'Good evening, soldier!' said she.
'Hi there, witch!' said he.
'You are proud and your sword is strong. You are a real soldier, and I have a surprise
for you,' said the witch. 'I can make you rich'.
'Go on talking, old woman, you make me curious.'
'Take a look at the old tree to your left. It's hollow, and inside, a passageway leads to a vast treasure. Climb inside solder-man, and find out for yourself. I'll tie this piece of hemp rope round your waist so that you can be pulled up whenever you say the word.'
'And what do I do once I am inside?' asked the soldier, dropping his sword.
'Search for the treasure, fool!' snapped the old witch.
'The passage is lit by a hundred lamps. You'll see three doors; the first opens into a room
where stand a large chest, with a big dog sitting on top of it. The dog's eyes
are like two saucers. But don't be afraid. Take this ,blue-checked apron.
Spread it out on the floor and put the dog on it. Gather up as much money as you want.
You'll find the chest is filled to the brim with copper coins. If, however,
you prefer silver, then go to the second door.'
'What shal I find there?' the soldier asked eagerly.
'Another chest and another dog,' the witch told him.
'A chest stronger and bigger than the first, and a dog, terrible to behold, with eyes as big as mill-wheels. But take no notice of it. Put it on my apron and take as much money as you want. If it is gold that stirs your heart, handsome soldier-man, go into the third room. The dog that awaits you there has eyes as big as towers. Don't be afraid. Put it on the apron, and it will do you no harm. Then take the gold, as much as you can carry, out of the chest.'
'Your voice creaks like and old rusty lock, but what you say
makes good sense to me!' cried soldier in high delight.'
'But what must I do in return? Surely there must be some favour you crave?
'No! Nothing! Not a farthing! Not a silver sixpence!' replied the witch.
'Just bring me back the old tinder-box you find there. My grandmother left it behind
when she went down there last!'
'Very well, witch! Shake hands on it. Put the rope about my waist. I am ready.'
And with that he soldier climbed into the tree and began sliding down the hollow trunk.
Everything was just as the witch had described. He saw the long passage lit by a hundred lamps
that shone like small suns. He saw the three doors and without stopping to think, pushed
open the first. There in a vast room, a great dog lay upon a chest and, at the sight of him,
rolled its eyes as large as saucers.
'Good dog!' said the soldier, and then he lifted the beast on to the blue-checked apron,
just as the old witch had told him to do. Smiling with pleasure, he stuffed his pocket
with copper coins and closed the chest.
Then he began to think of the next room where the second chest lay and, without stopping to think,
he went to the second door and pushed it open. Inside, he saw the second dog with eyes
as large as mill-wheels. This dog sat on a great, strong box, girded round with iron bands.
The soldier lifted the dog down, placed it on the apron, and opend the strong box.
At the sight of all the silver pieces, the soldier gasped.
Now he had no need to keep the copper coins that weighed him down and he threw them
on the floor. Soon his pockets and knapsack were building with silver.
Then the soldier remembered the third door. The old witch had told him there was gold to be found.
What a fool he was to waste his time on the silver! Away he rushed and, without stoppink to think,
pushed open the third door. The dog on the great chest had eyes as big as towers,
and its head was going round and round like windmill sails. It was a frightening sight, but the
brave soldier stood his ground.. Saluting, he spread the blue-checked apron on the ground,
lifted the dog on to it, and wrenched open the huge, strong chest that was girded by iron hoops.
Gold! Never in his life had seen such treasure! There were enough gold pieces to buy
the whole of London with all its streets and houses.
The soldier emptied his pocket and his knapsack of the silver, and began loading himself up with the gold.
He filled his cap and his boot as well as his pockets and his sack. Then he put the dog back on the chest.
He moved slowly along the passage under the weight of the gold until he came to the bottom of the hollow trunk.
'Pull me up, old witch! Pull me up!' he shouted in a voice trembling with excitment.
'Have you got the tinder-box?
'Dear me, no! The sight of so much treasure made me forget everything else.'
'Then go and get it,' the witch called back in an angry voice.
The soldier, grumbling to itself, went back along the passage, but it took him a long time to find the tinder-box, so weighed down was he by all the gold. Not until the old witch was satisfied that he had it would she put him up.
'And what are you going to do with the tinder-box, old woman?' the soldier asked when at last he stood beside her.
'That is my business, soldier-man,' replied the witch.
'Ask me no questions.'
Tell me what you are going to do with it or I shall draw my sword and kill you!' shouted the soldier,
for by now he was beginning to want the tinder-box for himself.
But the old woman would not, and the soldier, with a grim smile, cut off her head.
So the soldier kept the tinder-box, and laughing aloud he slung the gold, which he had tied up in the blue-checked apron, over his shoulder, put the tinder box into his pocket, and went on his way, whistling loudly as he set out for the nearest town.
No sooner was he there than he made for the best hotel. From now on he was determined to live like a prince. He asked for the finest room, and ordered a banquet to be set before him. But his uniform was so shabby and worn that the servant who came to look after him showed his astonishment. Well awareof shabby appearance, the soldier went, as fast as he could, to the best and most expensive tailor in the town.
In next to no time, the poor soldier looked like a great gentleman, and quite a few of his
friends, thinking to flatter him, began to talking him abouit the king who ruled over the land.
'such a noble king!' they said. 'And so fortunate in being blessed with the sweetes, most charming daughter -
a true Princess.'
'I should love to see her!' exclaimed the soldier as he listened. 'She soundsa girl after
my own heart.'
'Now, now, slowly does it!' his new friends exclaimed. 'She loves in a mighty fortres of copper
that is guarded by high walls and towers. The king loves her so much that he takes every care of her.
Do you know that there is a story going about that one day she will wed a common soldier?
No wonder taht king gurads her closely!'