So he had ordered the giant who was his servant to fetch her at once . No words would paint the horror of both the queen and the princess as they listened to this dreadful doom . They rushed instantly to the hall , where the giant was awaiting them , and flinging themselves at his feet implored him to take the kingdom if he would , but to have pity on the princess . The giant looked at them kindly , for he was not at all hard-hearted , but said that he had no power to do anything , and that if the princess did not go with him quietly the dragon would come himself . Several days went by , and the king and queen hardly ceased from entreating the aid of the giant , who by this time was getting weary of waiting . ` There is only one way of helping you , ' he said at last , ` and that is to marry the princess to my nephew , who , besides being young and handsome , has been trained in magic , and will know how to keep her safe from the dragon . ' ` Oh , thank you , thank you ! ' cried the parents , clasping his great hands to their breasts . ` You have indeed lifted a load from us . She shall have half the kingdom for her dowry . ' But Muffette stood up and thrust them aside . ' I will not buy my life with faithlessness , ' she said proudly ; ` and I will go with you this moment to the dragon 's abode . ' And all her father 's and mother 's tears and prayers availed nothing to move her . The next morning Muffette was put into a litter , and , guarded by the giant and followed by the king and queen and the weeping maids of honour , they started for the foot of the mountain where the dragon had his castle . The way , though rough and stony , seemed all too short , and when they reached the spot appointed by the dragon the giant ordered the men who bore the litter to stand still . ` It is time for you to bid farewell to your daughter , ' said he ; ` for I see the dragon coming to us . ' It was true ; a cloud appeared to pass over the sun , for between them and it they could all discern dimly a huge body half a mile long approaching nearer and nearer . At first the king could not believe that this was the small beast who had seemed so friendly on the shore of the lake of quicksilver but then he knew very little of necromancy , and had never studied the art of expanding and contracting his body . But it was the dragon and nothing else , whose six wings were carrying him forward as fast as might be , considering his great weight and the length of his tail , which had fifty twists and a half . He came quickly , yes ; but the frog , mounted on a greyhound , and wearing her cap on her head , went quicker still .
Entering a room where the prince was sitting gazing at the portrait of his betrothed , she cried to him : ` What are you doing lingering here , when the life XXXXX the princess is nearing its last moment ?
So as by for if in into of on though