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'I dare not shoot at him,' said the huntsman, 'for I should kill

the beautiful young lady also.' 'Then I will try my skill,' said

the thief, and went and stole her away from under the dragon, so

quietly and gently that the beast did not know it, but went on

snoring.

Then away they hastened with her full of joy in their boat

towards the ship; but soon came the dragon roaring behind them

through the air; for he awoke and missed the princess. But when

he got over the boat, and wanted to pounce upon them and carry

off the princess, the huntsman took up his bow and shot him

straight through the heart so that he fell down dead. They were

still not safe; for he was such a great beast that in his fall he

overset the boat, and they had to swim in the open sea upon a few

planks. So the tailor took his needle, and with a few large

stitches put some of the planks together; and he sat down upon

these, and sailed about and gathered up all pieces of the boat;

and then tacked them together so quickly that the boat was soon

ready, and they then reached the ship and got home safe.