: p18.jpg -RCB- This the king said , hoping that either the Firedrake would roast Prince Prigio alive -LRB- which he could easily do , as I have said ; for he is all over as hot as a red-hot poker -RRB- , or that , if the prince succeeded , at least his country would be freed from the monster . But the prince , who was lying on the sofa doing sums in compound division for fun , said in the politest way : `` Thanks to the education your majesty has given me , I have learned that the Firedrake , like the siren , the fairy , and so forth , is a fabulous animal which does not exist . But even granting , for the sake of argument , that there is a Firedrake , your majesty is well aware that there is no kind of use in sending me . It is always the eldest son who goes out first and comes to grief on these occasions , and it is always the third son that succeeds . Send Alphonso '' -LRB- this was the youngest brother -RRB- , `` and he will do the trick at once . At least , if he fails , it will be most unusual , and Enrico can try his luck . '' Then he went back to his arithmetic and his slate , and the king had to send for Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico . They both came in very warm ; for they had been whipping tops , and the day was unusually hot . `` Look here , '' said the king , `` just you two younger ones look at Prigio ! You see how hot it is , and how coolly he takes it , and the country suffering ; and all on account of a Firedrake , you know , which has apparently built his nest not far off . Well , I have asked that lout of a brother of yours to kill it , and he says -- '' `` That he does not believe in Firedrakes , '' interrupted Prigio . `` The weather 's warm enough without going out hunting ! '' `` Not believe in Firedrakes ! '' cried Alphonso . `` I wonder what you do believe in ! Just let me get at the creature ! '' for he was as brave as a lion . `` Hi ! Page , my chain-armour , helmet , lance , and buckler ! A Molinda !
A XXXXX ! ''
Enrico Firedrake Firedrakes Molinda Prigio buckler chain-armour first p18.jpg third