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<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome back to Sleepy Stories. I'm your host, Lucy,

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<v Speaker 1>and my friends and I will be reading you a

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<v Speaker 1>sleepy bedtime story every week to relax you and to

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<v Speaker 1>help you to drift off into a RESTful sleep. From

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<v Speaker 1>time to time, we will also read you a relaxing,

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<v Speaker 1>peaceful meditation that will take you somewhere beautiful and calming.

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<v Speaker 1>Once we have read the stories, we will then read

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<v Speaker 1>them a second time, but this time they will be

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<v Speaker 1>ready even slower. This will help you to relax even more.

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<v Speaker 1>Before we begin, I would like you to close your

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<v Speaker 1>eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply. Take

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<v Speaker 1>a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your breath

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<v Speaker 1>for a few seconds more, and then release and breathe out.

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<v Speaker 1>Do this a few times if you need to. While

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<v Speaker 1>you listen to the music and you listen to my voice,

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<v Speaker 1>give yourself time to let your body relax and your

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<v Speaker 1>mind settle. It's important that we allow time for us

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<v Speaker 1>to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease. And now

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<v Speaker 1>it's time for this week's story.

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<v Speaker 2>The Dragon's Tale. I wonder if the girls and boys

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<v Speaker 2>who read these stories have heard of the charming and

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<v Speaker 2>romantic town of Eisenoch. I suppose not, for it is

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<v Speaker 2>a curious fact that few English people visit the place,

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<v Speaker 2>though very many Americans go there. Americans are well known

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<v Speaker 2>to have a special interest in old places with historic associations,

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<v Speaker 2>because they have nothing of the sort in America. Moreover,

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<v Speaker 2>many of them are Germans by birth and have heard

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<v Speaker 2>stories of the Wartburg, that beautiful old castle which, from

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<v Speaker 2>the summit of a hill surrounded by woods, overlooks the

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<v Speaker 2>town of Eisenach. The Wartburg is quaintly built, with dear

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<v Speaker 2>little turrets and gables and high towers, a long curving

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<v Speaker 2>wall with dark beams like the peasant cottages, and windows

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<v Speaker 2>looking out into the forest. It belongs at present to

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<v Speaker 2>the Grand Duke of sachsen Weimar Eisenach. Every stone and

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<v Speaker 2>corner of the Wartburg is connected with some old story

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<v Speaker 2>or legend. For instance, there is the hall with the

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<v Speaker 2>raised dais at one end and beautiful pillars surrounding the roof,

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<v Speaker 2>where menacingers of old times used to hold their great

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<v Speaker 2>musical festivals. As we should say nowadays, there was keen

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<v Speaker 2>competition for the prizes that were offered and reward for

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<v Speaker 2>the best music and songs, and the castle are also

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<v Speaker 2>the rooms of Saint Elizabeth, that sweet saint who was

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<v Speaker 2>so good to the poor, and who suffered so terribly

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<v Speaker 2>herself in parting from her husband and children. Then there's

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<v Speaker 2>the lion on the roof, who could tell a fine

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<v Speaker 2>tale if he chose the great banqueting hall, and the

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<v Speaker 2>little chapel. On the top of the tower is a

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<v Speaker 2>beautiful cross that is lit up at night by electric

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<v Speaker 2>light and can be seen from a great distance in

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<v Speaker 2>the country. This is, of course a modern addition. But

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<v Speaker 2>the most interesting room in the castle is that where

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<v Speaker 2>doctor Martha and Luther spend his time translating the Bible.

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<v Speaker 2>Our reward had been offered to anyone who should kill

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<v Speaker 2>this arch heretic, so his friends brought him disguised as

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<v Speaker 2>a knight to the Wartburg, and very few people knew

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<v Speaker 2>of his whereabouts. As you look through the latticed windows

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<v Speaker 2>of that little room, the exquisite blue and purple hills

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<v Speaker 2>of the Thuringen walled stretch away in the distance, and

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<v Speaker 2>no human habitation is to be seen. There. Too, you

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<v Speaker 2>may see the famous spot on the wall where Luther

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<v Speaker 2>threw the inkpot at the devil. To be correct, you

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<v Speaker 2>can see the hole where the ink stain used to be,

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<v Speaker 2>for visitors have cut away every trace of the ink,

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<v Speaker 2>and even portions of the old wooden bedstead. There is

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<v Speaker 2>the writing desk with the translation of the Bible, and

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<v Speaker 2>the remarkable footstool that consisted of the bone of a mammoth.

