They then returned to the capital, where all was rejoicing and gladness at their return. The black banners were removed from the steeples of the church, and gay coloured ones were hoisted to replace them. The king with tears of joy embraced his daughter and her supposed deliverer: "Thou hast not only saved my child," said he, "but thou hast also delivered my land from the greatest pestilence by which it ever has been scourged: to reward you royally for your undaunted courage, and in a manner commensurate with your great service, I intend to bestow my daughter in marriage upon you; but as she is yet too young, we will defer the ceremony for one year."
The coachman thanked the king, was forthwith richly apparelled, elevated to the rank of a duke, with the possession of a dukedom, and instructed in those polite manners requisite in his new and elevated station. The princess was much afflicted, and bewailed her mournful destiny most bitterly, when she was informed of the promise her father had made; but withal she feared to break her oath. When the year was at an end, in spite of all her entreaties she could not obtain from her father anything beyond the promise that the wedding should be delayed for another year. This also expired.
She again threw herself at her father's feet imploring for yet another year, for she well remembered the promise of her young and handsome deliverer, that in three years he would return. The king could not resist her entreaties, and acquiesced in her prayer on the condition that at the termination of that time she would wed the man he had chosen for her. The time again quickly elapsed. The auspicious day was already fixed, on the towers gay banners waved in the breeze, and the joyful shouting of the people mounted to the sky.
On the same day a stranger, with three dogs, entered the town. On demanding the reason of the public rejoicing, he was informed that the king's daughter, that very day, was to be united to the man that had delivered her and the country from the terrible dragon, which he had slain.
The stranger, in no very measured terms, pronounced this man an impostor, who had decked himself with other's feathers: the watch who, passing by, had overheard him, at once apprehended him and threw him into a strong prison guarded with doors and bars of iron. As he lay on his bundle of straw and sorrowfully contemplated his destiny, he thought he heard the whining of his dogs,—a gleam of hope suddenly burst upon him—"Break-steel-and-iron!" cried he as loud as he could, and hardly had he uttered the words when he saw the paws of his biggest dog hard at work on the bars of his window, tearing and breaking them down as if they had been reeds; the dog then jumped down into the cell and bit the chains with which his master was fettered, to pieces; whereupon both left the prison by the window as hastily as possible. He was now again at liberty, but the thought painfully oppressed him that another should have reaped the benefit of the deed of which he deserved the merit and reward. He felt also very hungry, and he called to one of his dogs, "Bring-food," which dog soon returned with a napkin full of costly food; the napkin was marked with a royal crown.
The king was seated at table, with all the great men of his land around him, when the dog made its appearance, and, as if in supplication, licked the hand of the princely maiden. She at once recognised the dog, and tied her own napkin round his neck, looking upon his appearance as foreboding her deliverance. She then prayed her father for a few words in private, when she disclosed to him the whole of the secret: the king sent a messenger to see whither the dog went, and the stranger was soon after brought into the royal presence. The former coachman, pale and trembling at his appearance, fell upon his knees imploring mercy; the princess at once recognised the stranger as her saviour, who moreover proved his identity by the two dragon teeth that he yet carried about with him. The coachman was thrown into a deep dungeon and his dignities were conferred on the shepherd, who was the same day wedded to the princess.
The youthful pair lived a long time in the greatest happiness. The former shepherd often thought of his sister; and, that she might participate in his felicity, a carriage and servants were sent to fetch her, and before long she was pressed to the breast of her affectionate brother; then one of the dogs said to his master, "Our time is now expired; you need us no longer; we remained thus long with you to see whether in fortune also you would remember your sister, or whether the sudden acquisition of wealth and power would make you proud, forgetful, and austere. You have not proved guilty of such wickedness, but have shown yourself virtuous and affectionate." The dogs then changed into birds and vanished in the air.