He wished very much to smoke a pipe, as it would be the last pipe he should
ever smoke in the world. The King could not refuse this request, so the soldier
took his tinder-box, and struck fire, once, twice, thrice, --and there in a
moment stood all the dogs; --the one with eyes as big as teacups, the one with
eyes as large as mill-wheels, and the third, whose eyes were like towers. "Help me now that I may
not be hanged," cried the soldier.
And the dogs fell upon the judges and all the councillors; seized one by the legs, and another by
the nose, and tossed them many feet high in the air, so that they fell down and were dashed to
pieces.
"I will not be touched," said the king. But the largest dog seized him, as well as the queen ,and
threw them after the others. Then the soldier 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 in the king's carriage, and the three dogs ran on in front and cried
"Hurrah!" and the little boys whistled through their fingers, and the soldiers presented arms.
The princess came out of the copper castle, and became queen, which was very pleasing to her.
The wedding festivities lasted a whole week, and the dogs sat at the table, and stared with all
their eyes.