"I pressed her to tell me how she came there, and she explained to me
that one day, while walking on the sands with one of her maidens in
attendance, they had together discovered this cave, which was only
accessible at low tide; and they had secretly brought the rugs and
tapestries and other furniture with which the cave was filled and made a
bower of it, to which the Princess was wont to retire whenever she
wished to be alone.

"And, venturing here two days since without attendance, the Princess
had found, when she had wished to depart, the terrible monster lying in
her path.

"'And so,' she cried, 'I have been a prisoner all this time.'

"I cheered her as well as I was able, and turned to my little book to
see if by chance it gave me any directions how I might slay a Dragon by
means of my fairy powers; and I read there that though one might not
slay it (for a Dragon lives for a thousand years), one might rob it of
its power by casting at it a jewel of great brilliancy, at the same time
wishing that he might become dazed and impotent till one could escape,
and it would be so.

"I told this to the Princess, and she hastened to unfasten from her
bosom a jewel of great value set in gold of curious workmanship, which
she gave to me, imploring me at the same time to do immediately as the
book directed.

"'Nay,' said I, 'the jewel is yours; you must cast it at the Dragon, and
I will _wish_ that the fairies may aid us.'