The Tinder-box · page 21 2101The shoemaker's boy liked the idea of getting the four shillings, so he ran very fast and fetched the tinder-box, and gave it to the soldier.102And now we shall see what happened.103Outside the town a large gibbet had been erected, round which stood the soldiers and several thousands of people.104The king and the queen sat on splendid thrones opposite to the judges and the whole council.105The soldier already stood on the ladder; but as they were about to place the rope around his neck, he said that an innocent request was often granted to a poor criminal before he suffered death.106He wished very much to smoke a pipe, as it would be the last pipe he should ever smoke in the world.107The 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. "108Help me now, that I may not be hanged," cried the soldier.109And 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.110"I will not be touched," said the king.111But the largest dog seized him, as well as the queen, and threw them after the others.112Then the soldiers and all the people were afraid, and cried, "Good soldier, you shall be our king, and you shall marry the beautiful princess."113So 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.114The princess came out of the copper castle, and became queen, which was very pleasing to her.115The wedding festivities lasted a whole week, and the dogs sat at the table, and stared with all their eyes.1 2← previousThe Brave Tin Soldiernext →The Toad↑ back to Fairy Tales of Hans Christian AndersenThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/193/page/2/