Memory Lane Monday ✨ The Dragons Tail

Before we begin, I would like you to close your eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply. Take a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your breath for a few seconds more, and then release and breathe out. Do this a few times if you need to. While you listen to the music and you listen to my voice, give yourself time to let your body relax and your mind settle. It's important that we allow time for us to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease. And now it's time for this week's story.

because they have nothing of the sort in America. Moreover, many of them are Germans by birth and have heard stories of the Wartburg, that beautiful old castle which, from the summit of a hill surrounded by woods, overlooks the town of Eisenach. The Wartburg is quaintly built, with dear little turrets and gables and high towers, a long curving wall with dark beams like the peasant cottages, and windows looking out into the forest. It belongs at present to

the Grand Duke of sachsen Weimar Eisenach. Every stone and corner of the Wartburg is connected with some old story or legend. For instance, there is the hall with the raised dais at one end and beautiful pillars surrounding the roof, where menacingers of old times used to hold their great

musical festivals. As we should say nowadays, there was keen competition for the prizes that were offered and reward for the best music and songs, and the castle are also the rooms of Saint Elizabeth, that sweet saint who was so good to the poor, and who suffered so terribly herself in parting from her husband and children. Then there's the lion on the roof, who could tell a fine tale if he chose the great banqueting hall, and the

little chapel. On the top of the tower is a beautiful cross that is lit up at night by electric light and can be seen from a great distance in the country. This is, of course a modern addition. But the most interesting room in the castle is that where doctor Martha and Luther spend his time translating the Bible. Our reward had been offered to anyone who should kill this arch heretic, so his friends brought him disguised as a knight to the Wartburg, and very few people knew

of his whereabouts. As you look through the latticed windows of that little room, the exquisite blue and purple hills of the Thuringen walled stretch away in the distance, and no human habitation is to be seen. There. Too, you may see the famous spot on the wall where Luther threw the inkpot at the devil. To be correct, you can see the hole where the ink stain used to be, for visitors have cut away every trace of the ink,

and even portions of the old wooden bedstead. There is the writing desk with the translation of the Bible, and the remarkable footstool that consisted of the bone of a mammoth. Those were the days in which a man risked his life for his faith. But they were the days also we must remember of witchcraft and magic. One other story of the Wartburg I must narrate in order to give you some idea of the interest that still surrounds this

place and influences the children who grow up there. It was in the days of the old Emperor Barbarossa Redbeard. The sister of the Emperor, whose name was Utah, was married to the landgraf Ludwig of Thuringen, and they lived at the Wartburg. One day, when Barbarossa came to visit them, he observed that the castle had no outer walls round it, as was usual in those days. What a pity, he said, that such a fine castle should be unprotected by walls

and ramparts. It ought to be more strongly fortified. Oh, said Langraf Ludwig. If that is all the castle needs. It can soon have them? How soon, said the emperor mockingly, in the space of three days, answered his brother in law. That could only be possible with the aid of the devil, said Barbarossa, Otherwise it could not be done. Wait and see for yourself, said the land Graf. On the third day of his visit, Ludwig said to the Emperor, would you care to see the walls? They are finished now.

Barbarossa crossed himself several times and prepared for some fearful manifestation of black magic. But what was his surprise to see a living wall round the castle of Stout peasants and burghers ready armed with weapons in their hands. The banners of well known knights and lords waved their penance in the wind where battlements should have been. The Emperor was much astonished and called out many thanks, brother in law, for your lesson stronger walls. I have never seen nor

better fitted together rough stones. They may some of them be, said the Langrath, Yet I can rely on them as you see now. As you may imagine, the children who grow up in this town must have their heads full of these tales, and many poets and artists have been inspired by the beauties of Eisenach. The natural surroundings of the town are so wonderful that they also provide rich material for the imagination. Helmut was a boy who lived in Eisenach. He was eight years old and went to

a day school. He lived outside the town, not far from the entrance to the forest. He was a pale, fair haired little boy and did not look the tremendous hero he fancied himself in his dreams, not even when he buckled on helmet, breastplate and sword and marched out into the street to take his part in the warfare that went on constantly here between the boys of this neighborhood and the boys who belonged to another part of the town. Now, the Dragon's Gorge is a most marvelous place.

