30 DBAGONS 



a couple of English dogs — bull-dogs, in all probability. 

 He now taught his servants how to make the tow 

 dragon imitate the movements of the real dragon ; that 

 is to say, they snapped its jaws, and made it lash its 

 tail about and flap its wings ; all this they did by means 

 of ropes. Next he mounted his horse and brought his 

 dogs into action, setting them at the sham dragon, and 

 exciting them with cries, until their rage knew no bounds ; 

 hardly did they set eyes upon it, when they flew at it to 

 tear it in pieces. These exercises went on for the space 

 of two months, at the end of which De Gozon, consider- 

 ing his men and dogs sufficiently well drilled, returned 

 to the city. Arrived there be lost no time in carrying 

 out bis project ; arming himself with breastplate, lance 

 and sword, he went to the church of St. Stephen, which 

 was near the monster's den, and prayed, devout knight 

 as he was, that his enterprise might be crowned with 

 success. He then gave particular instructions to his 

 servants as to what they were to do : they were to watch 

 the battle from a lofty rock, and if the creature won, they 

 were to escape as best they could ; but if he slew the 

 dragon, they were to hasten to his aid, for it was only 

 too likely that even victory would cost him dear, and that 

 he would stand sadly in need of such remedies as they 

 could bring. 



All was now ready ; so the Knight, entering the cave, 

 began to screech and yell lustily in order to wake up the 

 dragon and annoy it ; then, rushing out himself, he 

 mounted his charger, and awaited the attack on a piece of 

 level ground. He did not have long to wait ; scarcely 

 was he mounted when the sound of the well-known 

 hissing was heard, and the clattering of the huge plate- 

 like scales warned him that tne monster was after him in 

 full cry — and, indeed, as it came at him, partly running, 

 partly flying, the creature itself thought it saw in the bold 

 Knight an opportunity not lightly to be missed ; for all 

 was grist that came to its mill — flocks, herds, horses, and 



