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Billy ran and dressed himself in his master's
best suit of clothes； took the brown mare from
the stable； and was off to the king's town。
When he came there； he saw a big round
place with great high seats built up around it；
and all the people sitting there。 Down in the
midst was the champion； walking up and down
proudly； with two men behind him to carry
his heavy sword。 And up in the centre of the
seats was the princess； with her maidens； she
was looking very pretty； but nervous。
The fight was about to begin when Billy got
there； and the herald was crying out how the
champion would fight the dragon for the princess's
sake； when suddenly there was heard a
fearsome great roaring； and the people shouted；
〃Here he is now； the dragon！〃
The dragon had more heads than the biggest
of the giants； and fire and smoke came from
every one of them。 And when the champion
saw the creature； he never waited even to take
his sword；he turned and ran； and he never
stopped till he came to a deep well； where he
jumped in and hid himself； up to the neck。
When the princess saw that her champion
was gone； she began wringing her hands； and
crying； 〃Oh； please； kind gentlemen； fight the
dragon； some of you； and keep me from being
eaten！ Will no one fight the dragon for me？〃
But no one stepped up； at all。 And the dragon
made to eat the princess。
Just then； out stepped Billy from the crowd；
with his fine suit of clothes and his hide belt
on him。 〃I'll fight the beast；〃 he says； and
swinging his stick three times round his head；
to give him the strength of a thousand men
besides his own； he walked up to the dragon；
with easy gait。 The princess and all the people
were looking； you may be sure； and the dragon
raged at Billy with all his mouths； and they
at it and fought。 It was a terrible fight； but
in the end Billy Beg had the dragon down； and
he cut off his heads with the sword。
There was great shouting； then； and crying
that the strange champion must come to the
king to be made prince； and to the princess；
to be seen。 But in the midst of the hullabaloo
Billy Begs slips on the brown mare and is off
and away before anyone has seen his face。 But；
quick as he was； he was not so quick but that
the princess caught hold of him as he jumped
on his horse； and he got away with one shoe
left in her hand。 And home he rode； to his
master's house； and had his old clothes on and
the mare in the stable before his master came
back。
When his master came back； he had a great
tale for Billy； how the princess's champion had
run from the dragon； and a strange knight had
come out of the clouds and killed the dragon；
and before anyone could stop him had
disappeared in the sky。 〃Wasn't it wonderful？〃
said the old gentleman to Billy。 〃I should say
so；〃 said Billy to him。
Soon there was proclamation made that the
man who killed the dragon was to be found；
and to be made son of the king and husband
of the princess； for that； everyone should come
up to the king's town and try on the shoe which
the princess had pulled from off the foot of the
strange champion； that he whom it fitted should
be known to be the man。 On the day set； there
was passing of coaches and chaises； of carriages
and wheelbarrows； people on horseback and
afoot； and Billy's master was the first to go。
While Billy was watching； at last came along
a raggedy man。
〃Will you change clothes with me； and I'll
give you boot？〃 said Billy to him。
〃Shame to you to mock a poor raggedy
man！〃 said the raggedy man to Billy。
〃It's no mock；〃 said Billy； and he changed
clothes with the raggedy man； and gave him
boot。
When Billy came to the king's town； in his
dreadful old clothes； no one knew him for the
champion at all； and none would let him come
forward to try the shoe。 But after all had tried；
Billy spoke up that he wanted to try。 They
laughed at him； and pushed him back； with
his rags。 But the princess would have it that
he should try。 〃I like his face；〃 said she； 〃let
him try； now。〃
So up stepped Billy； and put on the shoe； and
it fitted him like his own skin。
Then Billy confessed that it was he that
killed the dragon。 And that he was a king's
son。 And they put a velvet suit on him； and
hung a gold chain round his neck； and everyone
said a finer…looking boy they'd never seen。
So Billy married the princess； and was the
prince of that place。
THE LITTLE HERO OF HAARLEM＇1＇
＇1＇ Told from memory of the story told me when a child。
A long way off； across the ocean； there is a
little country where the ground is lower than
the level of the sea； instead of higher； as it is
here。 Of course the water would run in and
cover the land and houses； if something were
not done to keep it out。 But something is done。
The people build great； thick walls all round
the country； and the walls keep the sea out。
You see how much depends on those walls；
the good crops； the houses； and even the safety
of the people。 Even the small children in that
country know that an accident to one of the
walls is a terrible thing。 These walls are really
great banks； as wide as roads； and they are
called 〃dikes。〃
Once there was a little boy who lived in that
country； whose name was Hans。 One day； he
took his little brother out to play。 They went
a long way out of the town； and came to where
there were no houses； but ever so many flowers
and green fields。 By…and…by； Hans climbed up
on the dike； and sat down； the little brother
was playing about at the foot of the bank。
Suddenly the little brother called out； 〃Oh；
what a funny little hole！ It bubbles！〃
〃Hole？ Where？〃 said Hans。
〃Here in the bank；〃 said the little brother；
〃water's in it。〃
〃What！〃 said Hans； and he slid down as
fast as he could to where his brother was playing。
There was the tiniest little hole in the bank。
Just an air…hole。 A drop of water bubbled
slowly through。
〃It is a hole in the dike！〃 cried Hans。 〃What
shall we do？〃
He looked all round； not a person or a house
in sight。 He looked at the hole； the little
drops oozed steadily through； he knew that
the water would soon break a great gap；
because that tiny hole gave it a chance。 The
town was so far awayif they ran for help it
would be too late； what should he do？ Once
more he looked； the hole was larger； now； and
the water was trickling。
Suddenly a thought came to Hans。 He stuck
his little forefinger right into the hole； where it
fitted tight； and he said to his little brother；
〃Run； Dieting！ Go to the town and tell the
men there's a hole in the dike。 Tell them I will
keep it stopped till they get here。〃
The little brother knew by Hans' face that
something very serious was the matter； and he
started for the town； as fast as his legs could
run。 Hans； kneeling with his finger in the hole；
watched him grow smaller and smaller as he got
farther away。
Soon he was as small as a chicken； then he
was only a speck； then he was out of sight。
Hans was alone； his finger tight in the bank。
He could hear the water； slap； slap； slap； on
the stones； and deep down under the slapping
was a gurgling； rumbling sound。 It seemed
very near。
By…and…by； his hand began to feel numb。 He
rubbed it with the other hand； but it got colder
and more numb； colder and more numb； every
minute。 He looked to see if the men were
coming； the road was bare as far as he could
see。 Then the cold began creeping； creeping；
up his arm； first his wrist； then his arm to the
elbow； then his arm to the shoulder； how cold
it was！ And soon it began to ache。 Ugly
little cramp…pains streamed up his finger； up
his palm； up his arm； till they reached into his
shoulder； and down the back of his neck。 It
seemed hours since the little brother went away。
He felt very lonely； and the hurt in his arm
grew and grew。 He watched the road with all
his eyes； but no one came in sight。 Then he
leaned his head against the dike； to rest his
shoulder。
As his ear touched the dike； he heard the
voice of the great sea； murmuring。 The sound
seemed to say；
〃I am the great sea。 No one can stand
against me。 What are you； a little child； that
you try to keep me out？ Beware！ Beware！〃
Hans' heart beat in heavy knocks。 Would
they never come？ He was frightened。
And the water went on beating at the wall；
and murmuring； 〃I will come through； I will
come through； I will get you； I will get you；
runrunbefore I come through！〃
Hans started to pull out his finger； he was so
frightened that he felt as if he must run for ever。
But that minute he remembered how much
depended on him； if he pulled out his finger； the
water would surely make the hole bigger；