that I fear you will never be able to do , ' sighed they , ` for she is in the power of a serpent with seven heads . ' ` Take me to him , ' replied Bensurdatu . ` It will be a splendid fight . ' Then the princess opened a door , and Bensurdatu passed through , and found himself in a hall that was even larger than the other two . And there stood the youngest sister , chained fast to the wall , and before her was stretched a serpent with seven heads , horrible to see . As Bensurdatu came forward it twisted all its seven heads in his direction , and then made a quick dart to snatch him within its grasp . But Bensurdatu drew his sword and laid about him , till the seven heads were rolling on the floor . Flinging down his sword he rushed to the princess and broke her chains , and she wept for joy , and embraced him , and took the golden crown from off her head , and placed it in his hand . -LSB- Illustration : BENSURDATU ATTACKS THE SEVEN-HEADED SERPENT . -RSB- ` Now we must go back to the upper world , ' said Bensurdatu , and led her to the bottom of the river . The other princesses were waiting there , and he tied the rope round the eldest , and rung his bell . And the generals above heard , and drew her gently up . They then unfastened the cord and threw it back into the river , and in a few moments the second princess stood beside her sister . So now there were left only Bensurdatu and the youngest princess . ` Dear Bensurdatu , ' said she , ` do me a kindness , and let them draw you up before me . I dread the treachery of the generals . ' ` No , no , ' replied Bensurdatu , ' I certainly will not leave you down here . There is nothing to fear from my comrades . ' ` If it is your wish I will go up then ; but first I swear that if you do not follow to marry me , I shall stay single for the rest of my life . ' Then he bound the rope round her , and the generals drew her up .
But instead of lowering the rope again into the river , envy at the courage and success of Bensurdatu so filled the hearts of the two generals , that they turned away and left him XXXXX perish .
If above before beside in into of than to within