Pista had no sooner housed his charge, than the king's daughters came running towards him with the most unusual friendliness. The youngest had seen from afar the rose in his cap, and as she could not resist the desire to possess it, she begged from him the lovely flower. The swineherd instantly presented it to the princess, and thought himself highly honoured when he saw his gift placed in the bosom of the most charming of the royal maidens.
The king, meanwhile, deeply amazed at the no less punctual than safe return of his herdsman, sent for him into his presence, and inquired particularly about all that had occurred to him on the heath. But Pista carefully avoided satisfying his curiosity; gave very brief answers to his questions; and said nothing that could betray his fortunate adventure.
"This rose," said he, "which I found already plucked, and lying on the stem of a tree, is all that I saw on my way. I stuck it in my hat that it might not fade quite unenjoyed."
The king again expressed his entire satisfaction and favour; and promised for the future days the same rich reward he had already enjoyed.
The herdsman thanked his patron and returned to his swine, in order to pass the night near them on his bed of straw.
Just about midnight the friendly boar awakened him as on the preceding night, and said, "Pista must provide himself with bread and wine for the coming day also, as he would have to do with a still larger dragon than the former."
He advised him to double the measure of provisions, and told him he would have nothing to fear if he encountered the monster as courageously as he did that of the day before.
Before day-break Pista supplied himself with two loaves and two flasks of wine, and went as usual with the swine to the heath. Arrived there, the boar again approached him and said:—
"Up and mount me without fear,
Swift on my back I will thee bear;
This day thou must higher go,
And still higher fortune know."
The youth obeyed the boar, and sooner than if on a racer's back he found himself by an inclosure, considerably beyond the place where he stopped the day before. The boar again deposited him under an oak, repeated several times what he had before enforced, and left him to his destiny.