almost broke from the ropes which secured them, for the
young knights, disdaining to fly as they might have done, had kept on
foot. They felt, also, how perfectly and completely they could trust
each other, and thus they stood, fearless of the coming danger.

The monster, with loud cries, spreading out his wings, and lifting up
his terrible talons, rushed towards them. Side by side, at a little
distance apart, they stood ready to receive him. He ran at the centre
one, who, stepping back a pace, made a furious cut at him with his
sword, while the other two assailed him on either side. Quick as hail
fell their blows on his hard side, but, hard and tough as was his skin,
their sharp swords soon found entrance, and the blood of the monster
began to flow in torrents, rising quickly over their feet, for they
fought in a valley from whence there was no means for it to escape;
blood not being able of itself to run up hill in any way more easily
than water, which cannot do it at all. The young Knights thus saw that
if they desired to escape drowning, they must finish the combat without
further delay; the odour of the monster was excessively disagreeable to
their olfactory nerves, being like the essence of ten thousand
pole-cats, weasels, skunks, ferrets, and similar vermin.

Now they plied their blows more furiously than ever, till at length Sir
Guy, the eldest, plunged his weapon into the monster's scaly breast, and
roars of pain and rage, louder than that which ten thousand elephants,
lions, and donkeys united could make, were sent forth by the terrific
brute, who threw himself headlong on the gallant knights; but they
nimbly skipped out of the way; and, as his face lay submerged in his own
blood, they again thrust their swords into his back and sides, while
thousands of bubbles, floating up from the surface of the pool of Wood,
showed that, at length, he had breathed out his hideous life.

The Knights, having ascertained that he was dead, retired from the
field; the neighbourhood of which soon became unbearable, from the
horrid odour which proceeded from it. Having thus washed away all the
stains of the combat, in a neighbouring stream, for they were all three
very nice young men, and hated to be more dirty than was necessary, they
proceeded on their journey.

Time will not allow me to dwell long on their subsequent adventures.

As they journeyed on, faint and weary, and sadly wanting refreshment,
they met a herald