare ask.

He stayed in the palace for a few days, questioning everything about the enchanted forest. Finally he said, "I must go hunting there again." The King and Queen tried to dissuade him, but he insisted and went out with a large following. When he reached the forest, he saw a white hart and said to his people, "Stay here and wait for me. I want to chase that lovely beast." He rode into the forest with his animals. He couldn't overtake the hart and got so deep that he had to spend the night. When he lit a fire, he heard someone wailing above him, "Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am!" He looked up and saw the same witch sitting in the tree. He said, "If you are cold, come down, little old mother, and warm yourself." She replied, "No, your animals will bite me." He said, "They will not hurt you." She cried, "I will throw down a wand. If you strike them with it, they will not harm me."

The huntsman didn't trust her and said, "I will not strike my animals. Come down, or I will fetch you." She cried, "What do you want? You shall not touch me!" He replied, "If you don't come down, I will shoot you." She said, "Shoot away, I am not afraid of your bullets!" He aimed and fired, but the witch was immune to lead bullets. She laughed and yelled, "You won't hit me!" The huntsman knew what to do. He tore three silver buttons from his coat, loaded his gun with them (for silver worked against her magic), and fired. She fell down with a scream. He put his foot on her and said, "Old witch, if you don't confess immediately where my brother is, I will grab you and throw you into the fire." She was terribly frightened, begged for mercy, and said, "He and his animals lie in a vault, turned to stone."

He made her take him there, threatened her, and said, "Old sea-cat, now you will make my brother and all the people here alive again, or you will go into the fire!" She took a wand and touched the stones. Then his brother and his animals came back to life, and many others—merchants, craftsmen, and shepherds—rose, thanked him for their rescue, and went home. When the twin brothers saw each other, they kissed and rejoiced with all their hearts. Then they seized the witch, bound her, and laid her on the fire. When she burned, the forest opened up on its own, becoming light and clear, and the King's palace could be seen about a three-hour walk away.

Then the two brothers went home together, telling each other their stories. The younger brother said that he was the ruler of the whole country in the King's place. The older brother remarked, "I noticed that well, for when I came to the town and was taken for you, all royal honors were paid to me. The young Queen looked on me as her husband, and I had to eat at her side and sleep in your bed." When the younger brother heard that, he became so jealous and angry that he drew his sword and cut off his brother's head. But when he saw him lying dead, seeing his red blood flow, he regretted it deeply. "My brother saved me!" he cried, "and I have killed him for it!" He wept loudly. Then his hare came and offered to fetch some of the root of life. It bounded away and brought it back just in time. The dead man was brought to life again, knowing nothing of the wound.

Afterward, they journeyed on. The younger brother said, "You look like me, wear royal clothes as I do, and the animals follow you like they follow me. We will go in through opposite gates and arrive at the same time in the old King's presence." So they separated. At the same time, watchmen from both gates announced that the young King and the animals had returned from the hunt. The King said, "That's impossible; the gates are a mile apart." But the two brothers entered the palace courtyard from opposite sides and both climbed the steps. The King said to his daughter, "Say which one is your husband. Each looks exactly like the other. I cannot tell." She was in great distress and couldn't decide. But then she remembered the necklace she had given to the animals. She looked and found the little golden clasp on the lion. She cried out in delight, "He who is followed by this lion is my true husband!"

The young King laughed and said, "Yes, he is the right one." They all sat down together, ate, drank, and were merry. That night when the young King went to bed, his wife said, "Why did you, on these past nights, always lay a double-edged sword in our bed? I thought you meant to kill me." Then he knew how truly faithful his brother had been.

Then a bear came, wanting to trot a bit longer. It cried, "Dear huntsman, let me live, and I will also give you two little ones!" The two young bears joined the others, and now there were eight of them. Finally, who

When the battle was over, the huntsman unlocked the church and found the King's daughter lying on the floor, having fainted from fear and horror. He carried her out, and when she came to and opened her eyes, he showed

The animals were still lying asleep beside their dead master on the dragon's hill. A large bumblebee came and landed on the hare's nose. The hare wiped it off with its paw and continued sleeping. The bumblebee came a

The host said, "I'd like to see that," but he wouldn't make any more bets. The huntsman called the fox and said, "My little fox, go and fetch me some roast meat such as the King eats." The red fox knew the side paths

Now at the royal table, the King said to his daughter, "What did all those wild animals want, coming and going in my palace?" She replied, "I cannot tell you. But send for the master of these animals, and you will do

He, however, kept riding after the beautiful animal but could never catch it. When he thought he was close enough to shoot, it bounded far away, and eventually it vanished completely. He realized he had gone deep into

Then the two brothers went home together, telling each other their stories. The younger brother said that he was the ruler of the whole country in the King's place. The older brother remarked, "I noticed that well, for