supply the practical knowledge； and he the book…learning。 They knew
that book…learning often came in useful at a pinch； in spite of what their
neighbours said。 What the Boy chiefly dabbled in was natural history
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and fairy…tales； and he just took them as they came； in a sandwichy sort of
way； without making any distinctions； and really his course of reading
strikes one as rather sensible。
One evening the shepherd； who for some nights past had been
disturbed and preoccupied； and off his usual mental balance； came home
all of a tremble； and； sitting down at the table where his wife and son were
peacefully employed； she with her seam； he in following out the
adventures of the Giant with no Heart in his Body； exclaimed with much
agitation：
〃It's all up with me； Maria！ Never no more can I go up on them there
Downs； was it ever so！〃
〃Now don't you take on like that；〃 said his wife； who was a VERY
sensible woman： 〃but tell us all about it first； whatever it is as has given
you this shake…up； and then me and you and the son here； between us； we
ought to be able to get to the bottom of it！〃
〃It began some nights ago；〃 said the shepherd。 〃You know that cave
up thereI never liked it； somehow； and the sheep never liked it neither；
and when sheep don't like a thing there's generally some reason for it。
Well； for some time past there's been faint noises coming from that cave
noises like heavy sighings； with grunts mixed up in them； and sometimes a
snoring； far away downREAL snoring； yet somehow not HONEST
snoring； like you and me o'nights； you know！〃
〃_I_ know；〃 remarked the Boy； quietly。
〃Of course I was terrible frightened；〃 the shepherd went on； 〃yet
somehow I couldn't keep away。 So this very evening； before I come
down； I took a cast round by the cave； quietly。 And thereO Lord！ there
I saw him at last； as plain as I see you！〃
〃Saw WHO？〃 said his wife； beginning to share in her husband's
nervous terror。
〃Why HIM； I'm a telling you！〃 said the shepherd。 〃He was sticking
half…way out of the cave； and seemed to be enjoying of the cool of the
evening in a poetical sort of way。 He was as big as four cart…horses； and
all covered with shiny scalesdeep…blue scales at the top of him； shading
off to a tender sort o' green below。 As he breathed； there was that sort of
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flicker over his nostrils that you see over our chalk roads on a baking
windless day in summer。 He had his chin on his paws； and I should say
he was meditating about things。 Oh； yes； a peaceable sort o' beast
enough； and not ramping or carrying on or doing anything but what was
quite right and proper。 I admit all that。 And yet； what am I to do？
SCALES； you know； and claws； and a tail for certain； though I didn't see
that end of himI ain't USED to 'em； and I don't HOLD with 'em； and
that's a fact！〃
The Boy； who had apparently been absorbed in his book during his
father's recital； now closed the volume； yawned； clasped his hands behind
his head； and said sleepily：
〃It's all right； father。 Don't you worry。 It's only a dragon。〃
〃Only a dragon？〃 cried his father。 〃What do you mean； sitting there；
you and your dragons？ ONLY a dragon indeed！ And what do YOU
know about it？〃
〃'Cos it IS； and 'cos I DO know；〃 replied the Boy； quietly。 〃Look here；
father； you know we've each of us got our line。 YOU know about sheep；
and weather； and things； _I_ know about dragons。 I always said； you
know； that that cave up there was a dragon…cave。 I always said it must
have belonged to a dragon some time； and ought to belong to a dragon
now； if rules count for anything。 Well； now you tell me it HAS got a
dragon； and so THAT'S all right。 I'm not half as much surprised as when
you told me it HADN'T got a dragon。 Rules always come right if you
wait quietly。 Now； please； just leave this all to me。 And I'll stroll up to…
morrow morningno； in the morning I can't； I've got a whole heap of
things to dowell； perhaps in the evening； if I'm quite free； I'll go up and
have a talk to him； and you'll find it'll be all right。 Only； please； don't you
go worrying round there without me。 You don't understand 'em a bit； and
they're very sensitive； you know！〃
〃He's quite right； father；〃 said the sensible mother。 〃As he says；
dragons is his line and not ours。 He's wonderful knowing about book…
beasts； as every one allows。 And to tell the truth； I'm not half happy in
my own mind； thinking of that poor animal lying alone up there； without a
bit o' hot supper or anyone to change the news with； and maybe we'll be
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able to do something for him； and if he ain't quite respectable our Boy'll
find it out quick enough。 He's got a pleasant sort o' way with him that
makes everybody tell him everything。〃
Next day； after he'd had his tea； the Boy strolled up the chalky track
that led to the summit of the Downs； and there； sure enough； he found the
dragon； stretched lazily on the sward in front of his cave。 The view from
that point was a magnificent one。 To the right and left； the bare and
billowy leagues of Downs； in front； the vale； with its clustered homesteads；
its threads of white roads running through orchards and well… tilled
acreage； and； far away； a hint of grey old cities on the horizon。 A cool
breeze played over the surface of the grass and the silver shoulder of a
large moon was showing above distant junipers。 No wonder the dragon
seemed in a peaceful and contented mood； indeed； as the Boy approached
he could hear the beast purring with a happy regularity。 〃Well； we live
and learn！〃 he said to himself。 〃None of my books ever told me that
dragons purred！〃
〃Hullo； dragon！〃 said the Boy； quietly； when he had got up to him。
The dragon； on hearing the approaching footsteps； made the beginning
of a courteous effort to rise。 But when he saw it was a Boy； he set his
eyebrows severely。
〃Now don't you hit me；〃 he said； 〃or bung stones； or squirt water； or
anything。 I won't have it； I tell you！〃
〃Not goin' to hit you；〃 said the Boy wearily； dropping on the grass
beside the beast： 〃and don't； for goodness' sake； keep on saying ‘Don't；' I
hear so much of it； and it's monotonous； and makes me tired。 I've simply
looked in to ask you how you were and all that sort of thing； but if I'm in
the way I can easily clear out。 I've lots of friends； and no one can say I'm
in the habit of shoving myself in where I'm not wanted！〃
〃No； no； don't go off in a huff；〃 said the dragon； hastily； 〃fact is；I'm
as happy up here as the day's long； never without an occupation； dear
fellow； never without an occupation！ And yet； between ourselves； it IS a
trifle dull at times。〃
The Boy bit off a stalk of grass and chewed it。 〃Going to make a
long stay here？〃 he asked； politely。
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〃Can't hardly say at present；〃 replied the dragon。 〃It seems a nice
place enoughbut I've only been here a short time； and one must look
about and reflect and consider before settling down。 It's rather a serious
thing； settling down。 Besidesnow I'm going to tell you something！
You'd never guess it if you tried ever so！fact is； I'