And the night was dark, so he set a watch, and the goldsmith took the first, while the young prince slept by the Carpenter-lad, on a couch of clean, sweet leaves.

And lest the heart of the prince should sink, they sang a cheering song: "'Cradled till now on softest down, Leaves are thy bed to-night; Yet grieve not thou at fortune's frown, Brave men heed not her slight.' "And while they slept and the goldsmith watched, a snake slid out from the trees.

'Now, who are you ?' quoth the Goldsmith-lad, 'who come to disturb his rest ?' 'Lo! I have killed all living things that have ventured within ten miles of this my place of rest,' it hissed, 'and now I will slay you, too!' So they fought and fought, but the Goldsmith-lad he killed the snake in the end.

Then he hid the body under his shield, lest the others might be afraid, and he roused from his rest the Carpenter-lad, to take his share of the watch, while he, in his turn, on the clean, sweet leaves lay down beside the prince.

And while they slept, and the Carpenter watched, a dragon slid from the trees.