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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 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 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 the benefit of the crowd。 Ramping； it should be
explained； consists in running round and round in a wide
circle； and sending waves and ripples of movement along the whole
length of your spine； from your pointed ears right down to the
spike at the end of your long tail。 When you are covered with
blue scales； the effect is particularly pleasing； and the Boy
recollected the dragon's recently expressed wish to become a
social success。
St。 George now gathered up his reins and began to move forward；
dropping the point of his spear and settling himself firmly in
the saddle。
〃Time！〃 yelled everybody excitedly； and the dragon； leaving off
his ramping； sat up on end； and began to leap from one side to
the other with huge ungainly bounds； whooping like a Red Indian。
This naturally disconcerted the horse； who swerved violently； the
Saint only just saving himself by the mane； and as they shot past
the dragon delivered a vicious snap at the horse's tail
which sent the poor beast careering madly far over the Downs； so
that the language of the Saint； who had lost a stirrup； was
fortunately inaudible to the general assemblage。
Round Two evoked audible evidence of friendly feeling towards the
dragon。 The spectators were not slow to appreciate a combatant
who could hold his own so well and clearly wanted to show good
sport； and many encouraging remarks reached the ears of our
friend as he strutted to and fro； his chest thrust out and his
tail in the air； hugely enjoying his new popularity。
St。 George had dismounted and was tightening his girths； and
telling his horse； with quite an Oriental flow of imagery；
exactly what he thought of him； and his relations； and his
conduct on the present occasion； so the Boy made his way down to
the Saint's end of the line； and held his spear for him。
〃It's been a jolly fight； St。 George！〃 he said with a sigh。
〃Can't you let it last a bit longer？〃
〃Well； I think I'd better not；〃 replied the Saint。 〃The fact is；
your simple…minded old friend's getting conceited； now they've
begun cheering him； and he'll forget all about the arrangement
and take to playing the fool； and there's no telling where he
would stop。 I'll just finish him off this round。〃
He swung himself into the saddle and took his spear from the Boy。
〃Now don't you be afraid；〃 he added kindly。 〃I've marked my spot
exactly； and HE'S sure to give me all the assistance in his
power； because he knows it's his only chance of being asked to
the banquet！〃
St。 George now shortened his spear； bringing the butt well up
under his arm； and； instead of galloping as before； trotted
smartly towards the dragon； who crouched at his approach；
flicking his tail till it cracked in the air like a great cart…
whip。 The Saint wheeled as he neared his opponent and circled
warily round him； keeping his eye on the spare place； while the
dragon； adopting similar tactics； paced with