` Well , my friend , so we meet once more ! Have you forgotten me ? I am Shepherd Paul , and I have come to wrestle with you , and to free your wife from your clutches . ' ` Ah , I am glad to see you again , ' said the dragon . ` Those were my two brothers whom you killed , and now your blood shall pay for them . ' And he went into his room to look for his shirt and to drink some magic wine , but the shirt was on Paul 's back , and as for the wine , the girl had given a cupful to Paul and then had allowed the rest to run out of the cask . At this the dragon grew rather frightened , but in a moment had recollected his eighteen heads , and was bold again . ` Come on , ' he cried , rearing himself up and preparing to dart all his heads at once at Paul . But Paul jumped underneath , and gave an upward cut so that six of the heads went rolling down . They were the best heads too , and very soon the other twelve lay beside them . Then Paul changed the castle into an apple , and put it in his pocket . Afterwards he and the three girls set off for the opening which led upwards to the earth . The basket was still there , dangling from the rope , but it was only big enough to hold the three girls , so Paul sent them up , and told them to be sure and let down the basket for him . Unluckily , at the sight of the maidens ' beauty , so far beyond anything they had ever seen , the friends forgot all about Paul , and carried the girls straight away into a far country , so that they were not much better off than before . Meanwhile Paul , mad with rage at the ingratitude of the three sisters , vowed he would be revenged upon them , and set about finding some way of getting back to earth . But it was not very easy , and for months , and months , and months , he wandered about underground , and , at the end , seemed no nearer to fulfilling his purpose than he was at the beginning . At length , one day , he happened to pass the nest of a huge griffin , who had left her young ones all alone . Just as Paul came along a cloud containing fire instead of rain burst overhead , and all the little griffins would certainly have been killed had not Paul spread his cloak over the nest and saved them . When their father returned the young ones told him what Paul had done , and he lost no time in flying after Paul , and asking how he could reward him for his goodness . ` By carrying me up to the earth , ' answered Paul ; and the griffin agreed , but first went to get some food to eat on the way , as it was a long journey .
` Now get XXXXX my back , ' he said to Paul , ` and when I turn my head to the right , cut a slice off the bullock that hangs on that side , and put it in my mouth , and when I turn my head to the left , draw a cupful of wine from the cask that hangs on that side , and pour it down my throat . '
At By about beside for into on than that to