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"Oh, no!" Ben screwed the tops on the water bottles and hung theain Next ti to pull your nose!"

Just as Ben was about to put Twigleg on his shoulder, he heard a sudden rushing sound above him Ben looked up at the sky -- and shrank back in horror

A huge bird was diving down on him, claws outstretched It plucked hiiant bird’s claws He twisted and turned like a wor a hoarse screech, the bird rose into the air with its prey

"Twigleg!" Ben shouted "Twigleg, get Firedrake! Get Firedrake!" And then the giant bird carried hi stood rooted to the spot for a iant bird soar into the sky A sob rose froether and scra, faster!" he told hi He was so scared of the abyss behind hirip, sliding back down the slope His thin fingers were soon grazed, his bony knees scratched His heart was thudding faster and faster, but he hardly noticed He could think of nothing but that enor Ben farther and farther aith every beat of its wings When Twigleg finally saw the tip of Firedrake’s tail a the rocks before him, he uttered a sob of relief

"Help!" he cried hat little breath he had left "Quick, help!"

His little hands tugged at the sleeping dragon’s tail, and he pulled at Sorrel’s furry coat until he had a tuft of her hairs in his fingers Firedrake opened his eyes sleepily Sorrel jumped as if a snake had bitten her

"Are you crazy?" she spat at the hoot no further

"It’s the youngshrilly "Please, coiant bird has carried him off"

Firedrake was on his feet at once "Where to?" he asked

"It fleard the dragon"Youto the sky "Firedrake can’t fly now The o"

"Find that little flask!" said Firedrake "And hurry"

Her paws tre, Sorrel found the flask of moon-dew in Ben’s backpack and put three drops of it on Firedrake’s tongue Holding their breath, she and Twigleg stared at the dragon He closed his eyes, opened thee of the precipice

"Quick, clis, raising the and the backpacks and clis, took off-- and flew

"It works!" cried Twigleg, clutching Sorrel’s furry ar as if the full her and higher, his shadow passing over the ht of day They soon reached the on’s back Five peaks rose into the blue sky, casting their shadows on the valleys and ravines below Firedrake looked around, searching for soiant bird will be harder to spot here than a truffle in the forest"

"But wehis little hands "Oh, please!"

Firedrake flew into the first ravine

"Ben!" shouted Sorrel "Ben, can you hear us?"