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The Prince And The Dragon |
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Once upon a time there lived an emperor who had three sons. They
were all fine young men, and fond of hunting, and scarcely a day
passed without one or other of them going out to look for game.
One morning the eldest of the three princes mounted his horse and
set out for a neighbouring forest, where wild animals of all sorts
were to be found. He had not long left the castle, when a hare
sprang out of a thicket and dashed across the road in front. The
young man gave chase at once, and pursued it over hill and dale, till
at last the hare took refuge in a mill which was standing by the side
of a river. The prince followed and entered the mill, but stopped in
terror by the door, for, instead of a hare, before him stood a
dragon, breathing fire and flame. At this fearful sight the prince
turned to fly, but a fiery tongue coiled round his waist, and drew
him into the dragon's mouth, and he was seen no more.
A week passed away, and when the prince never came back
everyone in the town began to grow uneasy. At last his next
brother told the emperor that he likewise would go out to hunt, and
that perhaps he would find some clue as to his brother's
disappearance. But hardly had the castle gates closed on the prince
than the hare sprang out of the bushes as before, and led the
huntsman up hill and down dale, till they reached the mill. Into this
the hare flew with the prince at his heels, when, lo! instead of the
hare, there stood a dragon breathing fire and flame; and out shot a
fiery tongue which coiled round the prince's waist, and lifted him
straight into the dragon's mouth, and he was seen no more.
Days went by, and the emperor waited and waited for the sons who
never came, and could not sleep at night for wondering where they
were and what had become of them. His youngest son wished to
go in search of his brothers, but for long the emperor refused to
listen to him, lest he should lose him also. But the prince prayed so
hard for leave to make the search, and promised so often that he
would be very cautious and careful, that at length the emperor gave
him permission, and ordered the best horse in the stables to be
saddled for him.
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Fairytales 
