按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 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 the
moment； but you wouldn't regret it half 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 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； r