Then she went to the King and said that the Queen had killed it . The King would not believe it , and would not allow any harm to be done her . But she sat quietly sewing at the shirts and troubling herself about nothing . The next time she had a child the wicked mother did the same thing , but the King could not make up his mind to believe her . He said , ` She is too sweet and good to do such a thing as that . If she were not dumb and could defend herself , her innocence would be proved . ' But when the third child was taken away , and the Queen was again accused , and could not utter a word in her own defence , the King was obliged to give her over to the law , which decreed that she must be burnt to death . When the day came on which the sentence was to be executed , it was the last day of the six years in which she must not speak or laugh , and now she had freed her dear brothers from the power of the enchantment . The six shirts were done ; there was only the left sleeve wanting to the last . When she was led to the stake , she laid the shirts on her arm , and as she stood on the pile and the fire was about to be lighted , she looked around her and saw six swans flying through the air . Then she knew that her release was at hand and her heart danced for joy . The swans fluttered round her , and hovered low so that she could throw the shirts over them . When they had touched them the swan-skins fell off , and her brothers stood before her living , well and beautiful . Only the youngest had a swan 's wing instead of his left arm . They embraced and kissed each other , and the Queen went to the King , who was standing by in great astonishment , and began to speak to him , saying , ` Dearest husband , now I can speak and tell you openly that I am innocent and have been falsely accused . ' She told him of the old woman 's deceit , and how she had taken the three children away and hidden them . Then they were fetched , to the great joy of the King , and the wicked mother came to no good end . But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many years in happiness and peace . THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH -LRB- 2 -RRB- -LRB- 2 -RRB- ` Der Norlands Drache , ' from Esthnische Mahrchen . Kreutzwald .
Very long ago , as old people have told me , there lived a terrible monster , who came out of the North , and laid waste whole tracts of country , devouring both men and beasts ; and this monster was so destructive that it was feared that unless help came no living creature would be XXXXX on the face of the earth .
Drache King Kreutzwald Mahrchen Queen executed fire left swan-skins third