Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/51

34 dwarf trees that looked a thousand years old.

And there stood Cherry-Bloom unharmed.

Plum-Blossom ran to her and threw both arms around her.

"I am glad that you have found your courage again," said Cherry-Bloom, "and you must keep tight hold of it, for now we are going up into the castle."

"Oh no!" pleaded Plum-Blossom, clinging to her, "Since the august Dragon has spared us, let us go home immediately!"

"Little Faint-Heart," cried her sister, laughing, but patting the black hair of the head on her shoulder gently at the same time, "The Dragon is certainly asleep or away, or he would have eaten us up before now."

As she spoke, she moved towards a flight of steps leading up to the main entrance, and, pulling the protesting