It is surrounded on all sides by thick forests, and you come onto it suddenly when walking in the woods. It is a group of huge green rocks like cliffs that stand picturesquely piled close together, towering up to the sky. There is only a very narrow pathway between them. Helmut had often been there with his father and mother, or with other boys after heavy rain or thawing snow, it

became impassable. At the best of times. It was advisable for a lady not to put on her Sunday hat, especially if it were large and had feathers, for the rocks are constantly tripping with water. The great boulders are covered with green moss or tiny fur, and in the springtime wood sorrel grows on them in great patches, the underside of the leaves tinged an exquisite violet or pink color. The entrance to the dragon's gorge is through these rocks.

They narrow and almost meet overhead, obscuring the sky till it seems as if one were walking under the sea. Two persons cannot walk side by side here. In some parts, indeed, one can only just squeeze through the way winds in and out in the most curious manner. There are little side passages too, that you could hardly get into it all. In some places you can hear the water roaring under

your feet. Then the rocks end abruptly, and you come out into the forest again, and hear the birds singing, and see the little brook dancing along by the side of the way. Altogether, it is the most fascinating, wet and delightful walk that you could imagine. Helmut had long been planning an expedition to these rocks in company with other boyfriends, in order to slay the dragon. He dreamt of it day and night until he brought home a bad mark for attention in his school report. He told

his mother about it. She laughed and said he might leave the poor old fellow alone. There were plenty of dragons to slay at home. Self will, disobedience inattention, and so on. She made a momentary impression on the little boy, who always wanted to be good, but found it difficult at times. Curious to say to carry out his intention, he looked thoughtful and answered, of course, mother, I know, but this time I want to slay a really and truly dragon. May I will you let me go with

the other boys. It would be such fun. The dragon's gorge was not far off, and mother did not think that Helmut could do himself any harm except by getting wet and dirty, and that he might do as well in the garden home. If you put on your old suit and your thick boots, I think you may go keep with the other boys and promise me not to get lost. Oh, I say, won't it be fun? I'll run off and tell the other fellows hurrah, and Helmut

ran off into the street. Soon four heads were to be seen close together making plans for the next day. We'll start quite early, at six o'clock, they said, and take our second breakfast with us. In Germany, eleven o'clock lunch is called second breakfast. However, it was seven o'clock am before the boys had had their first breakfast and met outside the house. How mother and father laughed to see the little fellows all dressed in the most warlike costumes,

like miniature soldiers, armed with guns and swords. Mother was a little anxious and hoped they would come to no harm, but she liked her boy to be independent and knew how happy children are if left to play their pretense game alone. She watched the four set off at a swinging march down the street. Soon they had recruits, for it was a holiday and there were plenty of boys around. Helmut was commanding officer. The boys shouldered their guns or

presented arms as he directed. They passed the pond and followed the stream through the woods until they came to the dragon's gorge, where the rocks rise up, suddenly high and imposing. Looking here, they could only proceed in single file. Helmut headed the band, feeling as courageous as in his dreams. His head swam with elation. Huge walls towered above them. The rocks dropped water on their heads. As yet, they

had seen or heard nothing of the dragon. As they held their breath to listen, they could hear something roaring under their feet. Don't you tell me that that is only water, said Helmut. A little brook can't make such a row as that. That's the dragon. The other boys laughed. They were skepticals to the dragon and were only pretending, whereas Helmut was in earnest. I'm hungry, said one boy. Supposing we find a dry place and have our lunch.

They came to where the path wound out again into the open air, and sat down on some stones which could hardly be described as dry. Here they ate bread and sausage, oranges and bananas. Give me the orange peel, you fellows. Mother hates us to throw it up. It makes the place so untidy, So saying Helmut, pushed his orange peel right into a crevice of the rock and covered it with old leaves, but the other boys laughed at him and chucked theirs into the little stream, which

made Helmut very angry. I won't be your officer anymore if you do not do as I say, he said, and they began to quarrel. We're not going to fight your old dragon. We're going home again to play football. That will be a far better fun, said the boys who had joined as recruits, and they went off home till only Helmut's chums were left. They were glad enough to get rid of the other boys. We have more chance of seeing the dragon without those stupid fellows, they said.

