DRAGONS 25 



to observe accurately, and indeed was nearly fainting ; 

 but when he recovered, he found in a meadow a mass of 

 what appeared to be solid blood. Enclosed in this was a 

 stone of many colours ; this stone turned out to be of 

 priceless value, for it was a certain cure for every disease 

 under the sun ; and more especially for such as were 

 caused by poison or bad air of any kind ; it was still in 

 Lucerne at the time the author wrote. 



Another man of that city, called Victor, saw a still 

 stranger thing on Mount Pilatus. He was a cooper by 

 trade, and one day, when out looking for wood wherewith 

 to make his casks, he lost his way in the recesses of 

 these Alpine rocks and forests. All day long he wandered 

 about, until, at twilight, as he was just about to lie down 

 and rest, he fell into a deep chasm which, owing to the 

 failing light, he had not noticed. Fortunately he fell 

 into some soft mud at the bottom, but though he broke 

 no bones, he fainted. When he recovered, and began to 

 look round, he discovered that there were absolutely no 

 means of escape. The hole was as deep as a well, with 

 steep sides which could not be scaled. Stretching along 

 the whole length of this cavern, and on either side, were 

 other tunnel-like openings, a succession of smaller caves; 

 into one of which he was about to enter when, lo ! two 

 dragons came forth from it, and he supposed that his last 

 hour was at hand. The creatures, however, offered him 

 no violence ; they were inquisitive, it is true, wondering, 

 no doubt, what sort of new companion this was, who had 

 found his way into their dwelling ; but all they did was 

 to rub themselves against the man's body, caressing him, 

 as it were, with their long necks and with their tails, just 

 like a purring cat. For six months Victor lived in this 

 underground cavern. ' But what did ho live on? ' you may 

 ask, with Alice, when the Dormouse told his story of 

 Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie in the well. These three sisters, 

 you may remember, lived upon treacle, which was 

 sweet, if unwholesome ; but the Lucerne man's diet was 



