ing 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
