llar, the ninth cellar, the eight cellar, the seventh
cellar, the sixth, the fifth, the fourth, the third, the second, the
first, and so out into the garden. The Prince reached the garden just in
time to see the monster overpower the Princess.

"Alas, my dear one, what have you done?" cried the poor Princess as the
dragon carried her off. "The enchantment would soon have been broken and
I could have married you if only you had not gone into the twelfth
cellar!"

Heartbroken at what had happened, the Prince mounted his horse and
started off in pursuit of the dragon.

"I must do what I can to rescue my loved one," he said, "even if it
costs me my life."

He rode many days until he came to the castle of the dragon. The dragon
was out and the Princess received him with tears of joy.

"Come," he said to her, "let us escape before the dragon returns."

The Princess sighed and shook her head.

"How, my loved one, can we escape? The dragon rides a magic horse and
however fast we go he will be able to overtake us."

But the Prince insisted that they make the attempt. So she mounted with
him and off they went.

When the dragon arrived home and found her gone, he laughed a brutal
laugh and said to his horse:

"I suppose that foolish young Prince has been here and is trying to
carry her off. Shall we start after them now or wait till we've had our
supper?"

"We might as well eat," the horse said, "for we'll overtake them
anyway."

So they both ate and then the dragon mounted the magic horse and in no
time at all they had overtaken the fugitives.

"I ought to tear you to pieces," the dragon said to the Prince, "but I
won't this time because you gave me a cup of water. However, I warn you
not to try this foolishness again!"

With that he clutched the poor weeping Princess in his scaly arms and
carried her back to the castle.

What was the Prince to do now? He tried to plan some other way of
rescuing the Princess but he could think of none. In spite of the
dragon's threat he went back the next day and tried the same thing
again. Again the dragon overtook him and snatched back the Princess.

"I have spared you one time," he said to the Prince, "and I will spare
you this one time more for the sake of the water you gave me. But I warn
you if you come again I will tear you to pieces."

But what man worthy the name will accept such a warning when the safety
and happiness of his loved one is concerned? The next day whi