Ah , how glad the king was to hear that ! What oath would he not have taken so as to clasp his wife and child in is arms ? Joyfully he swore whatever the dragon asked of him ; then he jumped on his back , and in another instant would have been carried by the strong wings into the castle if the nearest monsters had not happened to awake and hear the noise of talking and swum to the shore to give battle . The fight was long and hard , and when the king at last beat back his foes another struggle awaited him . At the entrance gigantic bats , owls , and crows set upon him from all sides ; but the dragon had teeth and claws , while the queen broke off sharp bits of glass and stabbed and cut in her anxiety to help her husband . At length the horrible creatures flew away ; a sound like thunder was heard , the palace and the monsters vanished , while , at the same moment -- no one knew how -- the king found himself standing with his wife and daughter in the hall of his own home . The dragon had disappeared with all the rest , and for some years no more was heard or thought of him . Muffette grew every day more beautiful , and when she was fourteen the kings and emperors of the neighbouring countries sent to ask her in marriage for themselves or their sons . For a long time the girl turned a deaf ear to all their prayers ; but at length a young prince of rare gifts touched her heart , and though the king had left her free to choose what husband she would , he had secretly hoped that out of all the wooers this one might be his son-in-law . So they were betrothed that some day with great pomp , and then with many tears , the prince set out for his father 's court , bearing with him a portrait of Muffette . The days passed slowly to Muffette , in spite of her brave efforts to occupy herself and not to sadden other people by her complaints . One morning she was playing on her harp in the queen 's chamber when the king burst into the room and clasped his daughter in his arms with an energy that almost frightened her . ` Oh , my child ! my dear child ! why were you ever born ? ' cried he , as soon as he could speak . ` Is the prince dead ? ' faltered Muffette , growing white and cold . ` No , no ; but -- oh , how can I tell you ! ' And he sank down on a pile of cushions while his wife and daughter knelt beside him .
XXXXX length he was able to tell his tale , and a terrible one it was !
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