At that very moment a huge and horrible[Pg 23]creature he knew at once must bethe dragon rose between him and the maddenedleopards. Its body was coveredwith shining silver scales that crackled likeburning logs as it moved, its ears werebig black wings that flapped like sails, itsgreat claws had nails as long and sharp asknives, its double tongue was two red-hotflames, its glaring eyes seemed balls of fireand its long tail curled and writhed like amighty snake.