“Schalu, your heart is noble, as a prince’s should be! I cannot urge you to give up a deed so truly glorious. Only I beg you—and I will not be denied—let me go with you and sacrifice myself also, for life without you would be worse than death, and mayhap if two of us give our lives, the serpents will be the more willing to leave our people in peace hereafter.”
The Prince tried to dissuade his friend but, seeing it was of no use, he soon stopped, and the two lads continued on their way together toward the head of the stream.
As they approached the cave where the serpents dwelt, they went slowly and softly, for they were minded, if possible, to get a good look at the monsters before they allowed themselves to be seen. Creeping [[118]]up among the bushes by the side of the river they soon came to an opening through which they could peer, and there, seated on the bank, they saw the two horrible creatures. One was a long, thick, dragon-like being covered with scales of tarnished gold; the other was smaller and apparently younger, and the scales on its back were as green as emeralds. They had neither seen nor heard the two lads, and in a moment the golden one began to speak.
“It is strange, Brother,” said he, “that these people are so ignorant and so faithful.”
“They cannot very well help themselves, can they?” said the smaller, green one. “They know that if they fail in this sacrifice, we will dry up their stream, and then they will all perish.”
“True,” replied the other, “but after all, it would be so easy to kill us, you know, if they only knew how.”
“But have they not sent armed soldiers [[119]]against us in times past?” said the green serpent, drawing himself up proudly; “and have we not routed them all and slain them?”
“Of course swords could not hurt us,” said the golden one contemptuously, “but if they only knew enough to come out against us with thick, oak staves! One well-aimed blow on the head from such a weapon would finish us. But, luckily, they don’t know that!”
“And are far too stupid ever to guess it, so we are perfectly safe,” added the green one.
“And then,” chuckled the big golden monster, writhing the folds of his long body comfortably about him. “To think what a man would gain by killing us! My head, cooked and eaten, would not only make a delicious meal, but it would give the eater power to pour forth gold from his mouth whenever he wanted to!”