Дни грёз
The Reluctant Dragon
Thedramaticpossibilitiesofthethinghadtickledthedragonimmensely,andhehadbeenupfromanearlyhour,preparingforhisfirstpublicappearancewithasmuchheartinessasiftheyearshadrunbackwards,andhehadbeenagainalittledragonlet,playingwithhissistersontheflooroftheirmother’scave,atthegameofsaints-and-dragons,inwhichthedragonwasboundtowin.
Alowmuttering,mingledwithsnorts,nowmadeitselfheard;risingtoabellowingroarthatseemedtofilltheplain.Thenacloudofsmokeobscuredthemouthofthecave,andoutofthemidstofitthedragonhimself,shining,sea-blue,magnificent,prancedsplendidlyforth;andeverybodysaid,“Oo-oo-oo!”asifhehadbeenamightyrocket!Hisscaleswereglittering,hislongspikytaillashedhissides,hisclawstoreuptheturfandsentitflyinghighoverhisback,andsmokeandfireincessantlyjettedfromhisangrynostrils.“Oh,welldone,dragon!”criedtheBoy,excitedly.“Didn’tthinkhehaditinhim!”headdedtohimself.
St.Georgeloweredhisspear,benthishead,dughisheelsintohishorse’ssides,andcamethunderingovertheturf.Thedragonchargedwitharoarandasqueal,—agreatbluewhirlingcombinationofcoilsandsnortsandclashingjawsandspikesandfire.
“Missed!”yelledthecrowd.Therewasamoment’sentanglementofgoldenarmourandblue-greencoils,andspikytail,andthenthegreathorse,tearingathisbit,carriedtheSaint,hisspearswunghighintheair,almostuptothemouthofthecave.
Thedragonsatdownandbarkedviciously,whileSt.
