Дни грёз
The Reluctant Dragon
George,ashetookthehintandrosetogo;“Imeanramping,andbreathingfire,andsoon!”
“IcanRAMPallright,”repliedthedragon,confidently;“astobreathingfire,it’ssurprisinghoweasilyonegetsoutofpractice,butI’lldothebestIcan.Goodnight!”
Theyhaddescendedthehillandwerealmostbackinthevillageagain,whenSt.Georgestoppedshort,“KNEWIhadforgottensomething,”hesaid.“ThereoughttobeaPrincess.Terror-strickenandchainedtoarock,andallthatsortofthing.Boy,can’tyouarrangeaPrincess?”
TheBoywasinthemiddleofatremendousyawn.“I’mtiredtodeath,”hewailed,“andICAN’TarrangeaPrincess,oranythingmore,atthistimeofnight.Andmymother’ssittingup,andDOstopaskingmetoarrangemorethingstilltomorrow!”
NextmorningthepeoplebeganstreaminguptotheDownsatquiteanearlyhour,intheirSundayclothesandcarryingbasketswithbottle-necksstickingoutofthem,everyoneintentonsecuringgoodplacesforthecombat.Thiswasnotexactlyasimplematter,forofcourseitwasquitepossiblethatthedragonmightwin,andinthatcaseeventhosewhohadputtheirmoneyonhimfelttheycouldhardlyexpecthimtodealwithhisbackersonadifferentfootingtotherest.Placeswerechosen,therefore,withcircumspectionandwithaviewtoaspeedyretreatincaseofemergency;andthefrontrankwasmostlycomposedofboyswhohadescapedfromparentalcontrolandnowsprawledandrolledaboutonthegrass,regardlessoftheshrillthreatsandwarningsdischargedatthembytheiranxiousmothersbehind.
