himself of slipping away. He had not gone his
length, however, when the brave Cadmus gave
him a sword thrust that finished the battle; and,
creeping out of the gateway of the creature's
jaws, there he beheld him still wriggling his vast
bulk, although there was no longer life enough
in him to harm a little child.

But do not you suppose that it made Cadmus
sorrowful to think of the melancholy fate which
had befallen those poor, friendly people, who had
followed the cow along with him? It seemed
as if he were doomed to lose every body whom
he loved, or to see them perish in one way or
another. And here he was, after all his toils and
troubles, in a solitary place, with not a single
human being to help him build a hut.

What shall I do?" cried he aloud. It were
better for me to have been devoured by the
dragon, as my poor companions were."

"Cadmus," said a voice but whether it
came from above or below him, or whether it
spoke within his own breast, the young man
could not tell "Cadmus, pluck out the drag-
on's teeth, and plant them in the earth."

This was a strange thing to do; nor was it

[[149]]

p148 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p149w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p150

v?