me to the borders of
the empire. Here was a deep, deep trench that girdled it the whole way
round, and there was only a single bridge by which the trench could be
crossed. Florea made instantly for the bridge, and there pulled up to
look around him once more, to take leave of his native land Then he
turned, but before him was standing a dragon--oh! SUCH a dragon!--a
dragon with three heads and three horrible faces, all with their mouths
wide open, one jaw reaching to heaven and the other to earth.

At this awful sight Florea did not wait to give battle. He put spurs to
his horse and dashed off, WHERE he neither knew nor cared.

The dragon heaved a sigh and vanished without leaving a trace behind
him.

A week went by. Florea did not return home. Two passed; and nothing was
heard of him. After a month Costan began to haunt the stables and to
look out a horse for himself. And the moment the year, the month, the
week, and the day were over Costan mounted his horse and took leave of
his youngest brother.

'If I fail, then you come,' said he, and followed the path that Florea
had taken.

The dragon on the bridge was more fearful and his three heads more
terrible than before, and the young hero rode away still faster than his
brother had done.

Nothing more was heard either of him or Florea; and Petru remained
alone.

'I must go after my brothers,' said Petru one day to his father.

'Go, then,' said his father, 'and may you have better luck than they';
and he bade farewell to Petru, who rode straight to the borders of the
kingdom.

The dragon on the bridge was yet more dreadful than the one Florea and
Costan had seen, for this one had seven heads instead of only three.

Petru stopped for a moment when he caught sight of this terrible
creature. Then he found his voice.

'Get out of the way!' cried he. 'Get out of the way!' he repeated again,
as the dragon did not move. 'Get out of the way!' and with this last
summons he drew his sword and rushed upon him. In an instant the heavens
seemed to darken round him and he was surrounded by fire--fire to right
of him, fire to left of him, fire to front of him, fire to rear of him;
nothing but fire whichever way he looked, for the dragon's seven heads
were vomiting flame.

The horse neighed and reared at the horrible sight, and Petru could not
use the sword he had in readiness.

'Be quiet! this won't do!' he said, dismounting hastily, but holding the
bridle firmly in hi