Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 20, 2025
Truly, never did boys look dirtier or more disreputable. "We feel positively ashamed to go home with you," their mothers said to them. "Well, for once I was jolly glad you did come, mother," said Helmut. "That treacherous old dragon wanted to turn on us after all; he might have devoured us, if you had not turned up in the nick of time.
The dragon began to tremble, and though they could only see his profile, they thought he turned pale. "Where's that other little boy?" he asked in a hollow voice. "If you will give him to me for my dinner, I will spare you all." Helmut laughed scornfully, "Thanks, old fellow," he said "you're very kind, I'm sure Adolf would be much obliged to you.
Now the Dragon's Gorge is a most marvellous place; it is surrounded on all sides by thick forests, and you come on it suddenly when walking in the woods. It is a group of huge green rocks like cliffs that stand picturesquely piled close together, towering up to the sky. There is only a very narrow pathway between them. Helmut had often been there with his father and mother or with other boys.
"Give me the orange peel, you fellows. Mother hates us to throw it about; it makes the place so untidy." So saying Helmut pushed his orange peel right into a crevice of the rock and covered it with old leaves. But the other boys laughed at him, and chucked theirs into the little stream, which made Helmut very angry.
But through ut all, up an' down, an' down an' up, wint Ould Pummeloe an' little Jhansi all we cud see av the baby, undher a dead man's helmut wid the chin-strap swingin' about her little stummick up an' down wid the wather an' fwhat brandy there was.
No sooner were the boys on his back than the dragon set off at a fine trot up and down the Dragon's Gorge, they had to hold on tight and to duck whenever the rock projected overhead, or when they went sharply round a corner. "Hurrah," cried Helmut waving a flag, "this is better than a motor ride. Isn't he a jolly old fellow?"
"If you put on your old suit and your thick boots, I think you may go. Keep with the other boys and promise me not to get lost!" "Oh, I say, won't it be fine fun! I'll run off and tell the other fellows. Hurrah!" and Helmut ran off into the street. Soon four heads were to be seen close together making plans for the next day.
Helmut had long been planning an expedition to these rocks in company with other boy friends, in order to slay the dragon. He dreamt of it day and night, until he brought home a bad mark for "attention" in his school report.
Helmut was commanding officer; the boys shouldered their guns, or presented arms as he directed. They passed the pond and followed the stream through the woods, until they came to the Dragon's Gorge, where the rocks rise up suddenly high and imposing looking. Here they could only proceed in single file. Helmut headed the band feeling as courageous as in his dreams; his head swam with elation.
He began to groan until the cavern reverberated with his cries. "What's the matter now, old chappie?" said Helmut, who, observing the weakness of the enemy, had regained his courage. "I am an anachronism," said the dragon, "don't you know what that is? well, I am one born out of my age. I am a survival of anything but the fittest.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking