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！
warily round him； keeping his eye on the spare place； while the
dragon； adopting similar tactics； paced with caution round the
same circle； occasionally feinting with his head。 So the two
sparred for an opening； while the spectators maintained a
breathless silence。
Though the round lasted for some minutes； the end was so swift
that all the Boy saw was a lightning movement of the Saint's arm；
and then a whirl and a confusion of spines； claws； tail； and
flying bits of turf。 The dust cleared away； the spectators
whooped and ran in cheering； and the Boy made out that the dragon
was down； pinned to the earth by the spear； while St。 George had
dismounted； and stood astride of him。
It all seemed so genuine that the Boy ran in breathlessly；
hoping the dear old dragon wasn't really hurt。 As he approached；
the dragon lifted one large eyelid； winked solemnly； and
collapsed again。 He was held fast to earth by the neck； but the
Saint had hit him in the spare place agreed upon； and it didn't
even seem to tickle。
〃Bain't you goin' to cut 'is 'ed orf； master？〃 asked one of the
applauding crowd。 He had backed the dragon； and naturally felt a
trifle sore。
〃Well； not TO…DAY； I think；〃 replied St。 George； pleasantly。
〃You see； that can be done at ANY time。 There's no hurry at
all。 I think we'll all go down to the village first； and have
some refreshment； and then I'll give him a good talking…to； and
you'll find he'll be a very different dragon！〃
At that magic word REFRESHMENT the whole crowd formed up in
procession and silently awaited the signal to start。 The
time for talking and cheering and betting was past； the hour for
action had arrived。 St。 George； hauling on his spear with both
hands； released the dragon； who rose and shook himself and ran
his eye over his spikes and scales and things； to see that they
were all in order。 Then the Saint mounted and led off the
procession； the dragon following meekly in the company of the
Boy； while the thirsty spectators kept at a respectful interval
behind。
There were great doings when they got down to the village again；
and had formed up in front of the inn。 After refreshment St。
George made a speech； in which he informed his audience that he
had removed their direful scourge； at a great deal of trouble and
inconvenience to him…self； and now they weren't to go about
grumbling and fancying they'd got grievances； because they
hadn't。 And they shouldn't be so fond of fights； because next
time they might have to do the fighting themselves； which would
not be the same thing at all。 And there was a certain badger in
the inn stables which had got to be released at once； and he'd
come and see it done himself。 Then he told them that the dragon
had been thinking over things； and saw that there were two sides
to every question； and he wasn't going to do it any more； and if
they were good perhaps he'd stay and settle down there。 So they
must make friends； and not be prejudiced and go about fancying
they knew everything there was to be known； because they didn't；
not by a long way。 And he warned them against the sin of
romancing； and making up stories and fancying other people would
believe them just because they were plausible and highly…
coloured。 Then he sat down； amidst much repentant cheering；
and the dragon nudged the Boy in the ribs and whispered that he
couldn't have done it better himself。 Then every one went off to
get ready for the banquet。
Banquets are always pleasant things； consisting mostly； as they
do； of eating and drinking； but the specially nice thing about a
banquet is； that it comes when something's over； and there's
nothing more to worry about； and to…morrow seems a long way off。
St George was happy because there had been a fight and he hadn't
had to kill anybody； for he didn't really like killing； though he
generally had to do it。 The dragon was happy because there had
been a fight； and so far from being hurt in it he had won
popularity and a sure footing in society。 The Boy was happy
because there had been a fight； and in spite of it all his two
friends were on the best of terms。 And all the others were
happy because there had been a fight； andwell； they didn't
require any other reasons for their happiness。 The dragon
exerted himself to say the right thing to everybody； and proved
the life and soul of the evening； while the Saint and the Boy； as
they looked on； felt that they were only assisting at a feast of
which the honour and the glory were entirely the dragon's。 But
they didn't mind that； being good fellows； and the dragon was not
in the least proud or forgetful。 On the contrary； every ten
minutes or so he leant over towards the Boy and said
impressively： 〃Look here！ you WILL see me home afterwards；
won't you？〃 And the Boy always nodded； though he had promised
his mother not to be out late。
At last the banquet was over； the guests had dropped away with
many good…nights and congratulations and invitations； and
the dragon； who had seen the last of them off the premises；
emerged into the street followed by the Boy； wiped his brow；
sighed； sat down in the road and gazed at the stars。 〃Jolly
night it's been！〃 he murmured。 〃Jolly stars！ Jolly little place
this！ Think I shall just stop here。 Don't feel like climbing up
any beastly hill。 Boy's promised to see me home。 Boy had better
do it then！ No responsibility on my part。 Responsibility all
Boy's！〃 And his chin sank on his broad chest and he slumbered
peacefully。
〃Oh； GET up； dragon；〃 cried the Boy； piteously。 〃You KNEW
my mother's sitting up； and I'm so tired； and you made me promise
to see you home； and I never knew what it meant or I wouldn't
have done it！〃 And the Boy sat down in the road by the side of
the sleeping dragon； and cried。
The door behind them opened； a stream of light illumined the
road； and St。 George； who had come out for a stroll in the cool
night…air； caught sight of the two figures sitting therethe
great motionless dragon and the tearful little Boy。
〃What's the matter； Boy？〃 he inquired kindly； stepping to his
side。
〃Oh； it's this great lumbering PIG of a dragon！〃 sobbed the
Boy。 〃First he makes me promise to see him home； and then he
says I'd better do it； and goes to sleep！ Might as well try to
see a HAYSTACK home！ And I'm so tired； and mother's〃 here
he broke down again。
〃Now don't take on；〃 said St。 George。 〃I'll stand by you； and
we'll BOTH see him home。 Wake up； dragon！〃 he said sharply；
shaking the beast by the elbow。
The dragon looked up sleepily。 〃What a night； George！〃 he
murmured； 〃what a〃
〃Now look here； dragon；〃 said the Saint； firmly。 〃Here's
this little fellow waiting to see you home； and you KNOW he
ought to have been in bed these two hours； and what his mother'll
say _I_ don't know； and anybody but a selfish pig would have
MADE him go to bed long ago〃