登陆注册
15476700000018

第18章 The Royal Dragon of Spor(2)

It was more than thirty feet in length and covered everywhere with large green scales set with diamonds, making the dragon, when it moved, a very glittering spectacle. Its eyes were as big as pie-plates, and its mouth--when wide opened--fully as large as a bath-tub. Its tail was very long and ended in a golden ball, such as you see on the top of flagstaffs. Its legs, which were as thick as those of an elephant, had scales which were set with rubies and emeralds. It had two monstrous, big ears and two horns of carved ivory, and its teeth were also carved into various fantastic shapes--such as castles, horses' heads, chinamen and griffins--so that if any of them broke it would make an excellent umbrella handle.

The Royal Dragon of Spor came crawling into the throne-room rather clumsily, groaning and moaning with every step and waving its ears like two blankets flying from a clothesline.

The king looked on it and frowned.

"Why are you not breathing fire and brimstone?" he demanded, angrily.

"Why, I was caught out in a gale the other night," returned the Dragon, rubbing the back of its ear with its left front paw, as it paused and looked at the king, "and the wind put out my fire."

"Then why didn't you light it again?" asked Terribus, turning on the keepers.

"We--we were out of matches, your Majesty!" stammered the trembling Gray Men.

"So--ho!" yelled the king, and was about to order the keepers beheaded; but just then Nerle pulled out his match-box, lit one of the matches, and held it in front of the Dragon's mouth. Instantly the creature's breath caught fire; and it began to breathe flames a yard in length.

"That's better," sighed the Dragon, contentedly. "I hope your Majesty is now satisfied."

"No,--I am not satisfied!" declared King Terribus. "Why do you not lash your tail?"

"Ah, I can't do that!" replied the Dragon. "It's all stiffened up with rheumatism from the dampness of my cave. It hurts too much to lash it."

"Well, then, gnash your teeth!" commanded the king.

"Tut--tut!" answered the Dragon, mildly; "I can't do that, either; for since you had them so beautifully carved it makes my teeth ache to gnash them."

"Well, then, what are you good for?" cried the king, in a fury.

"Don't I look awful? Am I not terrible to gaze on?" inquired the Dragon, proudly, as it breathed out red and yellow flames and made them curl in circles around its horns. "I guess there's no need for me to suggest terror to any one that happens to see me," it added, winking one of the pie-plate eyes at King Terribus.

The king looked at the monster critically, and it really seemed to him that it was a frightful thing to behold. So he curbed his anger and said, in his ordinary sweet voice:

"I have called you here to destroy these two strangers."

"How?" asked the Dragon, looking upon Prince Marvel and Nerle with interest.

"I am not particular," answered the king. "You may consume them with your fiery breath, or smash them with your tail, or grind them to atoms between your teeth, or tear them to pieces with your claws.

Only, do hurry up and get it over with!"

"Hm-m-m!" said the Dragon, thoughtfully, as if it didn't relish the job; "this one isn't Saint George, is it?"

"No, no!" exclaimed the king, irritably; "it's Prince Marvel. Do get to work as soon as possible."

"Prince Marvel--Prince Marvel," repeated the Dragon. "Why, there isn't a prince in the whole world named Marvel! I'm pretty well posted on the history of royal families, you know. I'm afraid he's Saint George in disguise."

"Isn't your name Prince Marvel?" inquired the king, turning to the boyish-looking stranger.

"It is," answered Marvel.

"Well, it's mighty strange I've never heard of you," persisted the Dragon. "But tell me, please, how would you prefer to be killed?"

"Oh, I'm not going to be killed at all," replied the prince, laughing.

"Do you hear that, Terribus?" asked the Dragon, turning to the king;

"he says he isn't going to be killed."

"But I say he is!" cried Terribus. "I have decreed his death."

"But do you suppose I'm going to kill a man against his will?" inquired the Dragon, in a reproachful voice; "and such a small man, too! Do you take me for a common assassin--or a murderer?"

"Do you intend to obey my orders?" roared the king.

"No, I don't; and that's flat!" returned the Dragon, sharply. "It's time for me to take my cough medicine; so if you've nothing more to say I'll go back to my cave."

"Go, go, go!" shrieked the king, stamping his foot in passion.

"You've outlived your usefulness! You're a coward! You're a traitor!

You're a--a--a--"

"I'm a dragon and a gentleman!" answered the monster, proudly, as the king paused for lack of a word; "and I believe I know what's proper for dragons to do and what isn't. I've learned wisdom from my father, who got into trouble with Saint George, and if I fought with this person who calls himself Prince Marvel, I'd deserve to be a victim of your Fool-Killer. Oh, I know my business, King Terribus; and if you knew yours, you'd get rid of this pretended prince as soon as possible!"

With this speech he winked at Prince Marvel, turned soberly around and crawled from the room. One of the keepers got too near and the Dragon's breath set fire to his robe, the flames being with difficulty extinguished; and the gold ball on the end of the Dragon's tail struck a giant upon his shins and made him dance and howl in pain.

But, aside from these slight accidents, the monster managed to leave the throne-room without undue confusion, and every one, including the king, seemed glad to be rid of him.

