" The following morning we entered the dragons'
country, though somewhat timidly, and about noon
reached the dragon-palace. It is impossible to
describe the magnificent things we saw there. Gar-
dens with all sorts of flowers and fruits, rooms that
seemed lined with silver, so that they shone in the sun
like mirrors, walls covered with paintings and carved
flowers. Every corner of the palace was gilded, and
fountains cast jets of water into the air. Luckily for
us, the dragons were not at home when we arrived.
On the threshold we met a beautiful girl, a girl who
looked as sweet as if she were made of sugar, and
who advised us not to enter the court-yard in the
dragons' absence, or we should meet with some mis-
fortune. Then she wept for joy at seeing people
from the place from whence the dragons had stolen
her. When we asked her about the wonderful bird,
she said it was in the possession of some other
dragons, relatives of those on whose lands we were.
" * Go there,' she added, * for with God's help, I
hope you will succeed, and when you return, take me
with you.*

" After she had t|ld us how we could enter the drag-
ons' court-yard and what we must do, I swore by what
was dearest to me in the world, my father, that I would
not leave her in the dragons' power, but take b«t



24 site WLon&zxful Ij^ivti.
away. Then we continued the journey. To tell the
truth, I loved her as soon as I saw her.
