The Bear in the Haunted Mill

Once upon a time there was a proud princess. She refused all suitors who did not know the answer to her riddle (Sphinx or Turandot motive). Finally a little tailor came and he guessed the colour of her hair. It was gold and silver (Evidently her head must have been covered though the story does not say so). So she had to accept the tailor but she made another condition namely that he must spend a night in the stable with the bear. Nothing daunted, the tailor is ready for the ordeal. (1) The tailor starts playing the violin. The bear dances and after having danced a while he declares that he wants to be taught to play the violin. That is easy, says the tailor, only your nails are too long they have to be trimmed. The bear does not think this too heavy a price to pay for becoming a great artist and puts its paws in a vice which the tailor provides for the occasion. The tailor screws the bear's paws firmly in the vice and while the bear growls in pain, he remarks: Now you can wait till I come with my big scissors. Re bene gesta, the tailor goes to sleep while the bear groans.

The princess came down to the stables next day. She heard the bear growling and thought he was growling with pleasure after a good meal. But finding that the tailor had won the battle there was nothing left for her but to be married to him. Princess and tailor drove to the church in the royal coach. However, two other tailors who were envious of our hero, unscrewed the bear, and the bear was after them in hot pursuit. But the tailor knew exactly what to do about it. He stood on his head and stuck his two legs out of the window. Do you see the vice? he asked the bear. That was