It was even remarked that she sometimes went to meet her ravishers, for none of us can escape his destiny.

But this time, as she did not return, it was feared that the dragon had devoured her.

The more so as the inhabitants of the valley of Dalles soon knew that the dragon was not a fable told by the women around the fountains.

For one night the monster devoured out of the village of Anis six hens, a sheep, and a young orphan child called little Elo.

The next morning nothing was to be found either of the animals or of the child.
Immediately the Elders of the village assembled in the public place and seated themselves on the stone bench to take counsel concerning what it was expedient to do in these terrible circumstances.
Having called all those Penguins who had seen the dragon during the disastrous night, they asked them: "Have you not noticed his form and his behaviour ?" And each answered in his turn: "He has the claws of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the tail of a serpent." "His back bristles with thorny crests." "His whole body is covered with yellow scales." "His look fascinates and confounds.