"The weather's warm enough without going out hunting!" "Not believe in Firedrakes!" cried Alphonso.

"I wonder what you _do_ believe in! Just let me get at the creature!" for he was as brave as a lion.

"Hi! Page, my chain-armour, helmet, lance, and buckler! _A Molinda_! _A Molinda_!" which was his _war-cry_.
The page ran to get the armour; but it was so _uncommonly hot_ that he dropped it, and put his fingers in his mouth, crying! {The page crying: p21.jpg} "You had better put on flannels, Alphonso, for this kind of work," said Prigio.

"And if I were you, I'd take a light garden-engine, full of water, to squirt at the enemy." "Happy thought!" said Alphonso.

"I will!" And off he went, kissed his dear Molinda, bade her keep a lot of dances for him (there was to be a dance when he had killed the Firedrake), and then he rushed to the field! But he never came back any more! Everyone wept bitterly--everyone but Prince Prigio; for he thought it was a practical joke, and said that Alphonso had taken the opportunity to start off on his travels and see the world.
"There is some dreadful mistake, sir," said Prigio to the king.