They finished their lunch, shouldered their guns again, and enter the second gorge, which is even more picturesque and narrow than the first. Suddenly Helmut a spied something round and slimy and long, lying on the path before him, like a blind worm, but much thicker than blind worms generally are. He became fearfully excited. Come along, you, fellows, hurry up, he said, I do believe it's the dragon's tail. They came up close behind him and looked over his shoulders.

The gorge was so narrow here that they could not pass one another. Good gracious, they said, whatever shall we do now? They all felt frightened at the idea of a real dragon, but they stood to their guns like men, all but the youngest, Adolph, who wanted to run away home, but the others would not let him. Helmut catch hold of it quick now, whispered Werner and Wolf the other two boys. Helmut stretched out his hand courageously. Perhaps it

was only a huge blind worm after all. But as he tried to catch it, the thing slipped swiftly away. They all followed it, running as fast as they could through the narrow gorge, bumping themselves against the walls, scratching themselves and tearing their clothes. But all the time Helmut never let that tail. If it was a tail out of his sight. If we had some salt to put on it, said he, we might catch it like a dicky bird. It would be a fine thing to present

to a museum, said Wolf. Well, that thing led them a fine dance. It would stop short, and then when they thought they had got it, it started off again, until they were all puffing and blowing. We've got to catch it somehow, said Helmut, who thought that chase fine sport. At that moment the gorge opened out again into the woods, and the tail gave them the slip, for it disappeared in a crevice of the rock, where there was no room for a boy to follow it. It was a

blind worm, you see, said Werner. Presently, however, they heard a noise as of thunder, and looking down the path, they saw head glaring at them out of the rocks, undeniably a dragon's head, with a huge jaw, red tongue, and rows of jagged teeth. The boys stared aghast. They were in for an adventure this time, and no mistake. Slowly the dragon raised himself out of the rocks, so that they saw his whole scaly length, like a huge crocodile. Then he began to move along the path away from them.

He moved quite slowly now, so there was no difficulty in keeping up with him, but his tail was so slimy and slippery that they could not keep hold of it. Moreover,

it wriggled dreadfully whenever they tried to seize it. But Helmut had inherited the cool courage of the Wartburg Nights, and he was not going to be overcome by difficulties with a wild Indian whoop, he sprang on the dragon's back, and all the other boys followed his exams, except little Adolph, who was timid and began to set up a howl for his mother. I'm sorry to say.

that made the boy's coffin choke. Now stop that, will you, said Helmut, imperatively, or we shall have to slay you. After all, that's what we came out for, you know. He pointed his gun at the head of the dragon as he spoke, like a real hero. The dragon began to tremble, and though they could only see his profile, they thought he turned pale. Where's that other little boy? He asked in a hollow voice. If you will give him to me for dinner, I will spare you all.

Helmut laughed scornfully. Thanks, old fellow, he said, you're very kind. I'm sure Adolph would be much obliged to you. I expect he's run home to his mother long ago. He's a bit of a funk. We shan't take him with us another time. He looked so sweet and juicy and tender, said the dragon, sighing. I never get a child for dinner nowadays, Oh is me? He sniffed. You are an old cannibal, said the boys, horrified and mistaking the meaning of the word cannibal. Hurry up now and give us

another ride. It's a first rate fund this. The dragon groaned and seemed disinclined to stir, but the boys kicked him with their heels, and there was nothing for it but to gee up. After he had been up and down several times and the boy's clothes were nearly torn to pieces, he suddenly turned into a great crevice in the rocks that led down into a dark passage, and the boys felt really frightened for the first time. Daylight

has a wonderfully bracing effect on the nerves. In a moment, however, a few rays of sunshine penetrated the black, dark wackness, and they saw that they were in a small cave. The next thing they experienced was that the dragon shook himself violently, and the small boys fell off his back like apples from a tree on the wet and sloppy floor. They picked themselves up again in a second, and there they saw the dragon before them, panting after his extersions

and filling the cavern with a poisonous smelling smoke. Helmut and Wolf and Werner stood near the cracks, which did the duty of windows, and held their pistols pointed at him. Luckily, he was too stupid to know that they were only toy guns, and when they fired them off crack crack, they soon discovered that he was in a terrible fright. What have I done to you, young sirs, he gasped out, What have I done to you that you should want to shoot me? Yet? Shoot me? Yes, destroy me if

you will, and end my miserable existence. He began to groan until the cavern reverberated with his cries. What's the matter, old chappy, said Helmut, who observing the weakness of the enemy had regained his courage. I am an anachronism, said the dragon. Don't you know what that is? Well? I am one born out of my age. I am a survival of anything but the fittest. You are the masters, now, you miserable, floppy looking race of mankind. You can shoot me.

