Suddenly they caught sight of the two strangers and, opening their huge mouths, they growled, "Grrrr!" It was enough to make you shiver and shake with fear.
Sir Tristram drew his sword. "Methinks this will be a great battle," he said. "Stay you here, and if I do not return, still I shall have fallen as a knight should fall."
"No, no!" cried George. "Don't you remember what the witch told me? I must ask for what I want. I want the dragon!... Oh, look!" and there, sure enough, in front of them was his old friend the dragon, blinking his eyes and wagging his tail.
"I thought you would want me before long, George," he said. "Do tell that friend of yours to put away his sword. It looks dreadfully sharp, and I never did like swords. It isn't any good here, for you are on enchanted ground. Just let me get my breath, and I'll soon finish this business."
He lay there and panted, while the two great dogs growled and growled worse than ever.
"Nasty beasts!" said the dragon. "I mustn't go too close to them or else they might bite me. I'll give them a taste of something they won't like."
He began to crawl toward the dogs very slowly, and when he was within a few yards of them his mouth opened wide like a great pit, and out shot a tremendous flame. One! Two!
George rubbed his eyes. The dragon was lying there licking his scales, but the dogs had disappeared. Two small heaps of white ashes lay in the place where they had been.
"That's all right!" said the dragon. "Now you can walk in, but don't forget the password."
