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dragon sat brooding in the cave on the Downs was naturally a subject for
talk。 Though the villagers were extremely frightened； they were rather
proud as well。 It was a distinction to have a dragon of your own； and it
was felt to be a feather in the cap of the village。 Still； all were agreed
that this sort of thing couldn't be allowed to go on。
The dreadful beast must be exterminated； the country…side must be
freed from this pest； this terror； this destroying scourge。 The fact that not
even a hen roost was the worse for the dragon's arrival wasn't allowed to
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have anything to do with it。 He was a dragon； and he couldn't deny it；
and if he didn't choose to behave as such that was his own lookout。 But
in spite of much valiant talk no hero was found willing to take sword and
spear and free the suffering village and win deathless fame； and each
night's heated discussion always ended in nothing。 Meanwhile the
dragon； a happy Bohemian； lolled on the turf； enjoyed the sunsets； told
antediluvian anecdotes to the Boy； and polished his old verses while
meditating on fresh ones。
One day the Boy； on walking in to the village； found everything
wearing a festal appearance which was not to be accounted for in the
calendar。 Carpets and gay…coloured stuffs were hung out of the windows；
the church…bells clamoured noisily； the little street was flower…strewn； and
the whole population jostled each other along either side of it； chattering；
shoving； and ordering each other to stand back。 The Boy saw a friend of
his own age in the crowd and hailed him。
〃What's up？〃 he cried。 〃Is it the players； or bears； or a circus； or
what？〃
〃It's all right；〃 his friend hailed back。 〃He's a…coming。〃
〃WHO'S a…coming？〃 demanded the Boy； thrusting into the throng。
〃Why； St。 George； of course；〃 replied his friend。 〃He's heard tell of
our dragon； and he's comin' on purpose to slay the deadly beast； and free
us from his horrid yoke。 O my！ won't there be a jolly fight！〃
Here was news indeed！ The Boy felt that he ought to make quite sure
for himself； and he wriggled himself in between the legs of his good…
natured elders； abusing them all the time for their unmannerly habit of
shoving。 Once in the front rank； he breathlessly awaited the arrival。
Presently from the far…away end of the line came the sound of cheering。
Next； the measured tramp of a great war…horse made his heart beat quicker；
and then he found himself cheering with the rest； as； amidst welcoming
shouts； shrill cries of women； uplifting of babies and waving of
handkerchiefs； St。 George paced slowly up the street。 The Boy's heart
stood still and he breathed with sobs； the beauty and the grace of the hero
were so far beyond anything he had yet seen。 His fluted armour was
inlaid with gold； his plumed helmet hung at his saddle…bow； and his thick
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fair hair framed a face gracious and gentle beyond expression till you
caught the sternness in his eyes。 He drew rein in front of the little inn；
and the villagers crowded round with greetings and thanks and voluble
statements of their wrongs and grievances and oppressions。 The Boy
heard the grave gentle voice of the Saint； assuring them that all would be
well now； and that he would stand by them and see them righted and free
them from their foe； then he dismounted and passed through the doorway
and the crowd poured in after him。 But the Boy made off up the hill as
fast as he could lay his legs to the ground。
〃It's all up； dragon！〃 he shouted as soon as he was within sight of the
beast。 〃He's coming！ He's here now！ You'll have to pull yourself
together and DO something at last！〃
The dragon was licking his scales and rubbing them with a bit of
house…flannel the Boy's mother had lent him； till he shone like a great
turquoise。
〃Don't be VIOLENT； Boy；〃 he said without looking round。 〃Sit
down and get your breath； and try and remember that the noun governs the
verb； and then perhaps you'll be good enough to tell me WHO'S coming？〃
〃That's right； take it coolly；〃 said the Boy。 〃Hope you'll be half as
cool when I've got through with my news。 It's only St。 George who's
coming； that's all； he rode into the village half… an…hour ago。 Of course
you can lick hima great big fellow like you！ But I thought I'd warn you；
'cos he's sure to be round early； and he's got the longest； wickedest…looking
spear you ever did see！〃 And the Boy got up and began to jump round in
sheer delight at the prospect of the battle。
〃O deary； deary me；〃 moaned the dragon； 〃this is too awful。 I won't
see him； and that's flat。 I don't want to know the fellow at all。 I'm sure
he's not nice。 You must tell him to go away at once； please。 Say he can
write if he likes； but I can't give him an interview。 I'm not seeing
anybody at present。〃
〃Now dragon； dragon；〃 said the Boy imploringly； 〃don't be perverse
and wrongheaded。 You've GOT to fight him some time or other； you
know； 'cos he's St。 George and you're the dragon。 Better get it over； and
then we can go on with the sonnets。 And you ought to consider other
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people a little； too。 If it's been dull up here for you； think how dull it's
been for me！〃
〃My dear little man；〃 said the dragon solemnly； 〃just understand； once
for all； that I can't fight and I won't fight。 I've never fought in my life；
and I'm not going to begin now； just to give you a Roman holiday。 In old
days I always let the other fellowsthe EARNEST fellowsdo all the
fighting； and no doubt that's why I have the pleasure of being here now。〃
〃Bu