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the dragon； rather testily。 〃No doubt you would deeply regret any error
you might make in the hurry of the moment； but you wouldn't regret it half
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as much as I should！ However； I suppose we've got to trust somebody； as
we go through life； and your plan seems； on the whole； as good a one as
any。〃
〃Look here； dragon；〃 interrupted the Boy； a little jealous on behalf of
his friend； who seemed to be getting all the worst of the bargain： 〃I don't
quite see where YOU come in！ There's to be a fight； apparently； and
you're to be licked； and what I want to know is； what are YOU going to
get out of it？〃
〃St。 George；〃 said the dragon； 〃Just tell him； please；what will happen
after I'm vanquished in the deadly combat？〃
〃Well； according to the rules I suppose I shall lead you in triumph
down to the market…place or whatever answers to it；〃 said St。 George。
〃Precisely；〃 said the dragon。 〃And then〃
〃And then there'll be shoutings and speeches and things；〃 continued St。
George。 〃And I shall explain that you're converted； and see the error of
your ways； and so on。〃
〃Quite so；〃 said the dragon。 〃And then？〃
〃Oh； and then〃 said St。 George； 〃why； and then there will be the
usual banquet； I suppose。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said the dragon； 〃and that's where _I_ come in。 Look
here；〃 he continued； addressing the Boy； 〃I'm bored to death up here； and
no one really appreciates me。 I'm going into Society； I am； through the
kindly aid of our friend here； who's taking such a lot of trouble on my
account； and you'll find I've got all the qualities to endear me to people
who entertain！ So now that's all settled； and if you don't mindI'm an
old… fashioned fellowdon't want to turn you out； but〃
〃Remember； you'll have to do your proper share of the fighting；
dragon！〃 said St。 George； as he took the hint and rose to go； 〃I mean
ramping； and breathing fire； and so on！〃
〃I can RAMP all right；〃 replied the dragon； confidently； 〃as to
breathing fire； it's surprising how easily one gets out of practice； but I'll do
the best I can。 Goodnight！〃
They had descended the hill and were almost back in the village again；
when St。 George stopped short； 〃KNEW I had forgotten something；〃 he
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said。 〃There ought to be a Princess。 Terror…stricken and chained to a
rock； and all that sort of thing。 Boy； can't you arrange a Princess？〃
The Boy was in the middle of a tremendous yawn。 〃I'm tired to
death；〃 he wailed； 〃and I CAN'T arrange a Princess； or anything more； at
this time of night。 And my mother's sitting up； and DO stop asking me to
arrange more things till tomorrow！〃
Next morning the people began streaming up to the Downs at quite
an early hour； in their Sunday clothes and carrying baskets with bottle…
necks sticking out of them； every one intent on securing good places for
the combat。 This was not exactly a simple matter； for of course it was
quite possible that the dragon might win； and in that case even those who
had put their money on him felt they could hardly expect him to deal with
his backers on a different footing to the rest。 Places were chosen；
therefore； with circumspection and with a view to a speedy retreat in case
of emergency； and the front rank was mostly composed of boys who had
escaped from parental control and now sprawled and rolled about on the
grass； regardless of the shrill threats and warnings discharged at them by
their anxious mothers behind。
The Boy had secured a good front place； well up towards the cave； and
was feeling as anxious as a stage…manager on a first night。 Could the
dragon be depended upon？ He might change his mind and vote the
whole performance rot； or else； seeing that the affair had been so hastily
planned； without even a rehearsal； he might be too nervous to show up。
The Boy looked narrowly at the cave； but it showed no sign of life or
occupation。 Could the dragon have made a moon…light flitting？
The higher portions of the ground were now black with sightseers； and
presently a sound of cheering and a waving of handkerchiefs told that
something was visible to them which the Boy； far up towards the dragon…
end of the line as he was； could not yet see。 A minute more and St。
George's red plumes topped the hill； as the Saint rode slowly forth on the
great level space which stretched up to the grim mouth of the cave。 Very
gallant and beautiful he looked； on his tall war…horse； his golden armour
glancing in the sun； his great spear held erect； the little white pennon；
crimson…crossed； fluttering at its point。 He drew rein and remained
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motionless。 The lines of spectators began to give back a little； nervously；
and even the boys in front stopped pulling hair and cuffing each other； and
leaned forward expectant。
〃Now then； dragon！〃 muttered the Boy impatiently； fidgeting where he
sat。 He need not have distressed himself； had he only known。 The
dramatic possibilities of the thing had tickled the dragon immensely； and
he had been up from an early hour； preparing for his first public
appearance with as much heartiness as if the years had run backwards； and
he had been again a little dragonlet； playing with his sisters on the floor of
their mother's cave； at the game of saints…and…dragons； in which the
dragon was bound to win。
A low muttering； mingled with snorts； now made itself heard； rising to
a bellowing roar that seemed to fill the plain。 Then a cloud of smoke
obscured the mouth of the cave； and out of the midst of it the dragon
himself； shining； sea…blue； magnificent； pranced splendidly forth； and
everybody said； 〃Oo…oo…oo！〃 as if he had been a mighty rocket！ His
scales were glittering； his long spiky tail lashed his sides； his claws tore up
the turf and sent it flying high over his back； and smoke and fire
incessantly jetted from his angry nostrils。 〃Oh； well done； dragon！〃 cried
the Boy； excitedly。 〃Didn't think he had it in him！〃 he added to himself。
St。 George lowered his spear； bent his head； dug his heels into his
horse's sides； and came thundering over the turf。 The dragon charged
with a roar and a squeal；a great blue whirling combination of coils and
snorts and clashing jaws and spikes and fire。
〃Missed！〃 yelled the crowd。 There was a moment's entanglement of
golden armour and blue…green coils； and spiky tail； and then the great
horse； tearing at his bit； carried the Saint； his spear swung high in the air；
almost up to the mouth of the cave。
The dragon sat down and barked viciously； while St。 George with
difficulty pulled his horse round into position。
〃End of Round One！〃 thought the Boy。 〃How well they managed it！
But I hope the Saint won't get excited。 I can trust the dragon all right。
What a regular play…actor the fellow is！〃
St。 George had at last prevailed on his horse to stand steady； and was
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looking round him as he wiped his brow。 Catching sight of the Boy； he
smiled and nodded； and held up three fingers for an instant。
〃It seems to be all planned out；〃 said the Boy to himself。 〃Round
Three is to be the finishing one； evidently。 Wish it could have lasted a bit
longer。 Whatever's that old fool of a dragon up to now？〃
The dragon was employing the interval in giving a ramping…
performance for