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<v Speaker 2>Those were the days in which a man risked his

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<v Speaker 2>life for his faith. But they were the days also

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<v Speaker 2>we must remember of witchcraft and magic. One other story

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<v Speaker 2>of the Wartburg I must narrate in order to give

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<v Speaker 2>you some idea of the interest that still surrounds this

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<v Speaker 2>place and influences the children who grow up there. It

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<v Speaker 2>was in the days of the old Emperor Barbarossa Redbeard.

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<v Speaker 2>The sister of the Emperor, whose name was Utah, was

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<v Speaker 2>married to the landgraf Ludwig of Thuringen, and they lived

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<v Speaker 2>at the Wartburg. One day, when Barbarossa came to visit them,

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<v Speaker 2>he observed that the castle had no outer walls round it,

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<v Speaker 2>as was usual in those days. What a pity, he said,

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<v Speaker 2>that such a fine castle should be unprotected by walls

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<v Speaker 2>and ramparts. It ought to be more strongly fortified. Oh,

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<v Speaker 2>said Langraf Ludwig. If that is all the castle needs.

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<v Speaker 2>It can soon have them? How soon, said the emperor mockingly,

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<v Speaker 2>in the space of three days, answered his brother in law.

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<v Speaker 2>That could only be possible with the aid of the devil,

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<v Speaker 2>said Barbarossa, Otherwise it could not be done. Wait and

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<v Speaker 2>see for yourself, said the land Graf. On the third

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<v Speaker 2>day of his visit, Ludwig said to the Emperor, would

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<v Speaker 2>you care to see the walls? They are finished now.

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<v Speaker 2>Barbarossa crossed himself several times and prepared for some fearful

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<v Speaker 2>manifestation of black magic. But what was his surprise to

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<v Speaker 2>see a living wall round the castle of Stout peasants

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<v Speaker 2>and burghers ready armed with weapons in their hands. The

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<v Speaker 2>banners of well known knights and lords waved their penance

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<v Speaker 2>in the wind where battlements should have been. The Emperor

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<v Speaker 2>was much astonished and called out many thanks, brother in law,

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<v Speaker 2>for your lesson stronger walls. I have never seen nor

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<v Speaker 2>better fitted together rough stones. They may some of them be,

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<v Speaker 2>said the Langrath, Yet I can rely on them as

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<v Speaker 2>you see now. As you may imagine, the children who

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<v Speaker 2>grow up in this town must have their heads full

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<v Speaker 2>of these tales, and many poets and artists have been

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<v Speaker 2>inspired by the beauties of Eisenach. The natural surroundings of

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<v Speaker 2>the town are so wonderful that they also provide rich

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<v Speaker 2>material for the imagination. Helmut was a boy who lived

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<v Speaker 2>in Eisenach. He was eight years old and went to

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<v Speaker 2>a day school. He lived outside the town, not far

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<v Speaker 2>from the entrance to the forest. He was a pale,

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<v Speaker 2>fair haired little boy and did not look the tremendous

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<v Speaker 2>hero he fancied himself in his dreams, not even when

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<v Speaker 2>he buckled on helmet, breastplate and sword and marched out

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<v Speaker 2>into the street to take his part in the warfare

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<v Speaker 2>that went on constantly here between the boys of this

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<v Speaker 2>neighborhood and the boys who belonged to another part of

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<v Speaker 2>the town. Now, the Dragon's Gorge is a most marvelous place.

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<v Speaker 2>It is surrounded on all sides by thick forests, and

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<v Speaker 2>you come onto it suddenly when walking in the woods.

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<v Speaker 2>It is a group of huge green rocks like cliffs

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<v Speaker 2>that stand picturesquely piled close together, towering up to the sky.

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<v Speaker 2>There is only a very narrow pathway between them. Helmut

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<v Speaker 2>had often been there with his father and mother, or

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<v Speaker 2>with other boys after heavy rain or thawing snow, it

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<v Speaker 2>became impassable. At the best of times. It was advisable

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<v Speaker 2>for a lady not to put on her Sunday hat,

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<v Speaker 2>especially if it were large and had feathers, for the

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<v Speaker 2>rocks are constantly tripping with water. The great boulders are

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<v Speaker 2>covered with green moss or tiny fur, and in the

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<v Speaker 2>springtime wood sorrel grows on them in great patches, the

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<v Speaker 2>underside of the leaves tinged an exquisite violet or pink color.

