standing on the fire, filled with milk. When
the old mother found that her son had arrived empty-handed she grew very
angry, and fire and flame darted from her nostrils, but before she could
speak the dragon turned to Stan.

'Stay here,' said he, 'and wait for me; I am going to explain things to
my mother.'

Stan was already repenting bitterly that he had ever come to such a
place, but, since he was there, there was nothing for it but to take
everything quietly, and not show that he was afraid.

'Listen, mother,' said the dragon as soon as they were alone, 'I have
brought this man in order to get rid of him. He is a terrific fellow who
eats rocks, and can press buttermilk out of a stone,' and he told her
all that had happened the night before.

'Oh, just leave him to me!' she said. 'I have never yet let a man slip
through my fingers.' So Stan had to stay and do the old mother service.

The next day she told him that he and her son should try which was the
strongest, and she took down a huge club, bound seven times with iron.

The dragon picked it up as if it had been a feather, and, after whirling
it round his head, flung it lightly three miles away, telling Stan to
beat that if he could.

They walked to the spot where the club lay. Stan stooped and felt
it; then a great fear came over him, for he knew that he and all his
children together would never lift that club from the ground.

'What are you doing?' asked the dragon.

'I was thinking what a beautiful club it was, and what a pity it is that
it should cause your death.'

'How do you mean--my death?' asked the dragon.

'Only that I am afraid that if I throw it you will never see another
dawn. You don't know how strong I am!'

'Oh, never mind that be quick and throw.'

'If you are really in earnest, let us go and feast for three days: that
will at any rate give you three extra days of life.'

Stan spoke so calmly that this time the dragon began to get a little
frightened, though he did not quite believe that things would be as bad
as Stan said.

They returned to the house, took all the food that could be found in the
old mother's larder, and carried it back to the place where the club was
lying. Then Stan seated himself on the sack of provisions, and remained
quietly watching the setting moon.

'What are you doing?' asked the dragon.

'Waiting till the moon gets out of my way.'

'What do you mean? I don't understand.'

'Don't you see that the m