Water went and opened the Dragon's back, and got inside of the beast, and shut himself up again. Then Fire leaped on the Dragon's neck, and taking hold of his horns he urged him to go. At first the Dragon would not stir, but looked blacker and more sulky than ever. Then when he felt Water within him, and Fire on his back, he got angry. His big eyes glowed like two coals, and he bubbled and hissed and spluttered till even the Wise Man kept at a distance from him; but neither Fire nor Water were afraid. Water stayed within him, and Fire worked his horns, till the Dragon could bear it no longer, and with a great snort, and the smoke and steam coming out of his nostrils, darted out of the cavern.

"Stop, stop," cried the Wise Man, "don't go without me."

He had only time to jump into his little car, for once the Dragon was off neither Fire nor Water could stop him, when they were out scouring through the country. As they flew along they met the hunt still in pursuit of the two brothers. On seeing Fire, the huntsmen raised a great cry, and urged their horses; but Fire gave the alarm to Water, and the two managed the Dragon so well that the Hare, the Deer, the Fox, the hounds, and the huntsmen were out of sight in no time.

Fern was terribly frightened when she saw the black Dragon, and Fire getting off his back, and Water coming out of his inside; but when the Wise Man stepped out of his little car and praised her brothers for the clever way in which they had managed his big black Dragon, Fern was better pleased. Still she could not agree to marry the Wise Man till he had promised to build her a beautiful palace all of glass, which he did without loss of time. When the palace was built the Wise Man put Fern in it, and took her away in his little car. Water got inside the Dragon, and Fire on his back, and off they went again, and from that time forward Fire and Water agreed.