Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm

“ HERE once lived in Switzerland an old Count, who had an only son; but he was very stupid, and could learn nothing. So his father said to him: ‘Listen to me, my son. I can get nothing into your head, try as hard as I may. You must go away from here, and I will hand you over to a renowned Professor for a whole year.’ At the end of the year he came home again, and his father asked: ‘Now, my son, what have you learnt?’
‘Father, I have learnt the language of dogs.’
‘Mercy on us!’ cried his father, ‘is that all you have learnt? ”

“ They bark and howl without ceasing, and at certain hours they must have a man thrown to them, and they devour him at once.’
The whole neighbourhood was distressed by the scourge, but no one could do anything to remedy it. But the youth was not a bit afraid, and said: ‘Just let me go down to these barking dogs, and give me something that I can throw to them; they won’t do me any harm.’
As he would not have anything else, they gave him some food for the savage dogs, and took him down to the tower. ”

“ The next morning, to the surprise of every one, he made his appearance again, and said to the Lord of the castle, ‘The Dogs have revealed to me in their own language why they live there and bring mischief to the country. They are enchanted, and obliged to guard a great treasure which is hidden under the tower, and will get no rest till it has been dug up ”