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Not long after this there was a great bustle in the country; for

the king's daughter had been carried off by a mighty dragon, and

the king mourned over his loss day and night, and made it known

that whoever brought her back to him should have her for a wife.

Then the four brothers said to each other, 'Here is a chance for

us; let us try what we can do.' And they agreed to see whether

they could not set the princess free. 'I will soon find out where

she is, however,' said the star-gazer, as he looked through his

glass; and he soon cried out, 'I see her afar off, sitting upon a

rock in the sea, and I can spy the dragon close by, guarding

her.' Then he went to the king, and asked for a ship for himself

and his brothers; and they sailed together over the sea, till

they came to the right place. There they found the princess

sitting, as the star-gazer had said, on the rock; and the dragon

was lying asleep, with his head upon her lap.