The yellow fairy book . er remaining inhis own home for some weeks, he heard people say that the terribleDragon of the North was not far off, and might shortly be expectedin the country. The King announced publicly that he would givehis daughter in marriage, as well as a large part of his kingdom, towhosoever should free the country from the monster. The youththen went to the King and told him that he had good hopes ofsubduing the Dragon, if the King would grant him all he desiredfor the purpose. The King willingly agreed, and the iron horse,the great spear, and the chains were all prepared as
The yellow fairy book . er remaining inhis own home for some weeks, he heard people say that the terribleDragon of the North was not far off, and might shortly be expectedin the country. The King announced publicly that he would givehis daughter in marriage, as well as a large part of his kingdom, towhosoever should free the country from the monster. The youththen went to the King and told him that he had good hopes ofsubduing the Dragon, if the King would grant him all he desiredfor the purpose. The King willingly agreed, and the iron horse,the great spear, and the chains were all prepared as the youth re-quested. When all was ready, it was found that the iron horsewas so heavy that a hundred men could not move it from the spot,so the youth found there was nothing for it but to move it with his THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH 17 own strength by means of the magic ring. The Dragon was nowso near that in a couple of springs he would be over the youth now began to consider how he should act, for if he had. The youth secures the dragon to push the iron horse from behind he could not ride upon it as thesorcerer had said he must. But a raven unexpectedly gave himthis advice : Ride upon the horse, and push the spear against the 18 THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH ground, as if you were pushing off a boat from the Theyouth did so, and found that in this way he could easily move for-wards. The Dragon had his monstrous jaws wide open, all readyfor his expected prey. A few paces nearer, and man and horsewould have been swallowed up by them! The youth trembledwith horror, and his blood ran cold, yet he did not lose his courage ;but, holding the iron spear upright in his hand, he brought it downwith all his might right through the monsters lower jaw. Thenquick as lightning he sprang from his horse before the Dragon hadtime to shut his mouth. A fearful clap like thunder, which couldbe heard for miles around, now warned him that the Dragons jawshad closed upon the spear. When
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectfairyta, bookyear1906