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<v Speaker 2>The entrance to the dragon's gorge is through these rocks.

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<v Speaker 2>They narrow and almost meet overhead, obscuring the sky till

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<v Speaker 2>it seems as if one were walking under the sea.

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<v Speaker 2>Two persons cannot walk side by side here. In some parts, indeed,

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<v Speaker 2>one can only just squeeze through the way winds in

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<v Speaker 2>and out in the most curious manner. There are little

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<v Speaker 2>side passages too, that you could hardly get into it all.

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<v Speaker 2>In some places you can hear the water roaring under

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<v Speaker 2>your feet. Then the rocks end abruptly, and you come

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<v Speaker 2>out into the forest again, and hear the birds singing,

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<v Speaker 2>and see the little brook dancing along by the side

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<v Speaker 2>of the way. Altogether, it is the most fascinating, wet

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<v Speaker 2>and delightful walk that you could imagine. Helmut had long

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<v Speaker 2>been planning an expedition to these rocks in company with

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<v Speaker 2>other boyfriends, in order to slay the dragon. He dreamt

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<v Speaker 2>of it day and night until he brought home a

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<v Speaker 2>bad mark for attention in his school report. He told

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<v Speaker 2>his mother about it. She laughed and said he might

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<v Speaker 2>leave the poor old fellow alone. There were plenty of

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<v Speaker 2>dragons to slay at home. Self will, disobedience inattention, and

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<v Speaker 2>so on. She made a momentary impression on the little boy,

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<v Speaker 2>who always wanted to be good, but found it difficult

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<v Speaker 2>at times. Curious to say to carry out his intention,

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<v Speaker 2>he looked thoughtful and answered, of course, mother, I know,

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<v Speaker 2>but this time I want to slay a really and

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<v Speaker 2>truly dragon. May I will you let me go with

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<v Speaker 2>the other boys. It would be such fun. The dragon's

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<v Speaker 2>gorge was not far off, and mother did not think

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<v Speaker 2>that Helmut could do himself any harm except by getting

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<v Speaker 2>wet and dirty, and that he might do as well

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<v Speaker 2>in the garden home. If you put on your old

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<v Speaker 2>suit and your thick boots, I think you may go

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<v Speaker 2>keep with the other boys and promise me not to

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<v Speaker 2>get lost. Oh, I say, won't it be fun? I'll

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<v Speaker 2>run off and tell the other fellows hurrah, and Helmut

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<v Speaker 2>ran off into the street. Soon four heads were to

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<v Speaker 2>be seen close together making plans for the next day.

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<v Speaker 2>We'll start quite early, at six o'clock, they said, and

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<v Speaker 2>take our second breakfast with us. In Germany, eleven o'clock

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<v Speaker 2>lunch is called second breakfast. However, it was seven o'clock

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<v Speaker 2>am before the boys had had their first breakfast and

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<v Speaker 2>met outside the house. How mother and father laughed to

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<v Speaker 2>see the little fellows all dressed in the most warlike costumes,

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<v Speaker 2>like miniature soldiers, armed with guns and swords. Mother was

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<v Speaker 2>a little anxious and hoped they would come to no harm,

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<v Speaker 2>but she liked her boy to be independent and knew

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<v Speaker 2>how happy children are if left to play their pretense

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<v Speaker 2>game alone. She watched the four set off at a

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<v Speaker 2>swinging march down the street. Soon they had recruits, for

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<v Speaker 2>it was a holiday and there were plenty of boys around.

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<v Speaker 2>Helmut was commanding officer. The boys shouldered their guns or

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<v Speaker 2>presented arms as he directed. They passed the pond and

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<v Speaker 2>followed the stream through the woods until they came to

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<v Speaker 2>the dragon's gorge, where the rocks rise up, suddenly high

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<v Speaker 2>and imposing. Looking here, they could only proceed in single file.

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<v Speaker 2>Helmut headed the band, feeling as courageous as in his dreams.

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<v Speaker 2>His head swam with elation. Huge walls towered above them.

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<v Speaker 2>The rocks dropped water on their heads. As yet, they

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<v Speaker 2>had seen or heard nothing of the dragon. As they

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<v Speaker 2>held their breath to listen, they could hear something roaring

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<v Speaker 2>under their feet. Don't you tell me that that is

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<v Speaker 2>only water, said Helmut. A little brook can't make such

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<v Speaker 2>a row as that. That's the dragon. The other boys laughed.

