The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-26

do any mischief until night comes.
/ in great castle in this other country"
Uncle Frank went on" lived King Cedric.
Before the dragon came there was no more
| beautiful kingdom in the world. Then.
when the King stood at the castles highest
| window, he saw on one hand the blue sea,
just at the rim of the earth; on the other.
the great woods hanging against the sky
like a dark green curtain. Between the
woods and the sea the King a month ago
saw broad green carpet, checkered with
white, ribbon-like lines where the roads
were, and dotted here and there by the
farmhouses of his people. Along the roads
then were many people, some going home.
others coming toward the castle. o, it was
a beautiful kingdom. and as the King looked
down upon it he smiled. But now all was
changed. The fields were black, the orchard
trees seemed dead and few people were TO
be seen. Many Of the frightened peasants
! had come to the castle for safety; others,
as we have seen, had left the country; and
worse than that, many of the poor, people
had been killed by the terrible dragon
Now, when the King looked out over his
country, he wept, and as he sobbed he said:
Anything, oh! anything. to save my
kingdom and people!
Foolish PROMISE! The dragon hiding in
his dark cave heard the Kings words and
grinned. Then he said:
40, won't / make him keep his word
though? Anything, oh. anything. to save
his kingdom and his people!' Ho! no! no!
Now it happened that Bevis at this very
time was on his way to the old oak You
may be sure that he had gone there every
evening after the voice had told him that
he had only little while to wait. And so
this evening he came to the tree as usual
and was about to take his old seat when
somebody just back of him said:
Stop friend Bevis. stop!
''Bevis was much surprised, and, turning
around, he saw little hunchback grinning
at him and winking his left eye very
solemnly. Bevis looked down at his odd
cap, and further down at his queer shoes.
Suddenly as he looked, the little man was
gone. Our hero rubbed his eyes and NUT
tered:
We'll, If that was a dreamv
but he said no more; for just as sud
denly the little man came back with a
wider grin and a more solemn wink than
ever. This time Bevis found his tongue
and stammered:
| 'Who-who are your
1.-The little mans face became very grave.
"1 am the spirit of the oak, he said.
and, friend Bevis, it is time
Now, my little friends. you may be sure
that Bevis was well pleased. He wished to
set out at once, but the little man stepped
| in front OF him and said:
Slowly slowly, my friend. The dragon
is very strong and fierce beast. Strong
|
be too much for you. Why with his long
claws he can easily dig out the largest tree
1 saw him kill an OK once just by wrapping
his tail around it; and his breath is hot
enough to burn anything upon which il
blows. SO you see that you have some
thing harder to fight than a bear this time.
Now, my little playmates,'' continued
Uncle Frank, 1--WE know that Bevis was a
very brave young man. But while be had
always wished to fight dragon, he had
never really known just what terrible mon
sters they were. So now, when the bunch
back told him how hard a task he had, ii
is little wonder that he seemed frightened
for a moment. Only for moment how
ever; then he exclaimed:
What if he is such hard foe to beat ?
l am stronger than l was when l strangled
the bear, and have wished for this chance
too long to back out now
" Bravo! shouted the little man. But
you had better let me help you a little.
This cap of mine will make you invisible
whenever you wish to be so. With these
shoes on your feet you may fly like a bird
and this little AK will cut through the
toughest dragon that ever lived IL only you
get close enough TO strike. All these you
may have if you wish. 1 hope you will
have good luck
$50 saying, the hunchback took off his
shoes and Bevis put them on; then the little
man gave the hero the cap and ak. After
Bevis had put on the cap and fastened the
ak in his belt he looked around for his
hunchback friend. But the little man was
gone: and when the hero called for him, a
voice from inside the oak answered:
81 am here, friend Bevis, and must stay
until you bring back my cap and AK. Good
bye and good luck, my friend. 1t is now
time
And now our hero is ready for his Jour
ney to the land Of the dragon, and for the
great fight Looking once more at the old
oak and the fairy ring, he sprang into the
air and found that he could fly. And so, up
up, he went above the treetops and flew to-
wards King Cerdics castle, which he saw
long way off before him. In a little while
the set, and the stars sparkled In the
sky. o, it a brave thing to rush
through the thin, cool air. with the stars
and flashing meteors TO light his way. On
on he went, until at last the lights in the
Kings castle seemed just below him. Their
ne began TO descend in great circles; but
before he came as low as the castle root
he heard a great noise OF weeping and
groaning. Now, Bevis did not know what
the trouble was; perhaps the dragon haC
got into the castle and was killing the pool
people who had gone there for safety Sc
the hero, before he went any lower, wished
himself to be invisible; and thus II hap.
pened that he came down in the midst OF
a great crowd Of people who were all cry.
ing and seemed to be much frightened
Even the King stood in the doorway wiring