"i have lived now for many years in this lake and i have a large family of children and grand-children. for some time past we have lived in terror, for a monster centipede has discovered our home, and night after night it comes and carries off one of my family. i am powerless to save them. if it goes on much longer like this, not only shall i lose all my children, but i myself must fall a victim to the monster. i am, therefore, very unhappy, and in my extremity i determined to ask the help of a human being. for many days with this intention i have waited on the bridge in the shape of the horrible serpent-dragon that you saw, in the hope that some strong brave man would come along. but all who came this way, as soon as they saw me were terrified and ran away as fast as they could. you are the first man i have found able to look at me without fear, so i knew at once that you were a man of great courage. i beg you to have pity upon me. will you not help me and kill my enemy the centipede?"