； indeed； animmense quantity。 So the soldier now threw away all the silver moneyhe had taken； and filled his pockets and his knapsack with goldinstead； and not only his pockets and his knapsack； but even his capand boots； so that he could scarcely walk。
He was really rich now； so he replaced the dog on the chest；closed the door； and called up through the tree； 〃Now pull me out； youold witch。〃
〃Have you got the tinder…box？〃 asked the witch。
〃No； I declare I quite forgot it。〃 So he went back and fetched thetinderbox； and then the witch drew him up out of the tree； and hestood again in the high road； with his pockets； his knapsack； his cap；and his boots full of gold。
〃What are you going to do with the tinder…box？〃 asked the soldier。
〃That is nothing to you；〃 replied the witch； 〃you have themoney； now give me the tinder…box。〃
〃I tell you what；〃 said the soldier； 〃if you don't tell me whatyou are going to do with it； I will draw my sword and cut off yourhead。〃
〃No；〃 said the witch。
The soldier immediately cut off her head； and there she lay on theground。 Then he tied up all his money in her apron。 and slung it onhis back like a bundle； put the tinderbox in his pocket； and walkedoff to the nearest town。 It was a very nice town； and he put up at thebest inn； and ordered a dinner of all his favorite dishes； for nowhe was rich and had plenty of money。
The servant； who cleaned his boots； thought they certainly werea shabby pair to be worn by such a rich gentleman； for he had notyet bought any new ones。 The next day； however； he procured somegood clothes and proper boots； so that our soldier soon became knownas a fine gentleman； and the people visited him； and told him allthe wonders that were to be seen in the town； and of the king'sbeautiful daughter； the princess。
〃Where can I see her？〃 asked the soldier。
〃She is not to be seen at all；〃 they said； 〃she lives in a largecopper castle； surrounded by walls and towers。 No one but the kinghimself can pass in or out； for there has been a prophecy that shewill marry a mon soldier； and the king cannot bear to think of sucha marriage。〃
〃I should like very much to see her；〃 thought the soldier； buthe could not obtain permission to do so。 However； he passed a verypleasant time； went to the theatre； drove in the king's garden； andgave a great deal of money to the poor； which was very good of him； heremembered what it had been in olden times to be without a shilling。Now he was rich； had fine clothes； and many friends； who alldeclared he was a fine fellow and a real gentleman； and all thisgratified him exceedingly。 But his money would not last forever； andas he spent and gave away a great deal daily； and received none； hefound himself at last with only two shillings left。 So he wasobliged to leave his elegant rooms； and live in a little garretunder the roof； where he had to clean his own boots； and even mendthem with a large needle。 None of his friends came to see him； therewere too many stairs to mount up。 One dark evening； he had not evena penny to buy a candle； then all at once he remembered that there wasa piece of candle stuck in the tinder…box； which he had brought fromthe old tree； into which the witch had helped him。
He found the tinder…box； but no sooner had he struck a fewsparks from the flint and steel； than the door flew open and the dogwith eyes as big as teacups； whom he had seen while down in thetree； stood before him； and said； 〃What orders； master？〃
〃Hallo；〃 said the soldier； 〃well this is a pleasant tinderbox；if it brings me all I wish for。〃
〃Bring me some money；〃 said he to the dog。
He was gone in a moment； and presently returned； carrying alarge bag of coppers in his month。 The soldier very soon discoveredafter this the value of the tinder…box。 If he struck the flint once；the dog who sat on the chest of copper money made his appearance； iftwice； the dog came from the chest of silver； and if three times；the dog with eyes like towers； who watched over the gold。 Thesoldier had now plenty of money； he returned to his elegant rooms； andreappeared in his fine clothes； so that his friends knew him againdirectly； and made as much of him as before。
After a while he began to think it was very strange that no onecould get a look at the princess。 〃Every one says she is verybeautiful；〃 thought he to himself； 〃but what is the use of that if sheis to be shut up in a copper castle surrounded by so many towers。Can I by any means get to see her。 Stop！ where is my tinder…box？〃 Thenhe struck a light； and in a moment the dog； with eyes as big asteacups； stood before him。
〃It is midnight；〃 said the soldier； 〃yet I should very much liketo see the princess； if only for a moment。〃
The dog disappeared instantly； and before the soldier could evenlook round； he returned with the princess。 She was lying on thedog's back asleep； and looked so lovely； that every one who saw herwould know she was a real princess。 The soldier could not help kissingher； true soldier as he was。 Then the dog ran back with theprincess； but in the morning； while at breakfast with the king andqueen； she told them what a singular dream she had had during thenight； of a dog and a soldier； that she had ridden on the dog'sback； and been kissed by the soldier。
〃That is a very pretty story； indeed；〃 said the queen。 So the nextnight one of the old ladies of the court was set to watch by theprincess's bed； to discover whether it really was a dream； or whatelse it might be。
The soldier longed very much to see the princess once more； sohe sent for the dog again in the night to fetch her； and to run withher as fast as ever he could。 But the old lady put on water boots； andran after him as quickly as he did； and found that he carried theprincess into a large house。 She thought it would help her to rememberthe place if she made a large cross on the door with a piece of chalk。Then she went home to bed； and the dog presently returned with theprincess。 But when he saw that a cross had been made on the door ofthe house； where the soldier lived； he took another piece of chalk andmade crosses on all the doors in the town； so that the lady…in…waitingmight not be able to find out the right door。
Early the next morning the king and queen acpanied the lady andall the officers of the household； to see where the princess had been。
〃Here it is；〃 said the king； when they came to the first door witha cross on it。
No； my dear husband； it must be that one；〃 said the queen；pointing to a second door having a cross also。
〃And here is one； and there is another！〃 they all exclaimed； forthere were crosses on all the doors in every direction。
So they felt it would be useless to search any farther。 But thequeen was a very clever woman； she could do a great deal more thanmerely ride in a carriage。 She took her large gold scissors； cut apiece of silk into squares； and made a neat little bag。 This bag shefilled with buckwheat flour； and tied it round the princess's neck；and then she cut a small hole in the bag； so that the flour might bescattered on the ground as the princess went along。 During thenight； the dog came again and carried the princess on his back； andran with her to the soldier； who loved