He took the road, and the dragon with six heads came, and he drew his sword and killed him, and made three heaps of him, and planted a red flag, and went further. And a dragon with twelve heads came, and he drew his sword, and killed him also, and made twelve heaps, and planted a black flag, and went further. And there came one with twenty-four heads, and he killed him also, and made twenty-four heaps, and planted a white flag.
Behold! the dragons carried off an emperor’s daughter—there were twelve dragons—and shut her up in their castle. And they went and fought from morning even till noon; he who shall prove himself strongest, he shall marry the maiden.
And his mother had said to him, ‘If you will go, your death will not be by a hero, but your death will be by a cripple.’
So he went to that castle, and saw the maiden at the window, and he asked her, ‘What are you doing there?’
‘The dragons carried me off, and shut me up here.’
‘And where are they gone to?’
‘They are gone to fight for me.’
‘And when will they come home?’
‘They will come at noon to dine. And they will hurl their club, and it will strike the door, that I may have the food ready.’
He opened the door and went in to her. The dragons hurled the club, and struck the door; and he took the club, and hurled it back, and killed them all.