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<v Speaker 2>They were skepticals to the dragon and were only pretending,

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<v Speaker 2>whereas Helmut was in earnest. I'm hungry, said one boy.

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<v Speaker 2>Supposing we find a dry place and have our lunch.

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<v Speaker 2>They came to where the path wound out again into

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<v Speaker 2>the open air, and sat down on some stones which

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<v Speaker 2>could hardly be described as dry. Here they ate bread

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<v Speaker 2>and sausage, oranges and bananas. Give me the orange peel,

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<v Speaker 2>you fellows. Mother hates us to throw it up. It

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<v Speaker 2>makes the place so untidy, So saying Helmut, pushed his

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<v Speaker 2>orange peel right into a crevice of the rock and

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<v Speaker 2>covered it with old leaves, but the other boys laughed

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<v Speaker 2>at him and chucked theirs into the little stream, which

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<v Speaker 2>made Helmut very angry. I won't be your officer anymore

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<v Speaker 2>if you do not do as I say, he said,

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<v Speaker 2>and they began to quarrel. We're not going to fight

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<v Speaker 2>your old dragon. We're going home again to play football.

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<v Speaker 2>That will be a far better fun, said the boys

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<v Speaker 2>who had joined as recruits, and they went off home

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<v Speaker 2>till only Helmut's chums were left. They were glad enough

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<v Speaker 2>to get rid of the other boys. We have more

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00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:59.119
<v Speaker 2>chance of seeing the dragon without those stupid fellows, they said.

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<v Speaker 2>They finished their lunch, shouldered their guns again, and enter

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<v Speaker 2>the second gorge, which is even more picturesque and narrow

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<v Speaker 2>than the first. Suddenly Helmut a spied something round and

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<v Speaker 2>slimy and long, lying on the path before him, like

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<v Speaker 2>a blind worm, but much thicker than blind worms generally are.

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<v Speaker 2>He became fearfully excited. Come along, you, fellows, hurry up,

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00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:36.680
<v Speaker 2>he said, I do believe it's the dragon's tail. They

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00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:40.519
<v Speaker 2>came up close behind him and looked over his shoulders.

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00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:44.559
<v Speaker 2>The gorge was so narrow here that they could not

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<v Speaker 2>pass one another. Good gracious, they said, whatever shall we

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00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:53.279
<v Speaker 2>do now? They all felt frightened at the idea of

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<v Speaker 2>a real dragon, but they stood to their guns like men,

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<v Speaker 2>all but the youngest, Adolph, who wanted to run away home,

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00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:08.240
<v Speaker 2>but the others would not let him. Helmut catch hold

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<v Speaker 2>of it quick now, whispered Werner and Wolf the other

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00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:19.119
<v Speaker 2>two boys. Helmut stretched out his hand courageously. Perhaps it

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00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:22.920
<v Speaker 2>was only a huge blind worm after all. But as

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00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:26.920
<v Speaker 2>he tried to catch it, the thing slipped swiftly away.

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<v Speaker 2>They all followed it, running as fast as they could

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00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:37.559
<v Speaker 2>through the narrow gorge, bumping themselves against the walls, scratching

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00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:42.440
<v Speaker 2>themselves and tearing their clothes. But all the time Helmut

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00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:46.519
<v Speaker 2>never let that tail. If it was a tail out

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<v Speaker 2>of his sight. If we had some salt to put

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<v Speaker 2>on it, said he, we might catch it like a

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00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:58.279
<v Speaker 2>dicky bird. It would be a fine thing to present

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00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:02.759
<v Speaker 2>to a museum, said Wolf. Well, that thing led them

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00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:06.920
<v Speaker 2>a fine dance. It would stop short, and then when

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00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:10.079
<v Speaker 2>they thought they had got it, it started off again,

241
00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:14.759
<v Speaker 2>until they were all puffing and blowing. We've got to

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00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:19.640
<v Speaker 2>catch it somehow, said Helmut, who thought that chase fine sport.

