It rose out of the dark waters of the lake and seemed to swim towards the island. Prince Andrew watched the strange creature, unsure if it was a snake or a crocodile or perhaps a dragon! He had come there to destroy it because only then could he win the hand of the beautiful Princess Dorothy of the island. While he wondered how to kill it, an old woman came to the shore carrying a blanket and a flaming torch. “Take this,” she said, “Throw the blanket on the water. It will bring the monster here. When it comes, throw the torch into its face, blinding it. Then kill it!” Prince Andrew thanked the old woman and did as she instructed. When the monster was dead, the old woman rowed him across to the island. When he reached there, in place of the old woman stood Princess Dorothy! They were married and lived very happily thereafter.
The Strange Creature
