THE FIERY DRAGON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE FIERY DRAGON.

"Oh, help," cried Gruff, the dragon, to his friend, Mike the monkey, "something has gone wrong. My fire has gone out. I can't breathe any flames of my mouth, ' nor any smoke, either." He gave a puff, but instead of the usual flash of flame there was nothing; not even a spark. "You will get into' trouble from King Blackbeard," said Mike. "What is the good of a dragon who can't blow fiery breath 1 You will be useless for guarding the Queen and Princess." "I suppose so," said the dragon with a groan. "I think it must have been that lemonade I had down the road; it has put my lire out. Whatever shall I do?" "Swallow some blotting paper," suggested his. friend, "perhaps it will dry it up." "But I haven't any blotting paper," replied Gruff, almost in tears. "Well, we must walk on and hope it stsuts working again." So they trudged on along the road, and every few steps the old dragon went —puff! to see if lie could blow smoke and fire, but no—it was no good. They were nearly back at the Castle gate, but Gruff felt too nervous to go in. He felt certain the King would be angry. What was the good of having a dragon for a guard if he couldn't burn up the enemies? And the Royal Cook was bound to be cros-s as well. She used to give Gruff the task of lighting the kitchen fire. When the wood and coal were laid she called him and Gruff would stick his long neck round the door and go —wuff! and blow a sheet of flame into the grate that started tho fire crackling merrily. But now he was no use to her at all.

"Let's Wcilk round the castle again, and try to find a cure," suggested Gruff. "Can't you think of anything, Mike?" Miko scratched liis head and looked puzzled. "No," lie said, "but I hope tlfe cook will haVe a penny for the gas meter." "Oh, yes, I forgot that!" muttered the dragon. That was another trouble coming. If the cook hadn't got a penny for the meter she asked Gruff to keep the dinner cooking with a gentle flame till she could find one. "I say, she will bo angry with you, Mike cried. "Won't it be terrible if they banish you from the country!" "Oh, please don't frighten me—l m frightened enough, already." Poor old Gruff, he did seem troubled and scared and there seemed no chance of getting his fire to work again. "Well, we'd better go back to the castle again, I suppose," he said with a sigh. So they hurried on, and Mike, who felt rather hungry, kept looking for something to eat. He peeped 111 the grass, under the hedge, and in all tlio paper bngs lie could find, but ho only got a few toffees someone had left. Then he suddenly saw something sliinunder a fallen leaf. lie picked it up and found it .was a tiny, flat box with a little wheel at one end. "Whatever can it be?" he asked Gruff. "It's too hard to eat." "Let me see," demanded the dragon, and smelt it. "H'm, it's very strange; what docs it taste like?" With a snap lie swallowed it, hut out of his jaws came a long jet of flame! "Hi!" shouted Mike the Monkey in alarm, for he was standing right by his friend's nose, "look what you are doing." "Hurrah, my fire has conic back," shouted Gruff. "It must be that little box I swallowed. I wonder what it is? "Wait —I remember," said Mike. "Why, it was a petrol lighter. I saw one once. Oh, isn't that grand!' "Rather. I'm glad I tried to see what it tasted like. Just look at this.' He coughed, and out shot a hot tongue of flame. „ , ,1 "That's a good one," laughed Mike, "but you will have to cough to strike the lighter every time you want to breathe flame—and don't forget to have a drink of petrol sometimes." "No fear," agreed Gruff, and the King and the Cook won't be angry with me after all!" in , And tliev were not, either, although the Iving did once sa.v that Gruff seemed to have a cold to judge from the way he kept coughing.