The hunter proudly displayed the rabbits he had in his bag. "I have them, thanks to my dog," he said.
"I'd like to buy that dog of yours," said his friend. "What will you take for him?"
The father named an enormous price, and to his great surprise his friend accepted it. The money was passed over at once, and the hunting dog went home with his new master.
The next day they went on a hunting expedition into the deep forest. Suddenly the dog disappeared. His master called and whistled to him in vain. Finally he was obliged to return home without him. He had lost both the dog and the money he had paid for him.
"Have you seen my hunting dog?" were his words for many weeks to every one he met.
His hunting dog had fled into a deep forest and once more resumed his original form. He returned home and told his two brothers that in a single day he had earned for his father more than their combined efforts for many weeks. Indeed it was quite true.
The next day the young man said to his father: "Will you buy a saddle and bridle for me if I turn myself into a horse?"
His father made the purchase, and then the young man changed into a handsome black horse. His father rode him up and down the streets very proudly. The Great Magician noticed the beautiful beast.
He called the man to him and said: "That is a very good horse you are riding. What will you sell him for?"
The father named an enormous price, but he at once paid it cheerfully. He ordered the horse placed in his stables.