The moment Petru was seated on the horse he felt his arm three times as strong as before , and even his heart felt braver . ` Sit firmly in the saddle , my lord , for we have a long way to go and no time to waste , ' said the brown horse , and Petru soon saw that they were riding as no man and horse had ever ridden before . On the bridge stood a dragon , but not the same one as he had tried to fight with , for this dragon had twelve heads , each more hideous and shooting forth more terrible flames than the other . But , horrible though he was , he had met his match . Petru showed no fear , but rolled up his sleeves , that his arms might be free . ` Get out of the way ! ' he said when he had done , but the dragon 's heads only breathed forth more flames and smoke . Petru wasted no more words , but drew his sword and prepared to throw himself on the bridge . ` Stop a moment ; be careful , my lord , ' put in the horse , ` and be sure you do what I tell you . Dig your spurs in my body up to the rowel , draw your sword , and keep yourself ready , for we shall have to leap over both bridge and dragon . When you see that we are right above the dragon cut off his biggest head , wipe the blood off the sword , and put it back clean in the sheath before we touch earth again . ' So Petru dug in his spurs , drew his sword , cut of the head , wiped the blood , and put the sword back in the sheath before the horse 's hoofs touched the ground again . And in this fashion they passed the bridge . ` But we have got to go further still , ' said Petru , after he had taken a farewell glance at his native land . ` Yes , forwards , ' answered the horse ; ` but you must tell me , my lord , at what speed you wish to go . Like the wind ? Like thought ? Like desire ? or like a curse ? ' Petru looked about him , up at the heavens and down again to the earth .
A desert lay spread out XXXXX him , whose aspect made his hair stand on end .
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