Дни грёз

           Itstretchedawayunbrokenoneverysideofus,thismysterioussoftgarmentunderwhichourfamiliarworldhadsosuddenlyhiddenitself.Faintimprintsshowedwhereacasualbirdhadalighted,butofothertraffictherewasnexttonosign;whichmadethesestrangetracksallthemorepuzzling.

           Wecameacrossthemfirstatthecorneroftheshrubbery,andporedoverthemlong,ourhandsonourknees.Experiencedtrappersthatweknewourselvestobe,itwasannoyingtobebroughtupsuddenlybyabeastwecouldnotatonceidentify.

           “Don’tyouknow?”saidCharlotte,ratherscornfully.“Thoughtyouknewallthebeaststhateverwas.”

           Thisputmeonmymettle,andIhastilyrattledoffastringofanimalnamesembracingboththearcticandthetropiczones,butwithoutmuchrealconfidence.

           “No,”saidCharlotte,onconsideration;“theywon’tanyof’emquitedo.SeemslikesomethingLIZARDY.Didyousayaiguanodon?Mightbethat,p’raps.Butthat’snotBritish,andwewantarealBritishbeast.Ithinkit’sadragon!”

           “’Tisn’thalfbigenough,”Iobjected.

           “Well,alldragonsmustbesmalltobeginwith,”saidCharlotte:“likeeverythingelse.P’rapsthisisalittledragonwho’sgotlost.Alittledragonwouldberathernicetohave.Hemightscratchandspit,buthecouldn’tDOanythingreally.Let’strackhimdown!”

           Sowesetoffintothewidesnow-cladworld,handinhand,ourheartsbigwithexpectation,—complacentlyconfidentthatbyafewsmudgytracesinthesnowwewereinafairwaytocaptureahalf-grownspecimenofafabulousbeast.