You can blow me up with dynamite. You can poison me, you can stuff me. Oh oh, you can put me into a cage in the zoological gardens. You have flying dragons in the sky who could drop on me suddenly and crush me. You have the power. We great creatures of bygone ages, have only been able to creep into the rocks and caves to hide from your superior cleverness

and your willy machinations. We must perish while you go on like the brook forever, so saying, he began to shed great tears that dropped on the floor splash, plash, like the water from the rocks. The boys felt embarrassed. This was not their idea of manly conduct, and considerably lowered their opinions of dragons in general. Do not betray me, young sirs, went on the dragon in a pathetic and weepy voice. I have managed so far to lie here,

concealed though multitudes. If people have passed this way and never perceived me, I tell you what, said Helmut, touched by the dragon's evident terror. Let's make friends with him. Boys, he's given us a nice ride for nothing. We will present him with the flag of truce. Turning to the dragon, he said, allow us to give you a banana, an a roll in token of our friendship and esteem. Oh, said the dragon, brightening up. I like bananas. People often

throw the skins away here. I prefer them to orange peals. I live on such things. You must know, the cast off refuse of humanity, he said, becoming tragic again. They presented him with the banana, and he ate it, skin and all. It seemed to give him an appetite. He appeared to recover his spirits, and the boys thought it would be better to look for the way out. The cavern seemed quite smooth and round, except for the cracks through which the daylight came. They could not discover the

passage by which they had entered. The dragon's eyes were beginning to look bloodthirsty, remembrances of his former strength shot across his dulled brains. He could crush aneath these little boys, after all, and nobody would be the wiser. Little boys tasted better than bananas even Meanwhile, Wolf and Werner had stuck their flags through the holes in the rocks so

that they were visible from the outside. Little Adolf had gone straight home and had told awful tales of the games the others were up to, and he conducted the four mothers to the dragon's gorge, where they wandered up and down looking for their boys. Adolph observed the flags sticking up on the rocks and drew attention to them. The dragon's gorge resounded with the cries of Helmut, Wolf Werner. The dragon heard the voices as well. His evil intentions

died away. The chronic fear of discovery came upon him again. He grew paler and paler. Clouds of smoke came from his nostrils until he became invisible. At the same moment, Helmut, groping against the wall that lay in shadow, found the opening of the passage through which they had come Through this, the three boys now crawled, hardly daring to breathe for fear of exciting the dragon. Again. Soon a gleam of

light at the other end told of their deliverance. Their tender mothers fell on their necks and scolded them at the same time. Truly, never did boys look dirtier or more disreputable. We feel positively ashamed to go home with you, their mother said to them. Well, for once, I was jolly glad you did come. Mother, said Helmut, that treacherous old dragon wanted to turn on us. After all, he might have devoured us if he had not turned up in the nick of time. Not that I believe that

he really would have done anything of the sort. He was a coward, you know, And when when we leveled our guns at him, he was awfully frightened. Still, he might have found out that our guns were not properly loaded, and then it would have been unpleasant. Mother smiled. She did not seem to take this story quite so seriously as Helmut wished. We had a gorgeous ride on his back. Mother, dear, would you like to see him? You have only to lie down flat and squeeze yourself through that crack in

the rocks till you come to his cave. No, thank you, said mother. I think I can do without seeing your dragon. Oh, we have forgotten our flags, called out Wolf and Werner. Wait a minute for us, and they climbed up over the rocks and rescued the flags. He's still in there, they whispered to Helmut in a mysterious whisper. Mother said Helmut that evening, when she came to wish him good night. Do you know if you stand up to a dragon like a man and are not afraid of him, he

is not so difficult to vanquish? After all? I'm glad you think so, said mother. Volo cumdeo. There is a Latin proverb for you. It means that with God's help, willpower is the chief thing necessary. This even dragons know. Thus a little boy can conquer even greater dragons than the monsters vast of ages past. Hum said Helmut musingly, Mother, dear, I was a real hero today. I think you would have been proud of me. But I must confess between ours that the old dragon was a bit of a fool.

