He is a dog indeed, but
do not let that trouble you. Place him on my blue checked apron and he
will not hurt you. Then take gold, as much gold as ever you wish."
"Splendid!" said the soldier. You see he had been to the wars and was
a brave man. "Splendid! But what am I to give you, old witch? You will
wish something, I am quite certain of that."
"No," said the witch: "I do not wish one single coin. But I do wish my
old tinder-box. My grandmother left it behind her, the last time she
went down the tree."
"Well, tie the rope round my waist," said the soldier.
"Here it is," said the witch, "and here is my blue checked apron. It
is very important."
Up the tree climbed the soldier, into the tree he crept through the
hole at the top, and down, down the hollow inside he slipped, and
there he was, in a wide passage, lighted, as the witch had said, by a
hundred burning lamps.
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.
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