grieving that she had not been
able to speak to the knight and express her gratitude.

"You, my sisters," Slavena said, "were backward not to speak to him
before he rode off. Tomorrow if he delivers me I shall kneel before
him and not get up until he consents to return with me to the castle."

Just then Bayaya began laughing and chuckling and Slavena asked him
sharply what was the matter. He capered about and made her understand
that he, too, wanted to see the knight.

On the third day Slavena was taken out to the Dragon Rock. This time
the king also went. The heart of the poor girl quaked with terror when
she thought that if the unknown knight failed to appear she would be
handed over to the horrible monster.

A joyous shout from the people told her that the knight was coming.
Then she saw him, a gallant figure in blue with a blue and white plume
floating in the wind. As he had killed the first dragon, and the
second dragon, so he killed the third although the struggle was longer
and the little horse had much to do to stand up against the poisonous
fumes.

Instantly the dragon was slain, Slavena and the king rushed up to the
knight and begged him to return with them to the castle. He scarcely
knew how to refuse, especially when Slavena, kneeling before him,
grasped the edge of his tunic and looked up at him so bewitchingly
that his heart melted and he was ready to do anything she asked.

But the little horse took matters into his own hands, reared up
suddenly, and galloped off before the knight had time to dismount.

So Slavena, too, was unable to bring the knight back to the castle.
The king and all the court were greatly disappointed but their
disappointment was swallowed up in their joy that the princesses had
been so miraculously saved.

Shortly after this another disaster threatened the king. A neighboring
king of great power declared war against him. The king sent far and
wide and summoned together all the nobles of the land. They came, and
the king when he had laid before them his cause promised them the
hands of his three beautiful daughters in return for their support.
This was indeed an inducement and every young noble present swore his
allegiance and hurried home to gather his forces.

Troops poured in from all sides and soon the king was ready to set
forth.

He handed over the affairs of the castle to Bayaya and also intrusted
to him the safety of the three princesses. Bayaya did his duty
fait