Then he told Ting that hundreds and hundreds of years ago, this Princess, who was just about Ting's age and quite beautiful, had been carried off by her uncle, a celebrated scoundrel with a magical education, and shut up in an enchanted castle with a twenty-headed Gallopus to guard her.
"My," said the Prince, "she must be quite an old lady by this time."
"No, indeed," said the King, "she is just as young as ever. One never grows old in an enchanted castle. But if she didn't grow old the wicked uncle did, so much so that he finally died of it. Then as no one had ever found a way to rescue the Princess, and as her uncle had stated in his will that she was not to be set free until she was rescued, the heirs of the wicked uncle had to let things go on as they were, so the Princess still remains in the castle with the twenty-headed Gallopus on guard."
"But," said Ting, "doesn't a Gallopus ever grow old?"
"Not that I ever heard of," replied the King, "or at least this one does not, for he still sits in the same spot in the castle yard as he did before I was born."
"Phew!" exclaimed Ting, "he must be a terrible creature."
"Well," said the monarch, "he isn't a thing to be trifled with. And that is the reason I think it would be fine for you to celebrate your birthday by fighting him and setting the Princess free. Don't you?"
"H'mm," murmured the Prince, "I don't know. I can think of other things I would much rather do."
"Why, I am surprised," said the King. "I should think you'd be glad of the chance. I only wish some one had suggested the idea on my eighth birthday. Just think how famous you'll be if you conquer the twenty-headed Gallopus."
"Yes," said Ting, "but just think how I'll be if I don't."