ll.

Now, another long discussion followed; and this time, too, the dragon
could only persuade Stan by promising him seven sacks of ducats.

On the third day, that is the last one, the she-dragon sent them into
the forest for wood.

Before one could count three, the dragon tore up more trees than Stan
had ever seen before in his whole life, and piled them up together.
But Stan began to examine the trees, chose the very finest, climbed up
into one and tied its top with a wild grape-vine to the next. So,
without saying a word, he continued to fasten one splendid tree to
another.

"What are you doing there?" asked the dragon.

"You see what I am doing," replied Stan, working quietly on.

"Why are you tying the trees together?"

"Why, to save myself unnecessary work in pulling them up one by one,"
said Stan.

"But how are you going to carry them home?"

"I shall take the whole forest, you goose! Can't you understand that?"
said Stan, continuing to fasten them together.

The dragon now felt as if he wanted to take to his heels, and never
stop until he reached home.

But he was afraid that he should suddenly find Stan pulling the whole
forest down on his head.

This time, as it was the end of the year's service, it seemed as if
the discussion would never cease. Stan did not want to listen at all,
but had set his mind upon flinging the forest on his back at any rate.

"I'll tell you what," said the dragon, trembling with fear, "your
wages shall be seven times seven sacks of ducats. Content yourself
with that."

"Well, be it so, as I see you are a good fellow," replied Stan, and
agreed that the dragon should carry the wood for him.

The year was now over. Stan was anxious only about one things--how he
was to drag so many ducats home.

In the evening, the dragon and his mother sat talking together in
their room; but Stan listened in the entry.

"Woe betide us!" said the dragon: "this fellow upsets us terribly.
Give him money, even more than he has, only let us get rid of him."

Ah, yes! but the she-dragon cared for money.

"Let me tell you one thing," she said: "you must kill this man
to-night."

"I am afraid of him, mother," he answered in terror.

"Have no fear," replied his mother. "When you see that he is asleep,
take your club and strike him in the middle of the forehead."

So it was agreed. Ah, yes! but Stan always had a bright idea at the
right time. When he saw that the dragon and his mother