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will build our habitations。 The brindled cow； which has led us hither； will
supply us with milk。 We will cultivate the neighboring soil。 and lead an
innocent and happy life。〃
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His companions joyfully assented to this plan； and； in the first place；
being very hungry and thirsty； they looked about them for the means of
providing a comfortable meal。 Not far off they saw a tuft of trees； which
appeared as if there might be a spring of water beneath them。 They went
thither to fetch some； leaving Cadmus stretched on the ground along with
the brindled cow； for； now that he had found a place of rest； it seemed as if
all the weariness of his pilgrimage； ever since he left King Agenor's palace；
had fallen upon him at once。 But his new friends had not long been gone；
when he was suddenly startled by cries； shouts； and screams； and the noise
of a terrible struggle； and in the midst of it all； a most awful hissing； which
went right through his ears like a rough saw。
Running towards the tuft of trees； he beheld the head and fiery eyes of
an immense serpent or dragon； with the widest jaws that ever a dragon had；
and a vast many rows of horribly sharp teeth。 Before Cadmus could reach
the spot； this pitiless reptile had killed his poor companions； and was
busily devouring them； making but a mouthful of each man。
It appears that the fountain of water was enchanted； and that the
dragon had been set to guard it； so that no mortal might ever quench his
thirst there。 As the neighboring inhabitants carefully avoided the spot； it
was now a long time （not less than a hundred years or thereabouts） since
the monster had broken his fast； and； as was natural enough； his appetite
had grown to be enormous； and was not half satisfied by the poor people
whom he had just eaten up。 When he caught sight of Cadmus； therefore；
he set up another abominable hiss； and flung back his immense jaws； until
his mouth looked like a great red cavern； at the farther end of which were
seen the legs of his last victim； whom he had hardly had time to swallow。
But Cadmus was so enraged at the destruction of his friends that he
cared neither for the size of the dragon's jaws nor for his hundreds of sharp
teeth。 Drawing his sword； he rushed at the monster； and flung himself right
into his cavernous mouth。 This bold method of attacking him took the
dragon by surprise； for； in fact； Cadmus had leaped so far down into his
throat； that the rows of terrible teeth could not close upon him； nor do him
the least harm in the world。 Thus； though the struggle was a tremendous
one； and though the dragon shattered the tuft of trees into small splinters
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by the lashing of his tail； yet； as Cadmus was all the while slashing and
stabbing at his very vitals； it was not long before the scaly wretch
bethought himself of slipping away。 He had not gone his length； however；
when the brave Cadmus gave him a sword thrust that finished the battle；
and creeping out of the gateway of the creature's jaws； there he beheld him
still wriggling his vast bulk； although there was no longer life enough in
him to harm a little child。
But do not you suppose that it made Cadmus sorrowful to think of the
melancholy fate which had befallen those poor； friendly people； who had
followed the cow along with him？ It seemed as if he were doomed to lose
everybody whom he loved； or to see them perish in one way or another。
And here he was； after all his toils and troubles； in a solitary place； with
not a single human being to help him build a hut。
〃What shall I do？〃 cried he aloud。 〃It were better for me to have been
devoured by the dragon； as my poor companions were。〃
〃Cadmus；〃 said a voice but whether it came from above or below him；
or whether it spoke within his own breast； the young man could not tell
〃Cadmus； pluck out the dragon's teeth； and plant them in the earth。〃
This was a strange thing to do； nor was it very easy； I should imagine；
to dig out all those deep…rooted fangs from the dead dragon's jaws。 But
Cadmus toiled and tugged； and after pounding the monstrous head almost
to pieces with a great stone； he at last collected as many teeth as might
have filled a bushel or two。 The next thing was to plant them。 This；
likewise； was a tedious piece of work； especially as Cadmus was already
exhausted with killing the dragon and knocking his head to pieces； and
had nothing to dig the earth with； that I know of； unless it were his sword
blade。 Finally； however； a sufficiently large tract o* ground was turned up；
and sown with this new kind of seed； although half of the dragon's teeth
still remained to be planted some other day。
Cadmus； quite out of breath； stood leaning upon his sword； and
wondering what was to happen next。 He had waited but a few moments；
when he began to see a sight； which was as great a marvel as the most
marvelous thing I ever told you about。
The sun was shining slantwise over the field； and showed all the moist；
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dark soil just like any other newly…planted piece of ground。 All at once；
Cadmus fancied he saw something glisten very brightly； first at one spot；
then at another； and then at a hundred and a thousand spots together。 Soon
he perceived them to be the steel heads of spears； sprouting up everywhere
like so many stalks of grain； and continually growing taller and taller。 Next
appeared a vast number of bright sword blades； thrusting themselves up in
the same way。 A moment afterwards； the whole surface of the ground was
broken by a multitude of polished brass helmets； coming up like a crop of
enormous beans。 So rapidly did they grow； that Cadmus now discerned the
fierce countenance of a man beneath every one。 In short； before he had
time to think what a wonderful affair it was； he beheld an abundant harvest
of what looked like human beings； armed with helmets and breastplates；
shields； swords； and spears； and before they were well out of the earth；
they brandished their weapons； and clashed them one against another；
seeming to think； little while as they had yet lived； that they had wasted
too much of life without a battle。 Every tooth of the dragon had produced
one of these sons of