The Dragon's Tale. I wonder if the girls and boys who read these stories have heard of the charming and romantic town of Eisenoch. I suppose not, for it is a curious fact that few English people visit the place, though very many Americans go there. Americans are well known to have a special interest in old places with historical associations,

because they have nothing of the sort in America. Moreover, many of them are Germans by birth and have heard stories of the Wartburg, that beautiful old castle which, from the summit of a hill surrounded by woods, overlooks the town of Eisenoch. The Wartburg is quaintly built, with dear little turrets and gables and high towers, a long curving wall with dark beams like the peasant cottages, and windows looking out into the forest. It belongs at present to

the Grand Duke of sachsen Weimar Eisenach. Every stone and corner of the Wartburg is connected with some old story or legend. For instance, there is the hall with the raised dais at one end and beautiful pillars surrounding the roof, where menacingers of old times used to hold their great musical festivals. As we should say nowadays, there was keen competition for the prizes that were offered and reward for

the best music and songs. And the castle are also the rooms of Saint Elizabeth that sweet saint who was so good to the poor, and who suffered so terribly herself in parting from her husband and children. Then there is the lion on the roof, who could tell a fine tale if he chose. The great banqueting hall and the little chapel. On the top of the tower is a beautiful cross that is lit up at night by electric light and can be seen from a great distance

in the country round. This is, of course a modern addition. But the most interesting room in the castle is that where doctor Martha and Luther spend his time translating the Bible. Our reward had been offered to any one who should kill this arch heretic, so his friends brought up disguised as a knight to the Wartburg, and very few people

knew of his whereabouts. As you look through the latticed windows of that little room, the exquisite blue and purple hills of the Thuringen walled stretch away in the distance, and no human habitation is to be seen. There. Too, you may see the famous spot on the wall where Luther through the inkpot at the devil. To be correct, you can see the hole where the ink stain used to be, for visitors have cut away every trace of the ink, and even portions of the old wooden bedstead.

There is the writing desk with the translation of the Bible, and the remarkable footstool that consisted of the bone of a mammoth. Those were the days in which a man risks his life for his faith. But they were the days also we must remember of witchcraft and magic. One other story of the Wartburg. I must snare it in order to give you some idea of the interest that still surrounds this place and influences the children who grow up there. It was in the days of the old

Emperor Barbarossa Redbeard. The sister of the Emperor, whose name was Utah, was married to the Landgraf Ludwig of Thuringen, and they lived at the Wartburg. One day, when Barbarossa came to visit them, he observed that the castle had no outer walls round it, as was usual in those days. What a pity, he said, that such a fine castle should be unprotected by walls and ramparts. It ought to

be more strongly fortified, Oh, said Langgrafluodudwick. If that is all the castle needs, it can soon have them, how soon, said the emperor mockingly, in the space of three days, answered his brother in law. That could only be possible with the aid of the devil, said Barbarossa, Otherwise it could not be done. Wait and see for yourself, said the Landgraf. On the third day of his visit, Ludwig said to the Emperor, what do you care to see

the walls? They are finished now. Barbarossa crossed himself several times and prepared for some fearful manifestation of black magic. But what was his surprise to see a living wall round the castle of Stout peasants and burghers ready armed with weapons in their hands. The banners of well known knights and lords waved their penn in the wind where battlements should have been. The Emperor was much astonished and called out, many thanks, brother in law, for your lesson

stronger walls. I have never seen nor better fitted together rough stones. They may some of them be, said the Langrath, Yet I can rely on them as you see now, as you may imagine. The children who grow up in this town must have their heads full of these tales, and many poets and artists have been inspired by the beauties of Eisenach. The natural surroundings of the town are so wonderful that they also provide rich material for the imagination. Helmut was a boy who lived in Eisenach. He was

eight years old and went to a day school. He lived outside the town, not far from the entrance to the forest. He was a pale, fair haired little boy and did not look the tremendous hero he fancied himself in his dreams, not even when he buckled on helmet breastplate and swared and marched out into the street to take his part in the warfare that went on constantly here between the boys of this neighborhood and the boys who belonged to another part of the town. Now, the

Dragon's Gorge is a most marvelous place. It is surrounded on all sides by thick forests, and you come onto it suddenly when walking in the woods. It is a group of huge green rocks like cliffs that stand picturesquely piled close together, towering up to the sky. There is only a very narrow pathway between them. Helmuut had often been there with his father and mother, or with other boys after heavy rain or thawing snow, it became impassable.

