word. And remember, do not
dismount."

At the castle heartbroken farewells were being taken. Zdobena parted
from her father and her sisters, stepped into a carriage, and
accompanied by a great multitude of her weeping subjects was slowly
driven out of town to the Dragon Rock. As they neared the fatal spot
the princess alighted. She took a few steps forward, then sank to the
earth in a faint.

At that moment the people saw galloping toward them a knight with a
red and white plume. In a voice of authority he ordered them to stand
back and leave him to deal alone with the dragon. They were glad
enough to lead the princess away and they all went to a hill near by
from which they could watch the combat at a safe distance.

Now there was a deep rumbling noise, the earth shook, and the Dragon
Rock opened. A nine-headed monster crawled out. He spat fire and
poison from all his nine mouths and cast about his nine heads, this
way and that, looking for his promised prey. When he saw the knight he
let out a horrible roar.

Bayaya rode straight at him and with one blow of his sword cut off
three of his heads. The dragon writhed and enveloped Bayaya in flames
and poisonous fumes. But the prince, undaunted, struck at him again
and again until he had cut off all nine heads. The life that still
remained in the loathsome body, the horse finished with his hoofs.

When the dragon had perished the prince turned and galloped back the
way he had come.

Zdobena looked after him, wishing she might follow him to thank him
for her deliverance. But she remembered her poor father sunk in grief
at the castle and she felt it was her duty to hurry back to him as
quickly as she could.

It would be impossible to describe in words the king's joy when
Zdobena appeared before him safe and uninjured. Her sisters embraced
her and wondered for the first time whether a deliverer would rise up
for them as well.

Bayaya capered happily about and assured them by signs that he was
certain they, too, would be saved. Although the prospect of the morrow
still terrified them, yet hope had come to them and once or twice
Bayaya succeeded in making them laugh.

The next day Budinka was led out. As on the day before, the unknown
knight appeared, this time wearing a white plume. He attacked the
eighteen-headed dragon and, after valiant conflict, despatched him.
Then before any one could reach him, he turned and rode away.

The princess returned to the castle,