The old woman peered cautiously around and when she saw they were alone she beckoned the Prince to come near. Then she whispered:
"A dragon lives here! A horrible monster! He takes the form of a hare and lures people into the mill. Then he captures them. Some of them he kills and eats and others he holds as prisoners in an underground dungeon. I'm one of his prisoners and he keeps me here to work for him."
"Granny," the Youngest Prince said, "would you like me to rescue you?"
"My boy, you couldn't do it! You have no idea what a strong evil monster the dragon is."
"If you found out something for me, granny, I think I might be able to overcome the dragon and rescue you."
The old woman was doubtful but she promised to do anything the Youngest Prince asked.
"Well then, granny, find out from the dragon where his strength is, whether in his own body or somewhere else. Find out to-night and I'll come back to-morrow at this same hour to see you."
So that night when the dragon came home, after he had supped and when she was scratching his head to make him drowsy for bed, the old woman said to him:
"Master, I think you're the strongest dragon in the world! Tell me now, where does your strength lie—in your own beautiful body or somewhere else?"
"You're right, old woman," the dragon grunted: "I am pretty strong as dragons go. But I don't keep my strength in my own body. No, indeed! That would be too dangerous. I keep it in the hearth yonder."