At the best of times. It was advisable for a lady not to put on her sunday hat, especially if it were large and had feathers, for the rocks are constantly tripping with water. The great boulders are covered with green moss or tiny ferns, and in the springtime wood sorrel grows on them in great patches, the underside of the leaves tinged an exquisite violet or pink color. The entrance to the dragon's gorge is through these rocks. They narrow and almost meet overhead, obscuring the sky till it

seems as if one were walking under the sea. Two persons cannot walk side by side here In some parts, indeed, one can only just squeeze through. The way winds in and out in the most curious manner. There are little side passages too, that you could hardly get into it all. In some places you can hear the water roaring under your feet. Then the rocks end abruptly, and you come out into the forest again, and hear the birds singing, and see the little brook dancing along by the side

of the way. Altogether, it is the most fascinating, wet and delightful walk that you could imagine. Helmut had long been planning an expedition to these rocks in company with other boyfriends, in order to slay the dragon. He dreamt of it day and night until he brought home a bad mark for attention in his school report. He told his mother about it. She laughed and said he might leave the poor old fellow alone. There were plenty of dragons to slay at home. Self will, disobedience inattention, and

so on. She made a momentary impression on the little boy, who always wanted to be good, but found it difficult at times. Curious to say to carry out his intention, he looked thoughtful and answered, of course, mother, I know, but this time I want to slay a really and truly dragon. May I will you let me go with

the other boys. It would be such fun the dragon's gore which was not far off, and mother did not think that Helmut could do himself any harm except by getting wet and dirty, and that he might do as well in the garden home. If you put on your old suit and your thick boots, I think you may go keep with the other boys, and promise me not to get lost. Oh, I say, won't it be fun? I'll run off and tell the other fellows hurrah, and

Helmut ran off into the street. Soon four heads were to be seen close together making plans for the next day. We'll start quite early, at six o'clock, they said, and take our second breakfast with us. In Germany, eleven o'clock lunch is called second breakfast. However, it was seven o'clock a m before the boys had had their first breakfast

and met outside the house. How mother and father laughed to see the little fellows all dressed in the most warlike costumes, like miniature soldiers, armed with guns and swords. Mother was a little anxious and hoped they would come to no harm, but she liked her boy to be independent and knew how happy children are if left to play their pretense games alone. She watched the four set off at a swinging march down the street. Soon they had recruits, for it was a holiday and there were

plenty of boys around. Helmut was commanding officer. The boys shouldered their guns or presented arms as he directed. They passed the pond and followed the stream through the woods until they came to the dragon's gorge, where the rocks rise up, suddenly high and imposing. Looking here, they could only proceed in single file. Helmut headed the band, feeling as courageous as in his dreams. His head swam with elation. Huge walls towered above them, the rocks dropped water on

their heads. As yet, they had seen or heard nothing of the dragon. Yet as they held their breath to listen, they could hear something roaring under their feet. Don't you tell me that that is only water, said Helmut. A little brook can't make such a row as that. That's the dragon. The other boys laughed. They were skepticals to the dragon and were only pretending, whereas Helmut was in earnest. I'm hungry, said one boy. Supposing we find a dry

place and have our lunch. They came to where the path wound out again into the open air, and sat down on some stones which could hardly be described as dry. Here they ate bread and sausage, oranges and bananas. Give me the orange peel, you fellows. Mother hates us to throw it about. It makes the place so untidy, So saying Helmut, pushed his orange peel right into a crevice of the rock and covered it with old leaves, but the other boys laughed at him and chucked theirs into

the little stream, which made Helmut very angry. I won't be your officer anymore if you do not do as I say, he said, and they began to quarrel. We're not going to fight your old dragon. We're going home again to play football. That will be a far better fun, said the boys who had joined as recruits, and they went off home till only Helmut's chums were left. They were glad enough to get rid of the other boys. We have more chance of seeing the dragon without those

stupid fellows, they said. They finished their lunch, shouldered their guns again, and enter the second gorge, which is even more picturesque and narrow than the first. Suddenly Helmut a spied something round and slimy and long, lying on the path before him, like a blind worm, but much thicker than blind worms generally are. He became fearfully excited. Come along, you, fellows, hurry up, he said, I do believe it's the dragon's tail. They came up close behind him and looked over his shoulders.

