" midnight," said the soldier, "yet like the princess, if only for moment "

The dog disappeared instantly, and soldier could even look round, he returned princess She was lying dog's back asleep, and looked so lovely, that who saw her would know she was real princess The soldier help kissing her, true soldier as Then the dog ran back princess; but morning, while at breakfast king and queen, she told them what singular dream she had had during the night, of dog and soldier, that she had ridden dog's back, and been kissed soldier

" very pretty story, indeed," said the queen So the next night old ladies court was set to watch princess's bed, to discover whether it really was dream, or what else it

The soldier longed the princess once more, so he sent dog again night to fetch her, and to run with her as fast as ever But the old lady put on water boots, and ran after him as quickly as , and found that he carried the princess into large house She thought it would help her to remember the place if she made large cross door with piece of chalk Then she went home to bed, dog presently returned princess But when that cross made door house, where the soldier lived, another piece of chalk and made crosses on all the doors town, so lady-in-waiting out the right door

Early the next morning the king and queen accompanied the lady and all the officers household, where the princess

"Here ," said the king, came first door with cross

No, my dear husband, it that one," said the queen, pointing to second door having cross also

"And one, and another ! " they all exclaimed; for there were crosses on all the doors in every direction

So they felt it useless to search any farther But the queen was very clever woman; do great deal more than merely ride in carriage She took her large gold scissors, cut piece of silk into squares, and made neat little bag This bag she filled with buckwheat flour, and tied it round the princess's neck; and then she cut small hole bag, so flour scattered ground princess went along During the night, the dog came again and carried the princess back, and ran with her soldier, who loved her , and wished that he prince, her for wife The dog observe how the flour ran bag all the way castle wall soldier's house, and even window, where he had climbed princess Therefore morning the king and queen found out where their daughter , soldier was taken up and put in prison Oh, how dark and disagreeable as he sat there, people said to him, "To-morrow hanged " not very pleasant news, and besides, he had left the tinder-box inn morning he iron grating little window how the people were hastening town him hanged; he heard the drums beating, and saw the soldiers marching ran out to look at them and shoemaker's boy, with leather apron and slippers on, galloped by so fast, that one slippers flew off and struck against the wall where the soldier sat looking iron grating "Hallo, you shoemaker's boy, you hurry," cried the soldier to him " nothing till I come; but run house where living, and bring me my tinder-box, four shillings, but put your best foot foremost "

The shoemaker's boy liked the idea of getting the four shillings, so he ran very fast and fetched the tinder-box, and gave it soldier And now see what happened Outside the town large gibbet erected, round which stood the soldiers and several thousands of people The king queen sat on splendid thrones opposite judges whole council The soldier already stood ladder; but were about the rope around his neck, that an innocent request was often granted to poor criminal before he suffered death to smoke pipe, as it the last pipe ever smoke The king refuse this request, so the soldier took his tinder-box, and struck fire, once, twice, thrice,- and there in moment stood all the dogs;- the one with eyes as big as teacups, the one with eyes as large as mill-wheels, third, whose eyes were like towers "Help me now, that not be hanged," cried the soldier

dogs fell judges and all the councillors; seized one legs, and another nose, and tossed them many feet high air, so fell down and were dashed to pieces

" touched," said the king But the largest dog seized him, queen, and threw them others Then the soldiers and all the people were afraid, and cried, "Good soldier, you shall be our king, and you shall marry the beautiful princess "

So they placed the soldier king's carriage, three dogs ran on in front and cried "Hurrah ! " little boys whistled through their fingers, soldiers presented arms The princess came copper castle, and became queen, very pleasing to her The wedding festivities lasted whole week, dogs sat table, and stared with all their eyes

THE END