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convincing； but forming in the main a most serious roll of crime。 History
teaches us that the greatest rascals often possess all the domestic virtues；
and I fear that your cultivated friend； in spite of the qualities which have
won （and rightly） your regard； has got to be speedily exterminated。〃
〃Oh； you've been taking in all the yarns those fellows have been telling
you；〃 said the Boy impatiently。 〃Why； our villagers are the biggest story…
tellers in all the country round。 It's a known fact。 You're a stranger in
these parts； or else you'd have heard it already。 All they want is a FIGHT。
They're the most awful beggars for getting up fightsit's meat and drink to
them。
Dogs； bulls； dragonsanything so long as it's a fight。 Why； they've
got a poor innocent badger in the stable behind here； at this moment。
They were going to have some fun with him to…day； but they're saving him
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up now till YOUR little affair's over。 And I've no doubt they've been
telling you what a hero you were； and how you were bound to win； in the
cause of right and justice； and so on； but let me tell you； I came down the
street just now； and they were betting six to four on the dragon freely！〃
〃Six to four on the dragon！〃 murmured St。 George sadly； resting his
cheek on his hand。 〃This is an evil world； and sometimes I begin to think
that all the wickedness in it is not entirely bottled up inside the dragons。
And yetmay not this wily beast have misled you as to his real character；
in order that your good report of him may serve as a cloak for his evil
deeds？ Nay； may there not be； at this very moment； some hapless
Princess immured within yonder gloomy cavern？〃
The moment he had spoken； St。 George was sorry for what he had said；
the Boy looked so genuinely distressed。
〃I assure you； St。 George；〃 he said earnestly； 〃there's nothing of the
sort in the cave at all。 The dragon's a real gentleman； every inch of him；
and I may say that no one would be more shocked and grieved than he
would； at hearing you talk in that that LOOSE way about matters on
which he has very strong views！〃
〃Well； perhaps I've been over…credulous；〃 said St。 George。 〃Perhaps
I've misjudged the animal。 But what are we to do？ Here are the dragon
and I； almost face to face； each supposed to be thirsting for each other's
blood。 I don't see any way out of it； exactly。 What do you suggest？
Can't you arrange things； somehow？〃
〃That's just what the dragon said；〃 replied the Boy； rather nettled。
〃Really； the way you two seem to leave everything to meI suppose you
couldn't be persuaded to go away quietly； could you？〃
〃Impossible； I fear；〃 said the Saint。 〃Quite against the rules。 YOU
know that as well as I do。〃
〃Well； then； look here；〃 said the Boy； 〃it's early yetwould you mind
strolling up with me and seeing the dragon and talking it over？ It's not
far； and any friend of mine will be most welcome。〃
〃Well； it's IRREGULAR；〃 said St。 George； rising； 〃but really it seems
about the most sensible thing to do。 You're taking a lot of trouble on your
friend's account；〃 he added； good…naturedly； as they passed out through the
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door together。 〃But cheer up！ Perhaps there won't have to be any fight
after all。〃
〃Oh； but _I_ hope there will； though！〃 replied the little fellow；
wistfully。
〃I've brought a friend to see you； dragon；〃 said the Boy； rather loud。
The dragon woke up with a start。 〃I was justerthinking about
things；〃 he said in his simple way。 〃Very pleased to make your
acquaintance； sir。 Charming weather we're having！〃
〃This is St George；〃 said the Boy； shortly。 〃St。 George； let me
introduce you to the dragon。 We've come up to talk things over quietly；
dragon； and now for goodness' sake do let us have a little straight
common…sense； and come to some practical business…like arrangement； for
I'm sick of views and theories of life and personal tendencies； and all that
sort of thing。 I may perhaps add that my mother's sitting up。〃
〃So glad to meet you； St。 George；〃 began the dragon rather nervously；
〃because you've been a great traveller； I hear； and I've always been rather a
stay…at…home。 But I can show you many antiquities； many interesting
features of our country…side； if you're stopping here any time〃
〃I think；〃 said St。 George； in his frank； pleasant way； 〃that we'd really
better take the advice of our young friend here； and try to come to some
understanding； on a business footing； about this little affair of ours。 Now
don't you think that after all the simplest plan would be just to fight it out；
according to the rules； and let the best man win？ They're betting on you；
I may tell you； down in the village； but I don't mind that！〃
〃Oh； yes； DO； dragon；〃 said the Boy； delightedly； 〃it'll save such a lot
of bother！〃
〃My young friend； you shut up；〃 said the dragon severely。 〃Believe
me； St。 George；〃 he went on； 〃there's nobody in the world I'd sooner oblige
than you and this young gentleman here。 But the whole thing's nonsense；
and conventionality； and popular thick…headedness。 There's absolutely
nothing to fight about； from beginning to end。 And anyhow I'm not
going to； so that settles it！〃
〃But supposing I make you？〃 said St。 George； rather nettled。
〃You can't；〃 said the dragon； triumphantly。 〃I should only go into my
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cave and retire for a time down the hole I came up。 You'd soon get
heartily sick of sitting outside and waiting for me to come out and fight
you。 And as soon as you'd really gone away； why； I'd come up again
gaily； for I tell you frankly； I like this place； and I'm going to stay here！〃
St。 George gazed for a while on the fair landscape around them。 〃But
this would be a beautiful place for a fight；〃 he began again persuasively。
〃These great bare rolling Downs for the arena； and me in my golden
armour showing up against your big blue scaly coils！ Think what a
picture it would make！〃
〃Now you're trying to get at me through my artistic sensibilities；〃 said
the dragon。 〃But it won't work。 Not but what it would make a very
pretty picture； as you say；〃 he added； wavering a little。
〃We seem to be getting rather nearer to BUSINESS；〃 put in the Boy。
〃You must see； dragon； that there's got to be a fight of some sort； 'cos you
can't want to have to go down that dirty old hole again and stop there till
goodness knows when。〃
〃It might be arranged；〃 said St。 George； thoughtfully。 〃I MUST spear
you somewhere； of course； but I'm not bound to hurt you very much。
There's such a lot of you that there must be a few SPARE places
somewhere。 Here； for instance； just behind your foreleg。 It couldn't
hurt you much； just here！〃
〃Now you're tickling； George；〃 said the dragon； coyly。 〃No； that
place won't do at all。 Even if it didn't hurt；and I'm sure it would；
awfully；it would make me laugh； and that would spoil everything。〃
〃Let's try somewhere else； then；〃 said St。 George； patiently。 〃Under
your neck； for instance；all these folds of thick skin； if I speared you
here you'd never even know I'd done it！〃
〃Yes； but are you sure you can hit off the right place？〃 asked the
dragon； anxiously。
〃Of course I am；〃 said St。 George； with confidence。 〃You leave that
to me！〃
〃It's just because I've GOT to leave it to you that I'm asking；〃 replied
the dragon； rather testily。 〃No doubt you would deeply regret any error
you might make in the hurry of