54 PRINCE PRIGIO.

 

CHAPTER XI.

{he Battle.

Remora heard the name of the Firedrake,

his hated enemy, he slipped with wonder-

ful speed from the cleft of the mountain

into the valley. On and on and on he

poured over rock and tree, asifa frozen river .
could ‘slide downhill; on and on, till there were
miles of him stretching along the valley—miles
of the smooth-ribbed, icy creature, crawling and
slipping forwards. The green trees dropped
their leaves as he advanced; the birds fell
down dead from the sky, slain by his frosty
breath! But, fast as the Remora stole forward,
the Firedrake came quicker yet, flying and
clashing his fiery wings. At last they were
within striking distance; and the Firedrake,
stooping from the air, dashed with his burn-
ing horns and flaming feet slap into the body
of the Remora.

Then there rose a steam so dreadful, such a
white yet fiery vapour of heat, that no one who
had not the prince’s magic glass could have
seen what happened. With horrible grunts
and roars the Firedrake tried to burn his way

[ was an awful sight to behold! When the
(