"Your majesty, I obey," replied Sir Guy, making a profound bow, and doffing a helmet that looked uncommonly like a shade hat with yellow daisies.
The band of knights began returning in what seemed like two or three minutes, but which was a period of from three to five years.
Sir Harry bore the dragon's head, which he presented kneeling to the king.
"It was a dreadful fight, your majesty," said the panting knight. "All around the dragon's cave lay men's bones."
"Think ye they were the bones of the victims which he had devoured?" the king asked.
"I am sure of it, your majesty, for I barely escaped," said Sir Harry; "but at last I gave one terrible stroke, and his head rolled at my feet. Here it is."
Jack had had a hard time digging up the root which represented the dragon's head.
"You have our royal thanks," said the king, "and you shall learn that one monarch at least is not ungrateful."
Sir Philip was the next to arrive. He—or she—knelt at the feet of the king.
"Well, Sir Philip," he asked, "were you successful?"