97.—The Water of Life.
From two stories, one current in Hesse, and the other in the neighbourhood of Paderborn. In the former the released princess does not appear at all; and it is said in the conclusion, that the King, in order to discover which of his three sons is the guilty one has three rugs made, a golden one, a silver one, and a common one, and the son who rides over the golden rug will be the innocent one. The youngest does this. In the Paderborn story, which is altogether much less perfect, a fisherman gives information to the three princes who are travelling together, and not a dwarf. They cannot arrive at the enchanted castle until each of them has three feathers of a falcon, which every third day comes flying thrice towards them and lets one fall each time. In the castle they have to fight with a seven-headed dragon, and whosoever does not overcome it in three days will be turned into stone; but the one who kills it will receive the Water of Life. They reach the castle with the falcon's feathers; all is arranged for the combat and the King's daughter and all the courtiers, clad in black, look on. The two elder cannot kill it, and are turned to stone and then the youngest comes forward, and cuts off the seven heads at one stroke. So the princess gives him the Water of Life, and at his request, restores his brothers to life. There are various peculiarities in a third story from Hanover. The two elder sons squander their money on the journey, and in the town where they are forced to stay, steal a treasure, but are caught and thrown into prison. Then the youngest son sets out. He arrives in this town and hears that two thieves are going to be hanged. He begs the people not to do this until his return; rides onwards, and comes to a forest, where his horse can go no farther. He alights and finds a house in front of which a giant is lying, who asks what he is looking for. "The Water of Life," says he; "dost thou know where it is to be found?" "No," replies the giant, "but perhaps my hares and foxes do." He whistles, and instantly above three hundred hares and foxes come running up from every side. The giant asks them if they know anything about the water; but none of them know it, on which he says, "If these do not know about it, my brother will. He lives three thousand miles from here, but I will have you carried thither." An aged fox has to take the prince on his back, and in a few seconds he carries him to his master's brother. This giant is much taller, but he too knows nothing of the wonderful water. So he calls his fire and asks it about it, and then his winds, but no one knows it; but the north wind, who at last comes also, says, "Yes, I know where it is to be had." The north wind has to take the prince