The gorge was so narrow here that they could not pass one another. Good gracious, they said, whatever shall we do now? They all felt frightened at the idea of a real dragon, but they stood to their guns like men, all but the youngest, Adolph, who wanted to run away home, but the others would not let him. Helmut catch hold of it quick now, whispered Werner and Wolf the other two boys. Helmut stretched out his hand courageously. Perhaps it

was only a huge blind worm after all. But as he tried to catch it, the thing slipped swiftly away. They all followed it, running as fast as they could through the narrow gorge, bumping themselves against the walls, scratching themselves and tearing their clothes. But all the time Helmut never let that tail. If it was a tail out of his sight. If we had some salt to put on it, said he, we might catch it like a dicky bird. It would be a fine thing to present

to a museum, said Wolf. Well, that thing led them a fine dance. It would stop short, and then when they thought they had got it, it started off again, until they were all puffing and blowing. We've got to catch it somehow, said Helmut, who thought that chase fine sport. At that moment the gorge opened out again into the woods, and the tail gave them the slip, for it disappeared in a crevice of the rock, where there was no room for a boy to follow it. It was a

blind worm, you see, said Werner. Presently, however, they heard a noise as of thunder, and looking down the path, they saw head glaring at them out of the rocks, undeniably a dragon's head, with a huge jaw, red tongue, and rows of jagged teeth. The boys stared aghast. They were in for an adventure this time, and no mistake. Slowly the dragon raised himself out of the rocks, so that they saw his whole scaly length, like a huge crocodile. Then he began to move along the path away from them.

He moved quite slowly now, so there was no difficulty in keeping up with him, but his tail was so slimy and slippery that they could not keep hold of it. Moreover, it wriggled dreadfully whenever they tried to seize it. But Helmut had inherited the cool courage of the Wartburg Nights, and he was not going to be overcome by difficulties

with the wild Indian. Whoop, he sprang on the dragon's back, and all the other boys followed his example, except little Adolf, who was timid and began to set up a howl for his mother. I'm sorry to say.

that made the boy's coffin choke. Now stop that, will you, said Helmut imperatively, or we shall have to slay you. After all, that's what we came out for, you know. He pointed his gun at the head of the dragon as he spoke, like a real hero. The dragon began to tremble, and though they could only see his profile, they thought he turned pale. Where's that other little boy? He asked in a hollow voice. If you will give him to me for dinner, I will spare you all.

Helmut laughed scornfully. Thanks, old fellow, he said, you're very kind. I'm sure Adolph would be much obliged to you. I expect he's run home to his mother long ago. He's a bit of a funk. We shan't take him with us another time. He looked so sweet and juicy and tender, said the dragon, sighing. I never get a child for dinner nowadays. Woe is me, he sniffed. You are an old cannibal, said the boys, horrified and mistaking the meaning of the word cannibal. Hurry up now and give us

another ride. It's a first rate fun. This. The dragon groaned and seemed disinclined to stir, but the boys kicked him with their heels, and there was nothing for it but to gee up. After he had been up and down several times and the boy's clothes were nearly torn to pieces, he suddenly turned into a great crevice in the rocks that led down into a dark passage, and the boys felt really frightened for the first time. Daylight

has a wonderfully bracing effect on the nerves. In a moment, however, a few rays of sunshine penetrated the black darkness, and they saw that they were in a small cave. The next thing they experienced was that the dragon shook himself violently, and the small boys fell off his back like apples from a tree on the wet and sloppy floor. They picked themselves up again in a second, and there they saw the dragon and before them, panting after his extersons

and filling the cavern with a poisonous smelling smoke. Helmut and Wolf and Werner stood near the cracks, which did the duty of windows, and held their pistols pointed at him. Luckily, he was too stupid to know that they were only toy guns, and when they fired them off crack crack, they soon discovered that he was in a terrible fright. What have I done to you, young sirs, he gasped out, What have I done to you that you should want to shoot me? Yet? Shoot me? Yes, destroy me if

you will, and end my miserable existence. He began to groan until the cavern reverberated with his cries. What's the matter, old chappy, said Helmer, who observing the weakness of the enemy had regained his courage. I am an anachronism, said the dragon. Don't you know what that is? Well? I am one born out of my age. I am a survival of anything but the fittest. You are the masters, now, you miserable, floppy looking race of mankind. You can shoot me.

