THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH -LRB- 2 -RRB- -LRB- 2 -RRB- ` Der Norlands Drache , ' from Esthnische Mahrchen . Kreutzwald . Very long ago , as old people have told me , there lived a terrible monster , who came out of the North , and laid waste whole tracts of country , devouring both men and beasts ; and this monster was so destructive that it was feared that unless help came no living creature would be left on the face of the earth . It had a body like an ox , and legs like a frog , two short fore-legs , and two long ones behind , and besides that it had a tail like a serpent , ten fathoms in length . When it moved it jumped like a frog , and with every spring it covered half a mile of ground . Fortunately its habit , was to remain for several years in the same place , and not to move on till the whole neighbourhood was eaten up . Nothing could hunt it , because its whole body was covered with scales , which were harder than stone or metal ; its two great eyes shone by night , and even by day , like the brightest lamps , and anyone who had the ill luck to look into those eyes became as it were bewitched , and was obliged to rush of his own accord into the monster 's jaws . In this way the Dragon was able to feed upon both men and beasts without the least trouble to itself , as it needed not to move from the spot where it was lying . All the neighbouring kings had offered rich rewards to anyone who should be able to destroy the monster , either by force or enchantment , and many had tried their luck , but all had miserably failed . Once a great forest in which the Dragon lay had been set on fire ; the forest was burnt down , but the fire did not do the monster the least harm . However , there was a tradition amongst the wise men of the country that the Dragon might be overcome by one who possessed King Solomon 's signet-ring , upon which a secret writing was engraved . This inscription would enable anyone who was wise enough to interpret it to find out how the Dragon could be destroyed . Only no one knew where the ring was hidden , nor was there any sorcerer or learned man to be found who would be able to explain the inscription . At last a young man , with a good heart and plenty of courage , set out to search for the ring . He took his way towards the sunrising , because he knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the East . After some years he met with a famous Eastern magician , and asked for his advice in the matter . The magician answered : ` Mortal men have but little wisdom , and can give you no help , but the birds of the air would be better guides to you if you could learn their language . I can help you to understand it if you will stay with me a few days . ' The youth thankfully accepted the magician 's offer , and said , ' I can not now offer you any reward for your kindness , but should my undertaking succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid . ' Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of herbs which he had gathered himself all alone by moonlight , and he gave the youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days , which made him able to understand the language of birds .
At parting the magician XXXXX to him .
burnt comes destroy destroyed laid moved needed remain said took