terrupted Clarence, who seemed to welcome a
distraction just then. "Look over there. That beggar Rubenfresser has
let loose that poisonous dragon of his! Infernal cheek!"

"He was expressly told to keep it under control," said the King. "Most
irregular!"

"It's not only loose," said Clarence, "but it's coming straight over
here."

Ruby had seen it too, and sprang up delighted. "Look!" she cried,
"there's darling Tuetzi! He's got away from his horrid master--and now
he's coming to live with _us_! I _must_ get some cake for him!" and she
darted into the Palace.

"I'll go and tell those sentry-johnnies to take a pot at it," said
Clarence, as he went down to a lower terrace, where the Palace sentinels
were on duty. By the time he returned with them Tuetzi was almost
overhead, his great wings beating with a resonant leathery clang as he
flew round in ever descending circles, stretching his scaled neck and
horny head in deliberate quest, until he was so low that the sunlit
chalcedony slabs shed a reflected glare on his great burnished belly.
"Now blaze away at it, can't you!" shouted Clarence to the sentinels,
who appeared to have some difficulty in loading their antiquated pieces.
"You mustn't shoot Tuetzi!" cried Ruby, running out at that moment with a
heavily gilded slice of gingerhead, "he's only come for some cake!"

"Don't encourage the thing!" said the King, dragging her back. "Get
away, you brute! Go home, Sir!"

As he spoke the monster made a sudden downward swoop at Edna, and, with
a deftness that was quite extraordinary, hooked one of its steely claws
in her girdle and soared rapidly aloft with her. It was fortunate that
the belt, which was of stout jewel-studded leather, was able to sustain
her weight.

"Stop firing, you fools!" yelled Clarence, as the sentinels opened a
wild fusillade. "You'll only hit _her_!"

And, even if their bullets could have pierced the dragon's plated hide,
it was soon out of range.

"It's carrying her off to that wretch!" screamed the distracted Queen.
"Is there _nothing_ we can do?"

"One thing, your Majesty," said the Baron eagerly. "Offer the Princess
in marriage to anyone who will rescue her. It's the usual course!"

"To--to _anyone_?" repeated Queen Selina in despair. "Oh, Baron--_must_
we?"

"You can safely do so, Madam," he whispered. "Mirliflor will be the
man--and I know where to find him." And with this he rushed off first to
his own chamber, then to the Crown P