A King adored a particular apple tree in his garden and declared that anyone who picked its fruit should be buried a hundred fathoms underground. Despite this, his youngest daughter plucked an irresistible red apple, shared it with her sisters, and all three were swallowed by the earth.

The King, distraught, offered any of his daughters’ hands in marriage to whoever found and rescued them. Three huntsmen set out. They came to a mysterious castle filled with food but no people. Taking turns staying behind while the others searched, the first two brothers were tricked and beaten by a tricky earth-mannikin. The third brother, “Stupid Hans,” treated the mannikin with firmness rather than deference. In return, the mannikin revealed the princesses’ location—deep underground, guarded by multi-headed dragons.

Hans descended alone, slew the dragons, and rescued each princess. But when it was his turn to return, his jealous brothers cut the rope, hoping to kill him and claim credit. Hans survived and eventually summoned elves with a magic flute. They carried him back to the surface.

He arrived just in time to stop the princesses’ forced weddings to his deceitful brothers. The princesses, though bound to secrecy, told their story to a stove, which their father overheard. The treacherous brothers were executed, and Hans married the youngest princess.