'Indeed! three soldiers!' said she. 'Who cannot escape you?'

'They are mine,' answered the Dragon scornfully, 'for I shall
only give them one riddle which they will never be able to
guess.'

'What sort of a riddle is it?' she asked.

'I will tell you this. In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat--
that shall be their roast meat; and the rib of a whale--that
shall be their silver spoon; and the hollow foot of a dead
horse--that shall be their wineglass.'

When the Dragon had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up
the stone and let out the soldier.

'Did you pay attention to everything?'

'Yes,' he replied, 'I know enough, and can help myself
splendidly.'

Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in
all haste back to his comrades. He told them how the Dragon had
been outwitted by his grandmother, and how he had heard from his
own lips the answer to the riddle.

Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their
whip, and cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the
ground. When the seven years had quite gone, the Fiend came with