Volunteers, to the number of some thousands, instantly stepped forward, and the Field Marshal selected fifty of the strongest crows. And then, in the pleasant pinkness of the sunset, Elsie was led out on to the palace steps, where the King made a speech and said what a heroine she was, and how like Joan of Arc. And the crows who had gathered from all parts of the town cheered madly. Did you ever hear crows cheering? It is a wonderful sound. Then Elsie got into a magnificent gilt coach, drawn by eight white horses, with a crow at the head of each horse. The Princess sat with her on the blue velvet cushions and held her hand. 'I _know_ you'll do it,' said she; 'you're so brave and clever, Elsie!' And Elsie felt braver than before, although now it did not seem so like a dream. But she thought of the martyrs, and held Perdona's hand very tight. At the gates of the green park the Princess kissed and hugged her new friend--her state crown, which she had put on in honour of the occasion, got pushed quite on one side in the warmth of her embrace--and Elsie stepped out of the carriage. There was a great crowd of crows round the park gates, and every one cheered and shouted 'Speech, speech!' Elsie got as far as 'Ladies and gentlemen--Crows, I mean,' and then she could not think of anything more, so she simply added, 'Please, I'm ready.' I wish you could have heard those crows cheer. But Elsie wouldn't have the escort. 'It's very kind,' she said, 'but the dragon only eats crows, and I'm not a crow, thank goodness--I mean I'm not a crow--and if I've got to be brave I'd like to _be_ brave, and none of you to get eaten. If only some one will come with me to show me the way and then run back as hard as he can when we get near the dragon. _Please!_' 'If only one goes _I_ shall be the one,' said the King. And he and Elsie went through the great gates side by side. She held the end of his wing, which was the nearest they could get to hand in hand. The crowd outside waited in breathless silence. Elsie and the King went on through the winding paths of the People's Park. And by the winding paths they came at last to the Dragon. He lay very peacefully on a great stone slab, his enormous bat-like wings spread out on the grass and his goldy-green scales glittering in the pretty pink sunset light. 'Go back!' said Elsie. 'No,' said the King. 'If you don't,' said Elsie, '_I_ won't go _on_. Seeing a crow might rouse him to fury, or give him an appetite, or something. Do--do go!' So he went, but not far. He hid behind a tree, and from its shelter he watched. Elsie drew a long breath. Her heart was thumping under the black frock. 'Suppose,' she thought, 'he takes me for a crow!' But she thought how yellow her hair was, and decided that the dragon would be certain to notice that. 'Quick march!' she said to herself, 'remember Joan of Arc,' and walked right up to the dragon. It never moved, but watched her suspiciously out of its bright green eyes.