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home。
And that night the milk overflowed the mill…
stream and made a lake； nine miles long； nine
miles broad； and nine miles deep； and there are
salmon and whitefish there to this day。
〃You are a fine boy；〃 said the gentleman；
〃and I'll give you wages。〃
So Billy was herd。
The next day； his master told him to look
after the house while he went up to the king's
town； to see a great sight。 〃What will it
be？〃 said Billy。 〃The king's daughter is to
be eaten by a fiery dragon；〃 said his master；
〃unless the champion fighter they've been feed…
ing for six weeks on purpose kills the dragon。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Billy。
After he was left alone； there were people
passing on horses and afoot； in coaches and
chaises； in carriages and in wheelbarrows； all
going to see the great sight。 And all asked
Billy why he was not on his way。 But Billy
said he didn't care about going。
When the last passer…by was out of sight；
Billy ran and dressed himself in his master's
best suit of clothes； took the brown mare from
the stable； and was off to the king's town。
When he came there； he saw a big round
place with great high seats built up around it；
and all the people sitting there。 Down in the
midst was the champion； walking up and down
proudly； with two men behind him to carry
his heavy sword。 And up in the centre of the
seats was the princess； with her maidens； she
was looking very pretty； but nervous。
The fight was about to begin when Billy got
there； and the herald was crying out how the
champion would fight the dragon for the princess's
sake； when suddenly there was heard a
fearsome great roaring； and the people shouted；
〃Here he is now； the dragon！〃
The dragon had more heads than the biggest
of the giants； and fire and smoke came from
every one of them。 And when the champion
saw the creature； he never waited even to take
his sword；he turned and ran； and he never
stopped till he came to a deep well； where he
jumped in and hid himself； up to the neck。
When the princess saw that her champion
was gone； she began wringing her hands； and
crying； 〃Oh； please； kind gentlemen； fight the
dragon； some of you； and keep me from being
eaten！ Will no one fight the dragon for me？〃
But no one stepped up； at all。 And the dragon
made to eat the princess。
Just then； out stepped Billy from the crowd；
with his fine suit of clothes and his hide belt
on him。 〃I'll fight the beast；〃 he says； and
swinging his stick three times round his head；
to give him the strength of a thousand men
besides his own； he walked up to the dragon；
with easy gait。 The princess and all the people
were looking； you may be sure； and the dragon
raged at Billy with all his mouths； and they
at it and fought。 It was a terrible fight； but
in the end Billy Beg had the dragon down； and
he cut off his heads with the sword。
There was great shouting； then； and crying
that the strange champion must come to the
king to be made prince； and to the princess；
to be seen。 But in the midst of the hullabaloo
Billy Begs slips on the brown mare and is off
and away before anyone has seen his face。 But；
quick as he was； he was not so quick but that
the princess caught hold of him as he jumped
on his horse； and he got away with one shoe
left in her hand。 And home he rode； to his
master's house； and had his old clothes on and
the mare in the stable before his master came
back。
When his master came back； he had a great
tale for Billy； how the princess's champion had
run from the dragon； and a strange knight had
come out of the clouds and killed the dragon；
and before anyone could stop him had
disappeared in the sky。 〃Wasn't it wonderful？〃
said the old gentleman to Billy。 〃I should say
so；〃 said Billy to him。
Soon there was proclamation made that the
man who killed the dragon was to be found；
and to be made son of the king and husband
of the princess； for that； everyone should come
up to the king's town and try on the shoe which
the princess had pulled from off the foot of the
strange champion； that he whom it fitted should
be known to be the man。 On the day set； there
was passing of coaches and chaises； of carriages
and wheelbarrows； people on horseback and
afoot； and Billy's master was the first to go。
While Billy was watching； at last came along
a raggedy man。
〃Will you change clothes with me； and I'll
give you boot？〃 said Billy to him。
〃Shame to you to mock a poor raggedy
man！〃 said the raggedy man to Billy。
〃It's no mock；〃 said Billy； and he changed
clothes with the raggedy man； and gave him
boot。
When Billy came to the king's town； in his
dreadful old clothes； no one knew him for the
champion at all； and none would let him come
forward to try the shoe。 But after all had tried；
Billy spoke up that he wanted to try。 They
laughed at him； and pushed him back； with
his rags。 But the princess would have it that
he should try。 〃I like his face；〃 said she； 〃let
him try； now。〃
So up stepped Billy； and put on the shoe； and
it fitted him like his own skin。
Then Billy confessed that it was he that
killed the dragon。 And that he was a king's
son。 And they put a velvet suit on him； and
hung a gold chain round his neck； and everyone
said a finer…looking boy they'd never seen。
So Billy married the princess； and was the
prince of that place。
THE LITTLE HERO OF HAARLEM＇1＇
＇1＇ Told from memory of the story told me when a child。
A long way off； across the ocean； there is a
little country where the ground is lower than
the level of the sea； instead of higher； as it is
here。 Of course the water would run in and
cover the land and houses； if something were
not done to keep it out。 But something is done。
The people build great； thick walls all round
the country； and the walls keep the sea out。
You see how much depends on those walls；
the good crops； the houses； and even the safety
of the people。 Even the small children in that
country know that an accident to one of the
walls is a terrible thing。 These walls are really
great banks； as wide as roads； and they are
called 〃dikes。〃
Once there was a little boy who lived in that
country； whose name was Hans。 One day； he
took his little brother out to play。 They went
a long way out of the town； and came to where
there were no houses； but ever so many flowers
and green fields。 By…and…by； Hans climbed up
on the dike； and sat down； the little brother
was playing about at the foot of the bank。
Suddenly the little brother called out； 〃Oh；
what a funny little hole！ It bubbles！〃
〃Hole？ Where？〃 said Hans。
〃Here in the bank；〃 said the little brother；
〃water's in it。〃
〃What！〃 said Hans； and he slid down as
fast as he could to where his brother was playing。
There was the tiniest little hole i