THE TWO PRINCES. 207

the people were weeping and all the houses were
hung with black cloth. And he said to them:
“Why do ye weep, and why are all your houses hung
with black ?”—And they answered: “ Because there’s
a Dragon here who eats the people, and it has come to
such a pass with us that to-morrow we must give him
our Princess for dinner.”—“ Nay, but ye shall not do
this thing,” said he, and, with that, he set out for the
cavern where the Dragon lived, and tethered his horse
there and slept by the side of the cavern all night.
And the next day, sure enough, the Princess was
brought to the mouth of the cavern. She came driv-
ing thither in a carriage and four and with a heyduke
in attendance. But when the Prince saw her, he
came forth to meet her and led her aside and gave
her a prayer-book in her hand, and said to her:
“Stay here, Princess, and pray to God for me.” Then
she fell down on her knees and began to pray, and
the Dragon popped one of his heads out of the cavern
and said: “It is time I had my dinner now, and
there’s not so much as a breakfast here!” But the
Prince also fell down on his knees and read out of his
prayer-book and prayed to God, and gaid to the
Dragon: “Come forth! come forth! and Tl give
thee breakfast and dinner at the same time!” Then
the Dragon darted back again, but when he had
waited till midday and still there was neither break-