dream days-第18章

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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　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〃



〃And　he　SHALL　go　to　bed！〃　cried　the　dragon；　starting　up。　

〃Poor　little　chap；　only　fancy　his　being　up　at　this　hour！　　It's　a

shame；　that's　what　it　is；　and　I　don't　think；　St。　George；　you've

been　very　consideratebut　come　along　at　once；　and　don't　let　us

have　any　more　arguing　or　shilly…shallying。　　You　give　me　hold　of

your　hand；　Boythank　you；　George；　an　arm　up　the　hill　is　just

what　I　wanted！〃



So　they　set　off　up　the　hill　arm…in…arm；　the　Saint；　the　Dragon；

and　the　Boy。　　The　lights　in　the　little　village　began　to　go　out；

but　there　were　stars；　and　a　late　moon；　as　they　climbed　to　the

Downs　together。　　And；　as　they　turned　the　last　corner　and

disappeared　from　view；　snatches　of　an　old　song　were　borne

back　on　the　night…breeze。　　I　can't　be　certain　which　of　them　was

singing；　but　I　THINK　it　was　the　Dragon！





〃Here　we　are　at　your　gate；〃　said　the　man；　abruptly；　laying　his

hand　on　it。　　〃Good…night。　　Cut　along　in　sharp；　or　you'll　catch

it！〃



Could　it　really　be　our　own　gate？　　Yes；　there　it　was；　sure　enough；

with　the　familiar　marks　on　its　bottom　bar　made　by　our　feet　when

we　swung　on　it。



〃Oh；　but　wait　a　minute！〃　cried　Charlotte。　　〃I　want　to　know　a　heap

of　things。　　Did　the　dragon　really　settle　down？　　And　did〃



〃There　isn't　any　more　of　that　story；〃　said　the　man；　kindly　but

firmly。　　〃At　least；　not　to…night。　　Now　be　off！　　Good…bye！〃



〃Wonder　if　it's　all　true？〃　said　Charlotte；　as　we　hurried　up　the

path。　　〃Sounded　dreadfully　like　nonsense；　in　parts！〃



〃P'raps　its　true　for　all　that；〃　I　replied　encouragingly。



Charlotte　bolted　in　like　a　rabbit；　out　of　the　cold　and　the　dark；

but　I　lingered　a　moment　in　the　still；　frosty　air；　for　a　backward

glance　at　the　silent　white　world　without；　ere　I　changed　it　for

the　land　of　firelight　and　cushions　and　laughter。　　It　was　the　day

for　choir…practice；　and　carol…time　was　at　hand；　and　a　belated

member　was　passing　homewards　down　the　road；　singing　as　he　went：



〃Then　St。　George：　ee　made　rev'rence：　in　the　stable　so　dim；

Oo　vanquish