Originally published in Terrific Register (Sherwood, Jones, and Co.; 1825).
In the fourteenth century, an amphibious animal, a sort of serpent or crocodile, caused much disorder in the Island of Rhodes by its depredations, and several inhabitants fell victims to its rapacity. The retreat of this animal was in a cavern, situated near a morass at the foot of Mount St. Etienne, two miles from Rhodes. It often came out to seek its prey, and devoured sheep, cows, horses, and even the shepherds who watched over the flocks.
Many of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem had essayed to destroy this monster; but they never returned. This induced Phelion de Villeneuve, the grand master of Maka to forbid all the knights, on pain of being deprived of their habit, from attacking it, or attempting any further an enterprise which appeared to be above human powers.
All the knights obeyed the mandate of the grand master, except Dieu Donne de Gozon, a native of Provence, who, notwithstanding the prohibition, and without being deterred by the fate of his brethren, secretly formed the daring design of fighting this savage beast, bravely resolving to deliver the Isle of Rhodes from such a calamity, or perish in the attempt. Having learnt that the serpent had no scales on its belly, upon that information he formed the plan of his enterprise. From the description he had received of this enormous beast, he made a wooden or pasteboard figure of it, and he endeavoured to imitate its terrific cries. He then trained two young mastiffs to run to his cries, and to attach themselves immediately to the belly of the monster; whilst he, mounted on horseback, his lance in bis hand, and covered with his armour, feigned to give it blows in several places. The knight employed himself many months, every day, in this exercise, at the Chateau de Gozon, in Languedoc, to which he had repaired; and when he had trained the mastiffs sufficiently to this kind of combat, he hastened back to Rhodes.
Having first repaired to church, and commended himself to God, he put on his armour, mounted his horse, and ordered his two servants to return to France, if he perished in the combat; but to come near him if they perceived that he had killed the serpent, or been wounded by it. He then descended from the mountain of St. Etienne, and approaching the haunt of the serpent soon encountered it. Gozon struck it with bis lance, but the stales prevented its taking effect.
He prepared to redouble his blows, but his horse, frightened with the hisses of the serpent, refused to advance, and threw himself on his side. Gozon dismounted, and accompanied by his mastiffs, marched sword in hand towards this horrible beast. He struck him in various places, but the scales prevented him from penetrating them. The furious animal by a blow of his tail knocked down the knight, and would certainly have devoured him, had not his two dogs fastened on the belly of the serpent, which they lacerated in a dreadful manner. The knight, favoured by this help, rejoined his mastiffs, and buried his sword in the body of the monster; which being mortally wounded, rushed on the knight, and would have crushed him to death by its weight, had not his servants, who were spectators of the combat, come to his relief. The serpent was dead, and the knight had fainted. When he recovered, the first and most agreeable object which could present itself to his view, was the dead body of his enemy.
The death of the serpent was no sooner known in the city, than a crowd of the inhabitants came out to welcome their deliverer. The knights conducted him in triumph to the grand master, who, however, considered it a breach of discipline unpardonable, even on such an occasion; and regardless of the entreaties of the knights, and the important service that Gozon had rendered, sent him to prison. A council was assembled, who decided that he should be deprived of the habit of bis order for his disobedience. This was done; but Villeneuve repenting of his severity, soon restored it to him, and loaded him with favours.
Nothing could exceed the joy of the inhabitants in being delivered from this monster, whose head they stuck on one of the gates of the city, as a monument of the victory of Gozon, whom they regarded as their deliverer.