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and their islands； he had his frigates for the taking； his
pirates and their hoards for an unregarded cutlass…stroke or two；
and there were Princesses in plenty waiting for him somewhere
Princesses of the right sort。
THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
Footprints in the snow have been unfailing provokers of sentiment
ever since snow was first a white wonder in this drab…coloured
world of ours。 In a poetry…book presented to one of us by an
aunt； there was a poem by one Wordsworth in which they stood out
stronglywith a picture all to themselves； toobut we didn't
think very highly either of the poem or the sentiment。
Footprints in the sand； now； were quite another matter； and we
grasped Crusoe's attitude of mind much more easily than
Wordsworth's。 Excitement and mystery； curiosity and suspense
these were the only sentiments that tracks； whether in sand or in
snow； were able to arouse in us。
We had awakened early that winter morning； puzzled at first by
the added light that filled the room。 Then； when the truth at
last fully dawned on us and we knew that snow…balling was no
longer a wistful dream； but a solid certainty waiting for us
outside； it was a mere brute fight for the necessary clothes； and
the lacing of boots seemed a clumsy invention； and the buttoning
of coats an unduly tedious form of fastening； with all that snow
going to waste at our very door。
When dinner…time came we had to be dragged in by the scruff of
our necks。 The short armistice over； the combat was resumed； but
presently Charlotte and I； a little weary of contests and of
missiles that ran shudderingly down inside one's clothes； forsook
the trampled battle…field of the lawn and went exploring the
blank virgin spaces of the white world that lay beyond。 It
stretched away unbroken on every side of us； this mysterious
soft garment under which our familiar world had so suddenly
hidden itself。 Faint imprints showed where a casual bird had
alighted； but of other traffic there was next to no sign； which
made these strange tracks all the more puzzling。
We came across them first at the corner of the shrubbery； and
pored over them long； our hands on our knees。 Experienced
trappers that we knew ourselves to be； it was annoying to be
brought up suddenly by a beast we could not at once identify。
〃Don't you know？〃 said Charlotte； rather scornfully。 〃Thought
you knew all the beasts that ever was。〃
This put me on my mettle； and I hastily rattled off a string of
animal names embracing both the arctic and the tropic zones； but
without much real confidence。
〃No；〃 said Charlotte； on consideration； 〃they won't any of
'em quite do。 Seems like something LIZARDY。 Did you say a
iguanodon？ Might be that； p'raps。 But that's not British； and
we want a real British beast。 _I_ think it's a dragon！〃
〃'T isn't half big enough；〃 I objected。
〃Well； all dragons must be small to begin with；〃 said Charlotte：
〃like everything else。 P'raps this is a little dragon who's got
lost。 A little dragon would be rather nice to have。 He might
scratch and spit； but he couldn't DO anything really。 Let's
track him down！〃
So we set off into the wide snow…clad world； hand in hand； our
hearts big with expectation；complacently confident that by a
few smudgy traces in the snow we were in a fair way to capture a
half…grown specimen of a fabulous beast。
We ran the monster across the paddock and along the hedge of the
next field； and then he took to the road like any tame
civilized tax…payer。 Here his tracks became blended with
and lost among more ordinary footprints； but imagination and a
fixed idea will do a great deal； and we were sure we knew the
direction a dragon would naturally take。 The traces； too； kept
reappearing at intervalsat least Charlotte maintained they did；
and as it was HER dragon I left the following of the slot to
her and trotted along peacefully； feeling that it was an
expedition anyhow and something was sure to come out of it。
Charlotte took me across another field or two； and through a
copse； and into a fresh road； and I began to feel sure it was
only her confounded pride that made her go on pretending to see
dragon…tracks instead of owning she was entirely at fault； like a
reasonable person。 At last she dragged me excitedly through a
gap in a hedge of an obviously private character； the waste； open
world of field and hedge…row disappeared； and we found
ourselves in a garden； well…kept； secluded； most un…dragon…
haunted in appearance。 Once inside； I knew where we were。 This
was the garden of my friend the circus…man； though I had never
approached it before by a lawless gap； from this unfamiliar side。
And here was the circus…man himself； placidly smoking a pipe as
he strolled up and down the walks。 I stepped up to him and asked
him politely if he had lately seen a Beast。
〃May I inquire；〃 he said； with all civility； 〃what particular
sort of a Beast you may happen to be looking for？〃
〃It's a LIZARDY sort of Beast；〃 I explained。 〃Charlotte says
it's a dragon； but she doesn't really know much about beasts。〃
The circus…man looked round about him slowly。 〃I don't
THINK；〃 he said； 〃that I've seen a dragon in these parts
recently。 But if I come across one I'll know it belongs to
you； and I'll have him taken round to you at once。〃
〃Thank you very much；〃 said Charlotte； 〃but don't TROUBLE
about it； please； 'cos p'raps it isn't a dragon after all。 Only
I thought I saw his little footprints in the snow； and we
followed 'em up； and they seemed to lead right in here； but maybe
it's all a mistake； and thank you all the same。〃
〃Oh； no trouble at all；〃 said the circus…man； cheerfully。 〃I
should be only too pleased。 But of course； as you say； it MAY
be a mistake。 And it's getting dark； and he seems to have got
away for the present； whatever he is。 You'd better come in and
have some tea。 I'm quite alone； and we'll make a roaring fire；
and I've got the biggest Book of Beasts you ever saw。 It's got
every beast in the world； and all of 'em coloured； and we'll try
and find YOUR beast in it！〃
We were always ready for tea at any time； and especially when
combined with beasts。 There was marmalade； too； and apricot…jam；
brought in expressly for us； and afterwards the beast…book was
spread out； and； as the man had truly said； it contained every
sort of beast that had ever been in the world。
The striking of six o'clock set the more prudent Charlotte
nudging me； and we recalled ourselves with an effort from Beast…
land； and reluctantly stood up to go。
〃Here； I'm coming along with you；〃 said the circus…man。 〃I want
another pipe； and a walk'll do me good。 You needn't talk to me
unless you like。〃
Our spirits rose to their wonted level again。 The way had seemed
so long； the outside world so dark and eerie； after the bright
warm room and the highly…coloured beast…book。