`` 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 Molinda ! '' which was his war-cry . The page ran to get the armour ; but it was so uncommonly hot that he dropped it , and put his fingers in his mouth , crying ! -LCB- The page crying : p21.jpg -RCB- `` You had better put on flannels , Alphonso , for this kind of work , '' said Prigio . `` And if I were you , I 'd take a light garden-engine , full of water , to squirt at the enemy . '' `` Happy thought ! '' said Alphonso . `` I will ! ''
And off he went , kissed his dear Molinda , bade her keep a lot of dances for him -LRB- there was to be a dance when he had killed the XXXXX -RRB- , and then he rushed to the field !
Alphonso Firedrake Firedrakes Molinda Prigio buckler chain-armour garden-engine lout p21.jpg