When it moved it jumped like a frog , and with every spring it covered half a mile of ground . Fortunately its habit , was to remain for several years in the same place , and not to move on till the whole neighbourhood was eaten up . Nothing could hunt it , because its whole body was covered with scales , which were harder than stone or metal ; its two great eyes shone by night , and even by day , like the brightest lamps , and anyone who had the ill luck to look into those eyes became as it were bewitched , and was obliged to rush of his own accord into the monster 's jaws . In this way the Dragon was able to feed upon both men and beasts without the least trouble to itself , as it needed not to move from the spot where it was lying . All the neighbouring kings had offered rich rewards to anyone who should be able to destroy the monster , either by force or enchantment , and many had tried their luck , but all had miserably failed . Once a great forest in which the Dragon lay had been set on fire ; the forest was burnt down , but the fire did not do the monster the least harm . However , there was a tradition amongst the wise men of the country that the Dragon might be overcome by one who possessed King Solomon 's signet-ring , upon which a secret writing was engraved . This inscription would enable anyone who was wise enough to interpret it to find out how the Dragon could be destroyed . Only no one knew where the ring was hidden , nor was there any sorcerer or learned man to be found who would be able to explain the inscription . At last a young man , with a good heart and plenty of courage , set out to search for the ring . He took his way towards the sunrising , because he knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the East . After some years he met with a famous Eastern magician , and asked for his advice in the matter . The magician answered : ` Mortal men have but little wisdom , and can give you no help , but the birds of the air would be better guides to you if you could learn their language . I can help you to understand it if you will stay with me a few days . ' The youth thankfully accepted the magician 's offer , and said , ' I can not now offer you any reward for your kindness , but should my undertaking succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid . ' Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of herbs which he had gathered himself all alone by moonlight , and he gave the youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days , which made him able to understand the language of birds . At parting the magician said to him . ` If you ever find Solomon 's ring and get possession of it , then come back to me , that I may explain the inscription on the ring to you , for there is no one else in the world who can do this . ' From that time the youth never felt lonely as he walked along ; he always had company , because he understood the language of birds ; and in this way he learned many things which mere human knowledge could never have taught him . But time went on , and he heard nothing about the ring .
It happened one evening , when he was hot and tired with walking , and had sat down under a tree in a XXXXX to eat his supper , that he saw two gaily-plumaged birds , that were strange to him , sitting at the top of the tree talking to one another about him .
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