The soldier unlocked the first door he saw. There sat the dog with eyes as big as saucers, staring at him in great surprise.
"I must obey my orders," thought the soldier.
He placed the witch's apron on the floor, seized the dog bravely, and placed him on the apron.
Then he opened the box. It was full of copper coins. He crammed as many as he could into his pocket, shut the lid, placed the dog again on the box, and passed on to the second door.
He unlocked it. Yes! there sat another dog on another box, with great eyes, as big as mill-wheels.
"If you stare at me so hard, you will hurt your eyes," said [page 261] the soldier, and thought what a joke he had made. Then he seized the dog, placed it on the witch's apron, and raised the lid of the second box.
Silver, every coin was silver! The soldier threw away all his copper coins in a great hurry. He must have silver. He stuffed his pockets and his knapsack with the silver coins, and clapped his hands. He was rich now.
On he went to the third room. He unlocked it. There indeed was another box and another dog, and oh, horrible! the soldier almost shut his eyes. The dog had eyes, great big rolling eyes, eyes as large as the Round Tower. And they would not keep still. No, round and round they rolled.
But the soldier was brave; he had been to the wars.
"Good evening," he said, and he lifted his hat respectfully, for never before in all his life, had he seen so big, so enormous a creature.