own himself, after making everything clean and tidy, but he was
wise enough not to shut his eyes that night.

The next morning he came into the room when the dragon and his mother
were having their breakfast.

'Good morning,' said he.

'Good morning. How did you sleep?'

'Oh, very well, but I dreamed that a flea had bitten me, and I seem to
feel it still.'

The dragon and his mother looked at each other. 'Do you hear that?'
whispered he. 'He talks of a flea. I broke my club on his head.'

This time the mother grew as frightened as her son. There was nothing to
be done with a man like this, and she made all haste to fill the sacks
with ducats, so as to get rid of Stan as soon as possible. But on his
side Stan was trembling like an aspen, as he could not lift even one
sack from the ground. So he stood still and looked at them.

'What are you standing there for?' asked the dragon.

'Oh, I was standing here because it has just occurred to me that I
should like to stay in your service for another year. I am ashamed that
when I get home they should see I have brought back so little. I know
that they will cry out, "Just look at Stan Bolovan, who in one year has
grown as weak as a dragon."'

Here a shriek of dismay was heard both from the dragon and his mother,
who declared they would give him seven or even seven times seven the
number of sacks if he would only go away.

'I'll tell you what!' said Stan at last. 'I see you don't want me to
stay, and I should be very sorry to make myself disagreeable. I will
go at once, but only on condition that you shall carry the money home
yourself, so that I may not be put to shame before my friends.'

The words were hardly out of his mouth before the dragon had snatched up
the sacks and piled them on his back. Then he and Stan set forth.

The way, though really not far, was yet too long for Stan, but at length
he heard his children's voices, and stopped short. He did not wish the
dragon to know where he lived, lest some day he should come to take back
his treasure. Was there nothing he could say to get rid of the monster?
Suddenly an idea came into Stan's head, and he turned round.

'I hardly know what to do,' said he. 'I have a hundred children, and I
am afraid they may do you harm, as they are always ready for a fight.
However, I will do my best to protect you.'

A hundred children! That was indeed no joke! The dragon let fall the
sacks from terror, and then picked them up