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The Reluctant Dragon
Nowdon’tyouthinkthatafterallthesimplestplanwouldbejusttofightitout,accordingtotherules,andletthebestmanwin?They’rebettingonyou,Imaytellyou,downinthevillage,butIdon’tmindthat!”
“Oh,yes,DO,dragon,”saidtheBoy,delightedly;“it’llsavesuchalotofbother!”
“Myyoungfriend,youshutup,”saidthedragonseverely.“Believeme,St.George,”hewenton,“there’snobodyintheworldI’dsoonerobligethanyouandthisyounggentlemanhere.Butthewholething’snonsense,andconventionality,andpopularthick-headedness.There’sabsolutelynothingtofightabout,frombeginningtoend.AndanyhowI’mnotgoingto,sothatsettlesit!”
“ButsupposingImakeyou?”saidSt.George,rathernettled.
“Youcan’t,”saidthedragon,triumphantly.“IshouldonlygointomycaveandretireforatimedowntheholeIcameup.You’dsoongetheartilysickofsittingoutsideandwaitingformetocomeoutandfightyou.Andassoonasyou’dreallygoneaway,why,I’dcomeupagaingaily,forItellyoufrankly,Ilikethisplace,andI’mgoingtostayhere!”
St.Georgegazedforawhileonthefairlandscapearoundthem.“Butthiswouldbeabeautifulplaceforafight,”hebeganagainpersuasively.“ThesegreatbarerollingDownsforthearena,—andmeinmygoldenarmourshowingupagainstyourbigbluescalycoils!Thinkwhatapictureitwouldmake!”
“Nowyou’retryingtogetatmethroughmyartisticsensibilities,”saidthedragon.“Butitwon’twork.
