rided himself always on doing the
correct thing.

"It's from Princess Hyacinth of Euralia," he said; "she doesn't say
much. Her father is away fighting, and she is alone and she is in
some trouble or other. It ought to make rather a good adventure."

Coronel turned away and began to drop his pebbles into the stream
again.

"Well, I wish you luck," he said. "If it's a dragon, don't forget
that----"

"But you're coming, too," said Udo, in dismay. "I must have you with
me."

"Doing what?"

"What?"

"Doing what?" said Coronel again.

"Well," said Prince Udo awkwardly, "er--well, you--well."

He felt that it was a silly question for Coronel to have asked.
Coronel knew perfectly well what he would be doing all the time. In
Udo's absence he would be telling Princess Hyacinth stories of his
Royal Highness's matchless courage and wisdom. An occasional
discussion also with the Princess upon the types of masculine beauty,
leading up to casual mention of Prince Udo's own appearance, would be
quite in order. When Prince Udo was present Coronel would no doubt
find the opportunity of drawing Prince Udo out, an opportunity of
which a stranger could not so readily avail himself.

But of course you couldn't very well tell Coronel that. A man of any
tact would have seen it at once.

"Of course," he said, "don't come if you don't like. But it would
look rather funny if I went quite unattended; and--and her Royal
Highness is said to be very beautiful," he added lamely.

Coronel laughed. There are adventures and adventures; to sit next to
a very beautiful Princess and discuss with her the good looks of
another man was not the sort of adventure that Coronel was looking
for.

He tossed the remainder of his pebbles into the stream and stood up.

"Of course, if your Royal Highness wishes----"

"Don't be a fool, Coronel," said his Royal Highness, rather snappily.

"Well, then, I'll come with my good friend Udo if he wants me."

"I do want you."

"Very well, that settles it. After all," he added to himself, "there
may be _two_ dragons."

Two dragons would be one each. But from all accounts there were not
two Princesses.

* * * * *

So three days later the friends set out with good hearts upon the
adventure. The messenger had been sent back to announce their
arrival; they gave him three days' start, and hoped to gain two days
upon him. In the simple fashion of those times (so it would seem from
Roge