procession came along, accompanying the unfortunate princess:
and when the shore was reached all the people left her, and
returned sadly to their houses. But the prince remained, and
soon he saw a movement in the water a long way off. As it came
nearer, he knew what it was, for skimming swiftly along the
waters came a monster dragon with nine heads. Then the prince
took counsel with his beasts, and as the dragon approached the
shore the fox drew his brush through the water and blinded the
dragon by scattering the salt water in his eyes, while the bear
and the lion threw up more water with their paws, so that the
monster was bewildered and could see nothing. Then the prince
rushed forward with his sword and killed the dragon, and the
beasts tore the body in pieces.

Then the princess turned to the prince and thanked him for
delivering her from the dragon, and she said to him:

'Step into this carriage with me, and we will drive back to my
father's palace.' And she gave him a ring and half of her
handkerchief. But on the way back the coachman and footman spoke
to one another and said:

'Why should we drive this stranger back to the palace? Let us
kill him, and then we can say to the king that we slew the dragon
and saved the princess, and one of us shall marry her.'

So they killed the prince, and left him dead on the roadside.
And the faithful beasts came round the dead body and wept, and
wondered what they should do. Then suddenly the wolf had an
idea, and he started off into the wood, where he found an ox,