The King and Queen were there too, seated on a magnificent throne, exactly opposite the judges and councilors.
The rope was being put round the soldier's neck, when he turned to the King and Queen and earnestly entreated one last favor—only to be allowed to smoke one pipe of tobacco.
What a harmless request! How could the King refuse so harmless a request?
"Yes," said his Majesty, "you may smoke one pipe of tobacco."
The soldier took out his tinder-box, struck a match, once, twice, thrice, and lo! there before him stood the three enormous dogs, waiting his commands.
"Help me," shouted the soldier; "do not let me be hanged."
At once the three terrible dogs rushed at the judges and councilors, tossed them high into the air, so that as they fell they were broken into pieces.
The King began to speak; perhaps he was going to forgive the soldier, but no one knows what he was going to say, for the biggest dog gave him no time to finish his sentence.
He rushed at the King and Queen, flung them high into the air, so that when they fell down, they too were broken all to pieces.
Then the soldiers and the people, who were all terribly frightened, shouted in a great hurry, "Brave soldier, you shall be our King, and the beautiful Princess shall be our Queen!"