“I was very weary,” replied the bear, “and it seems you slept just as soundly.”
“The first thing to be done,” said the rabbit, “is to put our master’s head on his shoulders and bring him to life. Then we will search for the princess. Luckily I know where to get some magic earth that will restore our master, and I will go after it at once.”
The rabbit scurried off while the bear stood on guard. In time, the rabbit returned with the magic earth. The bear fitted the soldier’s head to his body, and the rabbit rubbed the magic earth on the wound. Immediately the soldier was made whole, and he opened his eyes and sat up. “Ah,” said he, “How well I have slept! I think from the look of the sun it must now be afternoon. But where is the princess?”
They told him all that had occurred, and he was very much troubled. “You need not worry,” said the rabbit; “we will find the princess soon, I promise you.”
Without delay they set off to go to the royal city, and by night they drew near the king’s palace and stopped in a small wood. “You two remain here,” said the rabbit, “and I will find out what is happening in the palace.”
The rabbit went on and crept into the palace, where he discovered that a great feast was in progress celebrating the return of the princess. One thing only marred the pleasure of those who participated, and that was her persistence in saying that she did not want the charcoal-burner for a husband, and that he was not her deliverer. The rabbit entered the dining-hall. “Look, look! a rabbit!” cried the guests.
The servants hastened to pursue it, but it ran and dodged until it came near where the princess sat. Then it suddenly sprang into her lap and said in a low voice: “My master, who rescued you from the dragon, is not far away. He loves you always.”
The princess was overjoyed. She caressed the rabbit, and was giving it sweetmeats when the charcoal-burner began to shout, “Drive away the ugly beast!”
“What harm has it done?” said the princess, protecting it with her arms.
“Drive it away quickly, I tell you,” the charcoal-burner continued. “It is a sorcerer. Kill it!”