DRAGONS 



31 



men, as we have already seen. De Gozon hurled his 

 spear at the beast, but the shaft shivered into a hun- 

 dred pieces against the hard scales, so that, thus early, 

 in the fight, he lost the use of one of his best weapons. 

 But the dogs now made a diversion in his favour, for by 

 worrying the monster on this side and on that, they so 

 engaged its attention that the Knight had time to dis- 



DE GOZON AND HIS DOGS FIGHT THE DRAGON 



mount, and make ready with sword and shield for a 

 combat on foot. Bearing itself up on its hind legs, the 

 dragon endeavoured, as a bear will do, to hug its enemy 

 to death, but it now exposed the under surface of its neck 

 (which was comparatively unprotected by scales) to the 

 attack of De Gozon. In an instant he thrust his sword 

 into its throat ; a deluge of blood gushed out ; the 

 monster tottered, and fell ; but in its fall crushed to the 



