dding his head, for
he was very sleepy.

Accordingly, the hermit having prepared couches of leaves, the Knight
and his attendant rested till the cheerful cock, true messenger of day,
gave notice that the sun was about to uprise from his sandy bed. Then,
springing to his feet after a hurried meal, aided by his squire and the
trembling fingers of the hermit, he carefully buckled on his armour, and
mounting his richly caparisoned steed, he declared himself ready for the
combat. Followed by De Fistycuff, and preceded by the hermit on a mule,
who went to show the way, he proceeded to the valley where the dragon
was asleep, and where the King's daughter was to be offered up as a
sacrifice.

As he came in sight of it his eyes rested on one of the sweetest and
most lovely maidens he had ever beheld, arrayed in pure white Arabian
silk, and led to the place of death by a numerous band of sage and
modest matrons, who mourned with bitter tears her hard fate.

This melancholy spectacle still further stimulated the overflowing
courage of the English Knight, so spurring on towards the mourning
group, he assured the lovely maiden that he was prepared to battle
bravely in her cause, and entreated her to return to her father's court
till the result of the coming contest became known.

"He'll do it if it is to be done," observed De Fistycuff, wishing to add
his mite of consolation to the ladies' hearts, and pointing to his
master, who had ridden slowly on; and having thus delivered himself he
spurred after him.

The daring Knight and his faithful squire now entered the valley where
the terrific green dragon had his abode. No sooner did the fiery eyes
of the hideous monster fall on the steel-clad warrior, instead of the
fair maiden he expected to see, than from his leathern throat he sent
forth a cry of rage louder and more tremendous than thunder, and
arousing himself he prepared for the contest about to occur. As he
reared up on his hind legs, with his wings outspread, and his long scaly
tail, with a huge red fork, extending far away behind him, his sharp
claws wide open, each of the size of a large ship's anchor, his gaping
mouth armed with double rows of huge teeth, between which appeared a
fiery red tongue, and vast eyes blazing like burning coals, while his
nostrils spouted forth fire, and the upper part of his body was covered
with glittering green scales brighter than polished silver, and harder
than brass, the under part