his left, and waved
the suspended foot up and down,--something he seldom did unless very
grievously perturbed. As for poor little Whelpdale, he mopped his brow
with the napkins that were in a basket waiting for the wash.

Then the bell rang.

"His ludship's study-bell," said Popham. "Don't keep him waiting."

"Hadn't you better apprise his ludship of the facks?" asked Whelpdale,
in a weak voice.

Popham made no reply. He arose and briefly kicked Buttons out of the
buttery. Then he mounted a chair to listen better. "He has hentered
his ludship's apawtment," he remarked, hearing the sound of voices
come faintly down the little private staircase that led from Sir
Godfrey's study to the buttery: the Baron was in the habit of coming
down at night for crackers and cheese before he went to bed. Presently
one voice grew much louder than the other. It questioned. There came a
sort of whining in answer. Then came a terrific stamp on the ceiling
and a loud "Go on, sir!"

"Now, now, now!" thought Popham.

Do you want to hear at once, without waiting any longer, what little
Whelpdale is telling Sir Godfrey? Well, you must know that for the
past thirteen years, ever since 1190, the neighbourhood had been
scourged by a terrible Dragon. The monster was covered with scales,
and had a long tail and huge unnatural wings, beside fearful jaws that
poured out smoke and flame whenever they opened. He always came at
dead of night, roaring, bellowing, and sparkling and flaming over the
hills, and horrid claps of thunder were very likely to attend his
progress. Concerning the nature and quality of his roaring, the honest
copyholders of Wantley could never agree, although every human being
had heard him hundreds of times. Some said it was like a mad bull,
only much louder and worse. Old Gaffer Piers the ploughman swore that
if his tomcat weighed a thousand pounds it would make a noise almost
as bad as that on summer nights, with the moon at the full and other
cats handy. But farmer Stiles said, "Nay, 'tis like none of your bulls
nor cats. But when I have come home too near the next morning, my
wife can make me think of this Dragon as soon as ever her mouth be
open."

[Illustration: Popham awaiteth the Result with Dignity]

This shows you that there were divers opinions. If you were not afraid
to look out of the window about midnight, you could see the sky begin
to look red in the quarter from which he was approaching, just as it
glare