The Boots of Buffalo-Leather (Grimm)
Short summary
A fearless discharged soldier wandered through a forest and met a well-dressed huntsman who had also lost his way.
Together they found a robber's house. Despite warnings from an old woman, the soldier insisted on entering. When twelve robbers arrived, the hungry soldier boldly joined their meal. The robbers threatened to kill them both after dinner.
The soldier asked for wine and made a toast:
Long life to you all, but with your mouths open and your right hands lifted up, and then he drank a hearty draught.
The robbers froze like stone. The soldier led troops to capture them. When approaching town, he discovered his companion was the King in disguise.
The King rewarded the soldier with a comfortable life.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The discharged soldier meets a mysterious huntsman
A fearless discharged soldier wandered through the countryside, begging for alms since he had learned no trade and could earn nothing.
A soldier who is afraid of nothing, troubles himself about nothing. One of this kind had received his discharge, and as he had learnt no trade and could earn nothing
He possessed only an old waterproof and a pair of buffalo-leather riding boots. Walking through the open country, he entered a forest where he encountered a well-dressed man in a green shooting-coat sitting on a fallen tree trunk.
The soldier praised his own buffalo-leather boots, saying they could go through thick and thin, unlike the huntsman's well-blacked boots. Both men discovered they were lost in the forest and decided to travel together to find their way out.
Seeking shelter in the robbers house
As night fell, they spotted a light in the distance and found a stone house. An old woman opened the door and warned them it was a robber's house, advising them to leave before the robbers returned.
It won't be so bad as that, I have not had a mouthful for two days, and whether I am murdered here or die of hunger in the forest is all the same to me.
The soldier insisted on entering despite the danger, dragging the reluctant huntsman with him. The old woman took pity on them and hid them behind the stove. Soon twelve robbers burst in, seated themselves at the table, and demanded food.
Unable to resist the smell of roast meat, the soldier began coughing loudly, revealing their hiding place. The robbers discovered them and threatened to kill them after they ate.
The soldiers magical power freezes the robbers
But do be civil, I am hungry, give me something to eat, and then you can do what you like with me.
The robbers were astonished by the soldier's fearlessness. Their captain agreed to feed him before killing him. The soldier seated himself at the table and began eating heartily, inviting the huntsman to join him, though the huntsman refused.
After eating, the soldier requested wine. The captain ordered the old woman to bring the best bottle from the cellar. The soldier then performed his magical trick, brandishing the bottle over the robbers' heads and crying out for them to raise their right hands and open their mouths while he drank their health. Instantly, all the robbers became motionless as stone, frozen with their mouths open and right hands raised.
The huntsman recognized the soldier's magical abilities and suggested they leave, but the soldier refused to depart so soon after conquering their enemies.
Oho, my dear brother, but that would be marching away far too soon; we have conquered the enemy, and must first take the booty.
The soldier made the old woman serve them more wine and food, eating enough to last three days while the robbers remained frozen in place.
Capturing the robbers and returning to town
When morning came, the soldier had the old woman show them the shortest route to town. There he gathered his old military comrades and led them back to capture the robbers. He demonstrated his power by drinking from the bottle again and commanding the robbers to live again, instantly restoring their movement. The soldiers quickly bound the robbers hand and foot, loaded them into a cart like sacks, and drove them to prison.
The huntsman reveals himself as the King
As they approached the town, the soldier saw crowds of people with green boughs celebrating someone's return. When he asked about the commotion, the huntsman revealed his true identity.
Here he is, I am the King, and have announced my arrival. Then he opened his hunting-coat, and his royal garments were visible.
The soldier fell to his knees in alarm, begging forgiveness for treating the king as an equal. However, the king shook hands with him, praised his bravery for saving his life, and promised he would never want for anything again, inviting him to dine at the royal kitchen whenever he wished.