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26 her that I, Knight Gol Voyansky, am come to marry her." Having said this he went to sleep again.

Churila mounted his horse, fought for a long time, and finally succeeded in slaying his opponents. He spared one man only, and sent him to the Princess with Gol's message. But instead of a verbal answer, the Princess sent out six knights and three companies of soldiers.

The knights again awakened Gol.

"That's nothing!" cried our hero. "At one blow I could kill them all. Here, Prince Bova, go you and make an end of them; spare one, and send him to the Princess."

Prince Bova killed the knights and routed the little army. Hereupon the Princess sent out twelve knights and six companies of soldiers. They advanced amid the clash of arms and the sound of trumpets.

"O-ho!" cried Gol, getting up; "how many are there of them? Twelve gadflies and a great many gnats. Here, Eruslan, go and fight them; if you can't beat them, I'll come and help you."

Eruslan mounted his steed, and drew his trusty sword. How he hewed about him—right and left! He slew all the knights; the soldiers, terrified, fled from the field. The Princess saw it was a hopeless case. As a last resource, however, she sent out Zilant the Dragon.