But the Prince replied, “Not so! No one but I must strike my faithful servants, no matter how lightly. Give me the rod, and then if needs be I will touch them.”
So he took the rod from the old woman, though she indeed was loth to yield it, and first he touched the fox with it, for it was growling.
As soon as he did this, the fox was turned to stone, and then the Prince knew that here was evil magic. He looked about him and saw the stone images of his brothers and their animals, and many other stones as well, that had once been living, breathing people.
Then the Prince’s heart was hot within him and he demanded of the hag that she should bring these people back to life, living and breathing as they had been before, and he threatened that unless she did this, his animals should tear her limb from limb and scatter the pieces of her through the forest.
The old woman was terrified, and she bade the Prince turn the staff that he held end for end and touch the people with it; then they would return to life.
This the Prince did, and at once, as she had promised, the cold dead stones became living flesh once more, all the people and all the animals.
Then they all rejoiced greatly, and they gathered about the Prince and thanked him, but none rejoiced more greatly than the brothers.
Then the others all went away to their own homes, and the youngest Prince broke the rod to pieces that the witch might no more use it for harm to others.
The three brothers talked together, and the eldest told them all about the Princess, and how he had saved her from the dragon. And he told them, too, how the noblemen had slain him and stolen the Princess from him, and how the faithful animals had brought him back to life.
After he had made an end of the story the youngest Prince said, “Now we must set out for the palace of the King at once, for it may be it is not yet too late for you to claim the Princess.” So the three brothers set forth, with all the animals following behind them.