upon her ears; she looked through the window and saw the inhabitants
collected in the marketplace round a young monk, who, standing upon a
rock, uttered these words in a distinct voice:

"Inhabitants of Belmont, Abbot Mael, our venerable father, informs you
through my mouth that neither by strength nor skill in arms shall you
prevail against the dragon; but the beast shall be overcome by a virgin.
If, then, there be among you a perfectly pure virgin, let her arise and
go towards the monster; and when she meets him let her tie her girdle
round his neck and she shall lead him as easily as if he were a little
dog."

And the young monk, replacing his hood upon his head, departed to carry
the proclamation of the blessed Mael to other villages.

Orberosia sat in the amorous straw, resting her head in her hand and
supporting her elbow upon her knee, meditating on what she had just
heard.

Although, so far as Kraken was concerned, she feared the power of
a virgin much less than the strength of armed men, she did not feel
reassured by the proclamation of the blessed Mael. A vague but sure
instinct ruled her mind and warned her that Kraken could not henceforth
be a dragon with safety.

She said to the neatherd:

"My own heart, what do you think about the dragon?"

The rustic shook his head.