"Suppose we tie a tin can to its tail," suggested the Dog. "The
rattling of the can would so frighten the Dragon that it would run out
of the country."

"Its tail is so long," answered the King, gloomily, "that the Dragon
could not hear the can rattle."

Then they all remained silent for a time, thinking so hard that their
heads began to ache; but no one seemed able to think of the right thing
to do.

Finally the King himself made a proposition.

"One thing we might attempt with some hope of success," said his
Majesty. "Should it fail, we can not be worse off than we are at
present. My idea is for us to go in a great body to the castle of the
Dragon, and pull out its teeth with a pair of forceps. Having no teeth,
the monster will be harmless to annoy us in any way; and, since we seem
unable to kill it, I believe this is the best way out of our
difficulty."

The King's plan pleased every one, and met with shouts of approval. The
council then adjourned, and all the members went to prepare for the
fight with the Purple Dragon.

First the blacksmith made a large pair of forceps, to pull the Dragon's
teeth with. The handles of the forceps were so long that fifty men
could take hold of them at one time. Then the people armed themselves
with swords and spears and marched in a great body to the castle of the
Purple Dragon.