There was no sound, save only
that sweet music of never-sleeping nature which is forever heard within
all her broad domain. Still the dreamer felt that there was something
direful and most to be dreaded that threatened to invade and mar the
heavenly peacefulness. She felt it coming, and fearfully awaited its
approach. And she had not long to wait. For presently there appeared,
flying between the calm moonlight and the figure, and casting a doleful
shadow over his form, a scaly and dreadful dragon, like those we read of
that devastated whole countries in the old, old times. This hideous
beast breathed fire and smoke from its horrid nostrils as it flew, and
it flapped its fearful way downwards to scorch and destroy the figure
recumbent by the stream.
Just when it was stooping upon its unconscious victim, a heavy scale,
beaten from its side by the bat-like wings, fell upon the night-mare
stricken sleeper's breast, and she awoke.
The moon was shining peacefully into the room, and she found upon the
bed a black cat that had leaped in through the low window. It was a
gentle and loving animal, that had made friends with her upon her first
arrival, and it had already coiled itself up on the bed with a gentle
purring.
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