同类推荐
  • 石屋余渖

    石屋余渖

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 格言联璧

    格言联璧

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • History of Animals

    History of Animals

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 省愆集

    省愆集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 淮海词

    淮海词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 凡尘仙隐

    凡尘仙隐

    六界之中,唯仙界最苦。上敬诸神,下慑群魔,连凡人啊小妖之类勺大碗小的事也要管。仙界之中,唯玄羽门掌门云梦凡最苦。好事她做,黑锅她背,最后还要被自己一直守护的六界给镇在落云山下。这下好了,没了云梦凡这个实力顶尖强横的大仙震慑,众多仙妖魔怪顿时乱成了一锅粥,大打出手互相伤害……这个时候,大家才意识到云梦凡的好。可是这世上也没有后悔药不是?幸好,她有个“乖巧”的小徒弟。解救恩师、力挽狂澜、重拾天道……人人赞他是英雄,然而……“墨倾尘,你做什么?”“师父,徒儿已经当世无敌,想来也只有师父才堪匹配了。您就勉为其难,从了徒儿吧!”
  • 雨季凉透我心

    雨季凉透我心

    纪言说:(友情永远比爱情矮一节)苏蝶说:(现在回头还晚吗)简简单单,明明白白,泪水相融,爱恨情仇。换来的只不过是友情无情的背叛,爱情遗憾的错失。看着雨水渐渐变大,镇痛内心血肉模糊。抬头不见低头见,却不知见你想死。……为了他,十几年的友情抛之脑后。为了她,十几年的友情斩断回忆。回头想想又何必,因为他友情破裂。……(我抢了你喜欢的人,我用命赔你可好。)他们在这里遇见了爱情,埋葬了青春。最后谁胜了?谁负了?谁去了?谁留下?在这场爱的盘根错节的纠葛里,致我们无尽的岁月。胜者为王,败者言伤。
  • 角落里的微光

    角落里的微光

    奈何桥水,彼岸花美,饮一碗孟婆汤水,问一句生死为谁?
  • 心中的回忆与纪念

    心中的回忆与纪念

    散文《心中的回忆与纪念》,记叙的是我十分年青时的一段往事,然而却是一个时代的印记,如能以鲁迅说过的:“战士的日常生活是并不可歌可泣的,然而又无不和可歌可泣相联系,这才是实际上的战士”之言,来读这篇回忆,那么,是可有一番发人深思的感慨。
  • TFBOYS:携手与你一起走

    TFBOYS:携手与你一起走

    她们本以与他们相爱,但为了家族的利益必需与三个素不相识的人结婚。家族为了利益势必要把他们拆散,但“有情人终成眷属”是天理。夕阳下,三对恋人的背影是那样的美。家人可以加我的QQ:2248020207和小说群的QQ:421100979.
  • 永恒神谕

    永恒神谕

    旷世圣战响起,无数强者相续陨落;五王战五魔,背后黑手未漏头角。千年之后,灵阵再现,吾今召唤,少年显世。大千世界,位面交汇,群雄并起,百族林立,五方巅峰势力,在这无尽世界,演绎着令人向往的传奇。一个超凡入圣的存在!以智慧之王的名义,成就一段不朽的传奇!冲破黑暗魔障的王者!以是非之王的名义,代表正义,灭尽邪恶!……男孩至地球而来,意外闯入这精彩绝伦的大千世界。看天之骄子,历练尘世;大千世界,谁与争锋;问苍茫大地,谁主沉浮。
  • 维界白镜渊祭

    维界白镜渊祭

    【东邻】——金色瞳孔里流出的盛世,我的故事从这里开始,也将从这里结束。这是人世最繁华的城市,挤在动荡不安的世界里,扭曲了其原本最真实的面目。它披着经久不衰的乌色袈裟,泛着可以吞噬掉希望的光,剥削了我们引以为豪的自由,禁锢了隐藏在权威面具下的人格,我们被欲望牢牢包裹,被无知冲爆大脑,背叛、欺骗、虚伪塞满了我们被掏空的心孔。我们头顶着和平年代的天空,不知不觉的深陷【白镜】,在虚幻神迷的梦境里、在人心叵测的现实中,忘掉了信仰给予人性的最崇高的馈赠,在羊肠九曲的颠簸中触碰到了直抵人心的绝望。
  • 雾都孤儿

    雾都孤儿

    一个孤儿,一个精灵。为了寻找哥哥,他不顾一切。为了与父母相见,他不顾一切。为了女友,他不顾一切。为了所有人的一切,他依然不顾一切。在都市的黑暗中,他顽强、勇敢、聪明,为兄弟两肋插刀,死而后已。
  • 尸藏花

    尸藏花

    从小父辈就让我把“静、狠、稳、舍”牢牢记在心里。静:遇事冷静狠:尸无人性,嗜血成魔,遇到这东西不是它死就是你死,顾而狠;稳:遇事稳重,不可早早下结论,错一步有可能舍掉性命舍:不可为小弃大,更不可为自己的小事而毁大局。