PRINCE PRIGIO. 53

 

There came a clear, hissing answer, like
frozen words dropping round him:

“Wait till I come down. What do you
want?”

Then the white folds began to slide, like
melting ice, from the black hill.

_ Prince Prigio felt the air getting warmer
behind him, and colder in front of him.

He looked round, and there were the trees
beginning to blacken in the heat, and the grass
looking like a sea of fire along the plains; for
the Firedrake was coming!

The prince just took time to shout, * The
Firedrake is going to pay you a visit!’’ and
then he soared to the top of a neighbouring
hill, and looked on at what followed.