Its body is made of iron , and it is always red-hot . A more terrible and cruel beast can not be imagined ; for , if you go near it , you are at once broiled by the Firedrake . But the king was not ill-pleased : `` for , '' thought he , `` of course my three sons must go after the brute , the eldest first ; and , as usual , it will kill the first two , and be beaten by the youngest . It is a little hard on Enrico , poor boy ; but anything to get rid of that Prigio ! '' Then the king went to Prigio , and said that his country was in danger , and that he was determined to leave the crown to whichever of them would bring him the horns -LRB- for it has horns -RRB- and tail of the Firedrake . `` It is an awkward brute to tackle , '' the king said , `` but you are the oldest , my lad ; go where glory waits you ! Put on your armour , and be off with you ! '' -LSB- Illustration : Page 17 -RSB- This the king said , hoping that either the Firedrake would roast Prince Prigio alive -LRB- which he could easily do , as I have said ; for he is all over as hot as a red-hot poker -RRB- , or that , if the prince succeeded , at least his country would be freed from the monster . But the prince , who was lying on the sofa doing sums in compound division , for fun , said in the politest way : `` Thanks to the education your majesty has given me , I have learned that the Firedrake , like the siren , the fairy , and so forth , is a fabulous animal which does not exist . But even granting , for the sake of argument , that there is a Firedrake , your majesty is well aware that there is no kind of use in sending me . It is always the eldest son who goes out first , and comes to grief on these occasions , and it is always the third son that succeeds . Send Alphonso '' -LRB- this was the youngest brother -RRB- , `` and he will do the trick at once . At least , if he fails , it will be most unusual , and Enrico can try his luck . '' Then he went back to his arithmetic and his slate , and the king had to send for Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico . They both came in very warm ; for they had been whipping tops , and the day was unusually hot . `` Look here , '' said the king , `` just you two younger ones look at Prigio ! You see how hot it is , and how coolly he takes it , and the country suffering ; and all on account of a Firedrake , you know , which has apparently built his nest not far off . Well , I have asked that lout of a brother of yours to kill it , and he says -- '' `` That he does not believe in Firedrakes , '' interrupted Prigio , `` The weather 's warm enough without going out hunting ! '' `` Not believe in Firedrakes ! '' cried Alphonso .
`` I wonder what you do XXXXX in !
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