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But, when Bedelia was eighteen years old, something happened that
made the king change his mind.
A dragon moved into the neighbourhood. He settled in a dark cave
on top of a mountain, and the first thing he did was to send a message
to the king. "I must have a princess to eat up," the message said, "or I
shall breathe out my fire and destroy the kingdom."
Sadly, King Ludwig called together his councillors, chosen to give
advice, and read them the message. "Perhaps," said the Prime Minister,
we had better send for a knight to kill the dragon. That is what is
generally done in these cases."
"I'm afraid we haven't time," answered the king. "The dragon has
only given us time until tomorrow morning. There is no help for it. We
shall have to send him the princess."
Princess Bedelia had соmе to the meeting because, as she said, she liked
to mind her own business, and this was certainly her business.
"Rubbish!" she said. "Dragons can't tell the difference between princesses
and anyone else. Use your common sense. He's just asking for me because
he's a snob."
'That may be so," said her father, "but if we don't send you along,
he'll destroy the kingdom."
"Right!" said Bedelia. "I see I'll have to deal with this myself." She left
the room in which the council sat. She got the largest and brightest of her
state dresses, filled it with straw, and into the centre of the bundle she
packed about a hundred pounds of gunpowder. She got two strong young
men to carry it up the mountain for her.- She stood in front of the
dragon's cave and called: "Come out! Here's the princess!" The dragon
appeared looking out of the darkness with curiosity. Seeing the bright
dress covered with gold and silver embroidery, and hearing Bedelia's
voice, he opened his mouth wide.
At once, at Bedelia's signal, the two young men threw the dress right
down the dragon's throat. Bedelia threw herself flat on the ground, and
the two young men ran.
As the gunpowder met the flames inside the dragon, there was a great
explosion.
Bedelia got up, dusting herself off . "Dragons," she said, "are not
very bright."
She left the two young men sweeping up the pieces, and she went to
the castle to have her geography lesson, for as you know, she was very
practical!
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