You can blow me up with dynamite. You can poison me, you can stuff me. Oh oh, you can put me into a cage in the zoological gardens. You have flying dragons in the sky who could drop on me suddenly and crush me. You have the power. We great creatures of bygone ages, have only been able to creep into the rocks and caves to hide from your superior cleverness

and your willy machinations. We must perish while you go on like the brook forever, so saying, he began to shed great tears that dropped on the floor splashplash, like the water from the rocks. The boys felt embarrassed. This was not their idea of manly conduct, and considerably lowered their opinions of dragons in general. Do not betray me, young sirs, went on the dragon in a pathetic and weepy voice. I have managed so far to lie here,

concealed though multitudes. If people have passed this way and never perceived me, I tell you what, said Helmut, touched by the dragon's evident terror. Let's make friends with him. Boys, he's given us a nice ride for nothing. We will present him with the flag of truce. Turning to the dragon, he said, allow us to give you a banana and a roll in token of our friendship and esteem. Oh, said the dragon, brightening up. I like bananas. People often

throw the skins away here. I prefer them to orange peals. I live on such things. You must know, the cast off refuse of humanity, he said, becoming tragic again. They presented him with the banana, and he ate it, skin and all. It seemed to give him an appetite. He appeared to recover his spirits, and the boys thought it would be better to look for the way out. The cavern seemed quite smooth and round, except for the cracks through which the daylight came. They could not discover the

passage by which they had entered. The dragon's eyes were beginning to look bloodthirsty, remembrances of his former strength shot across his dulled brains. He could crush and eat these little boys, after all, and nobody would be the wiser. Little boys tasted better than bananas even Meanwhile, Wolf and Werner had stuck their flags through the holes in the

rocks so that they were visible from the outside. Now little Adolf had gone straight home and had told awful tales of the games the others were up to, and he conducted the four mothers to the dragon's gorge, where they wandered up and down looking for their boys. Adolf observed the flags sticking up on the rocks and drew attention to them. The dragons george resounded with the cries of Helmut, Wolf Werner. The dragon heard the voices as well.

His evil intentions died away. The chronic fear of discovery came upon him again. He grew paler and paler. Clouds of smoke came from his nostrils until he became invisible. At the same moment, Helmut, groping against the wall that lay in shadow, found the opening of the passage through which they had come Through this, the three boys now crawled, hardly daring to breathe for fear of exciting the dragon again. Soon a gleam of light at the other end told

of their deliverance. Their tender mothers fell on their necks and scolded them at the same time. Truly, how ever, did boys look dirtier or more disreputable? We feel positively ashamed to go home with you, their mother said to them. Well, for once, I was jolly glad you did come. Mother, said Helmut. That treacherous old dragon wanted to turn on us. After all, he might have devoured us if he had not turned up in the nick of time. Not that I believe that he really would have done anything of

the sort. He was a coward, you know, and when we leveled our guns at him, he was awfully frightened. Still, he might have found out that our guns were not properly loaded, and then it would have been unpleasant. Mother smiled. She did not seem to take this story quite so seriously as Helmut wished. We had a gorgeous ride on his back. Mother, dear, would you like to see him? You have only to lie down flat and squeeze yourself through that crack in the rocks till you come to

his cave. No, thank you, said mother. I think I can do without seeing your dragon. Oh, we have forgotten our flags, called out Wolf and Werner. Wait a minute for us, and they climbed up over the rocks and rescued the flags. He's still in there, they whispered to Helmut in a mysterious whisper. Mother said Helmut that evening, when she came to wish him good night. Do you know if you stand up to a dragon like a man and are not afraid of him, he is not

so difficult to vanquish? After all? I'm glad you think so, said Mother Volo. Come down, there is a Latin proverb for you. It means that with God's help, willpower is the chief thing necessary. This even dragons know. Thus a little boy can conquer even greater dragons than the monsters vast of ages past. Hum said Helmut musingly, Mother dear, I was a real hero today. I think you would have been proud of me. But I must confess between ourselves that the old dragon was a bit of a fool.