[181] Kittredge thus summarizes the tale (work cited, p. 226): "Three or more brothers (or comrades) are suitors for the hand of a beautiful girl. While her father is deliberating, the girl disappears. The companions undertake to recover her. One of them, by contemplation (or by keenness of sight), finds that she has been stolen by a demon (or dragon) and taken to his abode on a rock in the sea. Another builds a ship by his magic (or possesses a magic ship) which instantly transports them to the rock. Another, who is a skilful climber, ascends the castle and finds that the monster is asleep with his head in the maiden's lap. Another, a master thief, steals the girl without waking her captor. They embark, but are pursued by the monster. One of the companions, an unerring shot, kills the pursuer with an arrow. The girl is restored to her parents." This analysis would not hold for all variants, even when uncompounded (e.g. Grimm, Kinder- und Hausmaerchen, No. 71, "Sechse kommen durch die ganze Welt") but a better could scarcely be made without a systematic study of the type. As Kittredge notes, the companions are not at all constant in number and function. [182] Hungarian I., Rumanian II., Straparola II., Sicilian, and Treu Heinrich. [183] Thus Hungarian I. and Rumanian II. with Polish, Sicilian with Harz II. [184] Possibly a trace of some such story as The Quest of the Sword of Light discussed by Kittredge, Arthur and Gorlagon, pp. 214 ff. [185] Since twelve brothers set out to win twelve sisters, there is probably a union here with the widespread tale of The Brothers and Sisters. [186] The ship that will travel equally well on land and water is seemingly a common trait in forms of The Skilful Companions. See the variant cited from Blade on p. 125, note 3. It occurs in a curious tale from Mauritius, given by Baissac, Le Folk-lore de l'Ile-Maurice, 1888, p. 78. [187] For examples of stories in which a king's son liberates one or more prisoners, and has the service returned in an emergency, see Child, English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v. 42-48. [188] See Jonckbloet, ii. 131 ff. [189] Paris, Hist. litt. de la France, xxx. 82. [190] The only instance known to me where such transformation occurs with reference to the hero. [191] Walewein and Lotharingian. [192] Like the wolf in Guillaume de Palerne, which is likewise a transformed prince. [193] Lotharingian comes from a region farther north than any other, since the Dutch romance is merely a translation from Old French. Simrock IX. is from Tyrol. [194] See pp. 133-135. [195] I include all the tales treated in this chapter. [196] See pp. 58-73. [197] See p. 126, note 1. [198] See p. 134. [199] See p. 133, note 2. [200] See pp. 92 ff. above, and pp. 156-158 below. [201] With the form The Grateful Dead + The Water of Life simply. [202] Pp. 107 f., 111-115. [203] See pp. 133 f. [204] See pp. 145-147. [205] See pp. 146 f. [206] P. 143.