`` Go it , Remora ! Go it , Firedrake ! you 're gaining . Give it him , Remora ! '' he shouted in the wildest excitement . Nobody had ever seen such a battle ; he had it all to himself , and he never enjoyed anything more . He hated the Remora so much , that he almost wished the Firedrake could beat it ; for the Firedrake was the more natural beast of the pair . Still , he was alarmed when he saw that the vast flat body of the Remora was now slowly coiling backwards , backwards , into the cleft below the hill ; while a thick wet mist showed how cruelly it had suffered . But the Firedrake , too , was in an unhappy way ; for his legs were now cold and black , his horns were black also , though his body , especially near the heart , glowed still like red-hot iron . `` Go it , Remora ! '' cried the prince : `` his legs are giving way ; he 's groggy on his pins ! One more effort , and he wo n't be able to move ! '' Encouraged by this advice , the white , slippery Remora streamed out of his cavern again , more and more of him uncoiling , as if the mountain were quite full of him . He had lost strength , no doubt : for the steam and mist went up from him in clouds , and the hissing of his angry voice grew fainter ; but so did the roars of the Firedrake . Presently they sounded more like groans ; and at last the Remora slipped up his legs above the knees , and fastened on his very heart of fire . Then the Firedrake stood groaning like a black bull , knee-deep in snow ; and still the Remora climbed and climbed . `` Go it now , Firedrake ! '' shouted the prince ; for he knew that if the Remora won , it would be too cold for him to draw near the place , and cut off the Firedrake 's head and tail . `` Go it , Drake ! he 's slackening ! ''
cried the prince again ; and the brave XXXXX made one last furious effort , and rising on his wings , dropped just on the spine of his enemy .
Drake Firedrake Remora battle cavern fire hissing horns mountain prince