The Flower Queen's Daughter(6)

¡¡¡¡The Prince answered at once, 'I have heard so much of your beauty and kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service.'

¡¡¡¡'Very well,' said the Mother Dragon; 'but if you wish to enter my service, you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after her for three days; but if you don't bring her home safely every evening, we will eat you up.'

¡¡¡¡The Prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow.

¡¡¡¡But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The Prince sought for her in vain, and at last in despair sat down on a big stone and contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost in thought, he noticed an eagle flying over his head. Then he suddenly bethought him of his little bell, and taking it out of his pocket he rang it once. In a moment he heard a rustling sound in the air beside him, and the King of the Eagles sank at his feet.