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The dragon was employing the interval in giving a ramping…
performance for the benefit of the crowd。 Ramping； it should be
explained； consists in running round and round in a wide circle； and
sending waves and ripples of movement along the whole length of your
spine； from your pointed ears right down to the spike at the end of your
long tail。 When you are covered with blue scales； the effect is
particularly pleasing； and the Boy recollected the dragon's recently
expressed wish to become a social success。
St。 George now gathered up his reins and began to move forward；
dropping the point of his spear and settling himself firmly in the saddle。
〃Time！〃 yelled everybody excitedly； and the dragon； leaving off his
ramping； sat up on end； and began to leap from one side to the other with
huge ungainly bounds； whooping like a Red Indian。 This naturally
disconcerted the horse； who swerved violently； the Saint only just saving
himself by the mane； and as they shot past the dragon delivered a vicious
snap at the horse's tail which sent the poor beast careering madly far over
the Downs； so that the language of the Saint； who had lost a stirrup； was
fortunately inaudible to the general assemblage。
Round Two evoked audible evidence of friendly feeling towards the
dragon。 The spectators were not slow to appreciate a combatant who
could hold his own so well and clearly wanted to show good sport； and
many encouraging remarks reached the ears of our friend as he strutted to
and fro； his chest thrust out and his tail in the air； hugely enjoying his new
popularity。
St。 George had dismounted and was tightening his girths； and telling
his horse； with quite an Oriental flow of imagery； exactly what he thought
of him； and his relations； and his conduct on the present occasion； so the
Boy made his way down to the Saint's end of the line； and held his spear
for him。
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〃It's been a jolly fight； St。 George！〃 he said with a sigh。 〃Can't you
let it last a bit longer？〃
〃Well； I think I'd better not；〃 replied the Saint。 〃The fact is； your
simple…minded old friend's getting conceited； now they've begun cheering
him； and he'll forget all about the arrangement and take to playing the fool；
and there's no telling where he would stop。 I'll just finish him off this
round。〃
He swung himself into the saddle and took his spear from the Boy。
〃Now don't you be afraid；〃 he added kindly。 〃I've marked my spot
exactly； and HE'S sure to give me all the assistance in his power； because
he knows it's his only chance of being asked to the banquet！〃
St。 George now shortened his spear； bringing the butt well up under his
arm； and； instead of galloping as before； trotted smartly towards the
dragon； who crouched at his approach； flicking his tail till it cracked in the
air like a great cart… whip。 The Saint wheeled as he neared his opponent
and circled warily round him； keeping his eye on the spare place； while the
dragon； adopting similar tactics； paced with caution round the same circle；
occasionally feinting with his head。 So the two sparred for an opening；
while the spectators maintained a breathless silence。
Though the round lasted for some minutes； the end was so swift that
all the Boy saw was a lightning movement of the Saint's arm； and then a
whirl and a confusion of spines； claws； tail； and flying bits of turf。 The
dust cleared away； the spectators whooped and ran in cheering； and the
Boy made out that the dragon was down； pinned to the earth by the spear；
while St。 George had dismounted； and stood astride of him。
It all seemed so genuine that the Boy ran in breathlessly； hoping the
dear old dragon wasn't really hurt。 As he approached； the dragon lifted
one large eyelid； winked solemnly； and collapsed again。 He was held fast
to earth by the neck； but the Saint had hit him in the spare place agreed
upon； and it didn't even seem to tickle。
〃Bain't you goin' to cut 'is 'ed orf； master？〃 asked one of the
applauding crowd。 He had backed the dragon； and naturally felt a trifle
sore。
〃Well； not TO…DAY； I think；〃 replied St。 George； pleasantly。 〃You
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see； that can be done at ANY time。 There's no hurry at all。 I think we'll
all go down to the village first； and have some refreshment； and then I'll
give him a good talking…to； and you'll find he'll be a very different
dragon！〃
At that magic word REFRESHMENT the whole crowd formed up in
procession and silently awaited the signal to start。 The time for talking
and cheering and betting was past； the hour for action had arrived。 St。
George； hauling on his spear with both hands； released the dragon； who
rose and shook himself and ran his eye over his spikes and scales and
things； to see that they were all in order。 Then the Saint mounted and led
off the procession； the dragon following meekly in the company of the
Boy； while the thirsty spectators kept at a respectful interval behind。
There were great doings when they got down to the village again； and
had formed up in front of the inn。 After refreshment St。 George made a
speech； in which he informed his audience that he had removed their
direful scourge； at a great deal of trouble and inconvenience to him…self；
and now they weren't to go about grumbling and fancying they'd got
grievances； because they hadn't。 And they shouldn't be so fond of fights；
because next time they might have to do the fighting themselves； which
would not be the same thing at all。 And there was a certain badger in the
inn stables which had got to be released at once； and he'd come and see it
done himself。 Then he told them that the dragon had been thinking over
things； and saw that there were two sides to every question； and he wasn't
going to do it any more； and if they were good perhaps he'd stay and settle
down there。 So they must make friends； and not be prejudiced and go
about fancying they knew everything there was to be known； because they
didn't； not by a long way。 And he warned them against the sin of
romancing； and making up stories and fancying other people would
believe them just because they were plausible and highly… coloured。
Then he sat down； amidst much repentant cheering； and the dragon
nudged the Boy in the ribs and whispered that he couldn't have done it
better himself。 Then every one went off to get ready for the banquet。
Banquets are always pleasant things； consisting mostly； as they do； of
eating and drinking； but the specially nice thing about a banquet is； that it
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comes when something's over； and there's nothing more to worry about；
and to…morrow seems a long way off。 St George was happy because
there had been a fight and he hadn't had to kill anybody； for he didn't
really like killing； though he generally had to do it。 The dragon was
happy because there had been a fight； and so far from being hurt in it he
had won popularity and a sure footing in society。 The Boy was happy
because there had been a fight； and in spite of it all his two friends were on
the best of terms。 And all the others were happy because there had been
a fight； andwell； they didn't require any other reasons for their happiness。
The dragon exerted himself to say the right thing to everybody； and proved
the life and soul of the evening； while the Saint and the Boy； as they
looked on； felt that they were only assisting at a feast of which the honour
and the glory were entirely the dragon's。 But they didn'