If milk flows , it is a sign that we are well and prosperous ; but if , instead of milk , there is blood , then we are either dead or in great danger . ' Then the two brothers put on their armour , buckled their swords , and pocketed their purees ; and , after taking a tender farewell of each other , they mounted their horses and went their various ways . The elder brother rode straight on till he reached the borders of a strange kingdom . He crossed the frontier , and soon found himself on the banks of a river ; and before him , in the middle of the stream , a beautiful girl sat chained to a rock and weeping bitterly . For in this river dwelt a serpent with seven heads , who threatened to lay waste the whole land by breathing fire and flame from his nostrils unless the king sent him every morning a man for his breakfast . This had gone on so long that now there were no men left , and he had been obliged to send his own daughter instead , and the poor girl was waiting till the monster got hungry and felt inclined to eat her . When the young man saw the maiden weeping bitterly he said to her , ` What is the matter , my poor girl ? ' ` Oh ! ' she answered , ' I am chained here till a horrible serpent with seven heads comes to eat me . Oh , sir , do not linger here , or he will eat you too . ' ' I shall stay , ' replied the young man , ` for I mean to set you free . ' ` That is impossible . You do not know what a fearful monster the serpent is ; you can do nothing against him . ' ` That is my affair , beautiful captive , ' answered he ; ` only tell me , which way will the serpent come ? ' ` Well , if you are resolved to free me , listen to my advice . Stand a little on one side , and then , when the serpent rises to the surface , I will say to him , `` O serpent , to-day you can eat two people . But you had better begin first with the young man , for I am chained and can not run away . '' When he hears this most likely he will attack you . ' So the young man stood carefully on one side , and by-and-bye he heard a great rushing in the water ; and a horrible monster came up to the surface and looked out for the rock where the king 's daughter was chained , for it was getting late and he was hungry . But she cried out , ' O serpent , to-day you can eat two people .
And you had better begin XXXXX the young man , for I am chained and can not run away . '
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