dishevelled glory about her shoulders.

"I was afraid of alarming her, so I coughed slightly to attract her
attention.

"She started up immediately with a look of terror, but was calmed in an
instant when she saw who it was.

"'Oh!' she cried, 'have you slain him? You must have done in order to
have reached here. Oh! have you come to save me?' and she looked at me
with wild, eager eyes.

"'Calm yourself, fair lady!' said I. 'What is it that alarms you? Be
sure that I will do all in my power to protect you from any evil that
threatens you.'

"'The Dragon!' gasped the Princess. 'Have you not slain him? How else
can you have entered? He lies at the door of the cave.'

"She caught me by the hand and led me to the entrance, and then,
clasping one hand over her eyes and shuddering with terror, she pointed
to where, a short distance beyond, under the shadow of some rocks, lay a
terrible Dragon, watching with cruel and expectant eyes for any prey
that might come his way.

"'I cannot get away from here except I pass him, and I have been
imprisoned here now for two days,' sobbed the Princess. 'The King, my
father, must indeed be distraught at my absence,' and she burst into
fresh weeping.