Nay, said the host, I would bet a hundred pieces of gold that that will not come true. The huntsman accepted the wager, and set against it a purse with just the same number of gold pieces. Then he called the hare and said, go, my dear runner, and fetch me some of the bread which the king is eating. Now the little hare was the lowest of the animals, and could not transfer this order to any the others, but had to get on his legs himself. Alas. Thought he, if I bound through the streets thus alone, the butchers, dogs will all be after me. It happened as he expected, and the dogs came after him and wanted to make holes in his good skin. But he sprang away, you have never seen the like, and sheltered himself in a sentry-box without the soldier being aware of it. Then the dogs came and wanted to have him out, but the soldier did not understand a jest, and struck them with the butt-end of his gun, till they ran away yelling and howling. As soon as the hare saw that the way was clear, he ran into the palace and straight to the king's daughter, sat down under her chair, and scratched at her foot. Then she said, will you get away, and thought it was her dog. The hare scratched her foot for the second time, and she again said, will you get away, and thought it was her dog. But the hare did not let itself be turned from its purpose, and scratched her for the third time. Then she peeped down, and knew the hare by its collar.
She took him on her lap, carried him into her chamber, and said, dear hare, what do you want. He answered, my master, who killed the dragon, is here, and has sent me to ask for a loaf of bread like that which the king eats. Then she was full of joy and had the baker summoned, and ordered him to bring a loaf such as was eaten by the king. The little hare said, but the baker must likewise carry it thither for me, that the butchers, dogs may do no harm to me. The baker carried if for him as far as the door of the inn, and then the hare got on his hind legs, took the loaf in his front paws, and carried it to his master. Then said the huntsman, behold, sir host, the hundred pieces of gold are mine. The host was astonished, but the huntsman went on to say, yes, sir host, I have the bread, but now I will likewise have some of the king's roast meat.
The host said, I should indeed like to see that, but he would make no more wagers. 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 byways better, and went by holes and corners without any dog seeing him, seated himself under the chair of the king's daughter, and scratched her foot. Then she looked down and recognized the fox by its collar, took him into her chamber with her and said, dear fox, what do you want. He answered, my master, who killed the dragon, is here, and has sent me. I am to ask for some roast meat such as the king is eating. Then she made the cook come, who was obliged to prepare a roast joint, the same as was eaten by the king, and to carry it for the fox as far as the door. Then the fox took the dish, waved away with his tail the flies which had settled on the meat, and then carried it to his master. Behold, sir host, said the huntsman, bread and meat are here but now I will also have proper vegetables with it, such as are eaten by the king. Then he called the wolf, and said, dear wolf, go thither and fetch me vegetables such as the king eats.
Then the wolf went straight to the palace, as he feared no one, and when he got to the king's daughter's parlor, he tugged at the back of her dress, so that she was forced to look round. She recognized him by his collar, and took him into her chamber with her, and said, dear wolf, what do you want. He answered, my master, who killed the dragon, is here, I am to ask for some vegetables, such as the king eats. Then she made the cook come, and he had to make ready a dish of vegetables, such as the king ate, and had to carry it for the wolf as far as the door, and then the wolf took the dish from him, and carried it to his master. Behold, sir host, said the huntsman, now Ihave bread and meat and vegetables, but I will also have some pastry to eat like that which the king eats. He called the bear, and said, dear bear, you are fond of licking anything sweet, go and bring me some confectionery, such as the king eats.
The the bear trotted to the palace, and everyone got out of his way, but when he went to the guard, they presented their muskets, and would not let him go into the royal palace. But he got up on his hind legs, and gave them a few boxes on the ears, right and left, with his paws, so that the whole watch broke up, and then he went straight to the king's daughter, placed himself behind her, and growled a little. Then she looked behind her, knew the bear, and bade him go into her room with her, and said, dear bear, what do you want. He answered, my master, who killed the dragon, is here, and Iam to ask for some confectionery such as the king eats. Then she summoned her confectioner, who had to bake confectionery such as the king ate, and carry it to the door for the bear. Then the bear first licked up the comfits which had rolled down, and then he 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 drink wine also, and such as the king drinks. He called his lion to him and said, dear lion, you yourself like to drink till you are tipsy, go and fetch me some wine, such as is drunk by the king.
Then the lion strode through the streets, and the people fled from him, and when he came to the watch, they wanted to bar the way against him, but he did but roar once, and they all ran away. Then the lion went to the royal apartment, and knocked at the door with his tail. The the king's daughter came forth, and was almost afraid of the lion, but she knew him by the golden clasp of her necklace, and bade him go with her into her chamber, and said, dear lion, what will you have. He answered, my master, who killed the dragon, is here, and I am to ask for some wine such as is drunk by the king.