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00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:24.240
<v Speaker 2>At that moment the gorge opened out again into the woods,

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00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.440
<v Speaker 2>and the tail gave them the slip, for it disappeared

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00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.160
<v Speaker 2>in a crevice of the rock, where there was no

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00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:35.200
<v Speaker 2>room for a boy to follow it. It was a

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00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:41.599
<v Speaker 2>blind worm, you see, said Werner. Presently, however, they heard

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00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:45.279
<v Speaker 2>a noise as of thunder, and looking down the path,

249
00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:48.680
<v Speaker 2>they saw head glaring at them out of the rocks,

250
00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:54.720
<v Speaker 2>undeniably a dragon's head, with a huge jaw, red tongue,

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00:20:55.160 --> 00:21:01.720
<v Speaker 2>and rows of jagged teeth. The boys stared aghast. They

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00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:05.160
<v Speaker 2>were in for an adventure this time, and no mistake.

253
00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:11.440
<v Speaker 2>Slowly the dragon raised himself out of the rocks, so

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00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:16.440
<v Speaker 2>that they saw his whole scaly length, like a huge crocodile.

255
00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:20.519
<v Speaker 2>Then he began to move along the path away from them.

256
00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:25.920
<v Speaker 2>He moved quite slowly now, so there was no difficulty

257
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.759
<v Speaker 2>in keeping up with him, but his tail was so

258
00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:35.880
<v Speaker 2>slimy and slippery that they could not keep hold of it. Moreover,

259
00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:40.720
<v Speaker 2>it wriggled dreadfully whenever they tried to seize it. But

260
00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:45.599
<v Speaker 2>Helmut had inherited the cool courage of the Wartburg Nights,

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00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:49.799
<v Speaker 2>and he was not going to be overcome by difficulties

262
00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:56.880
<v Speaker 2>with a wild Indian whoop, he sprang on the dragon's back,

263
00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:02.400
<v Speaker 2>and all the other boys followed his exams, except little Adolph,

264
00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:06.160
<v Speaker 2>who was timid and began to set up a howl

265
00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:08.880
<v Speaker 2>for his mother. I'm sorry to say.

266
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<v Speaker 1>No.

267
00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:14.279
<v Speaker 2>Sooner were the boys on his back than the dragon

268
00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:17.279
<v Speaker 2>set off at a fine trot up and down the

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00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:21.880
<v Speaker 2>dragon's gorge. They had to hold on tight and to

270
00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:26.119
<v Speaker 2>duck whenever the rock projected overhead, or when they went

271
00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:32.359
<v Speaker 2>sharply round a corner. Hurrah, cried Helmut, waving a flag.

272
00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.200
<v Speaker 2>This is better than a motor ride, isn't he a

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00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:42.160
<v Speaker 2>jolly old fellow? At this remark, the jolly old fellow

274
00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:46.920
<v Speaker 2>stopped dead and began to snort out fire and smoke

275
00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:52.440
<v Speaker 2>that made the boy's coffin choke. Now stop that, will you,

276
00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.359
<v Speaker 2>said Helmut, imperatively, or we shall have to slay you.

277
00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.519
<v Speaker 2>After all, that's what we came out for, you know.

278
00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:04.400
<v Speaker 2>He pointed his gun at the head of the dragon

279
00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:10.319
<v Speaker 2>as he spoke, like a real hero. The dragon began

280
00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:14.519
<v Speaker 2>to tremble, and though they could only see his profile,

281
00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:20.240
<v Speaker 2>they thought he turned pale. Where's that other little boy?

282
00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:24.319
<v Speaker 2>He asked in a hollow voice. If you will give

283
00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.400
<v Speaker 2>him to me for dinner, I will spare you all.

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00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:35.519
<v Speaker 2>Helmut laughed scornfully. Thanks, old fellow, he said, you're very kind.

285
00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:40.240
<v Speaker 2>I'm sure Adolph would be much obliged to you. I

286
00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:44.319
<v Speaker 2>expect he's run home to his mother long ago. He's

287
00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:47.000
<v Speaker 2>a bit of a funk. We shan't take him with

288
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:52.640
<v Speaker 2>us another time. He looked so sweet and juicy and tender,

289
00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:57.519
<v Speaker 2>said the dragon, sighing. I never get a child for

290
00:23:57.640 --> 00:24:04.119
<v Speaker 2>dinner nowadays, Oh is me? He sniffed. You are an

291
00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:09.359
<v Speaker 2>old cannibal, said the boys, horrified and mistaking the meaning

292
00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:13.359
<v Speaker 2>of the word cannibal. Hurry up now and give us

293
00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:19.119
<v Speaker 2>another ride. It's a first rate fund this. The dragon

294
00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:23.880
<v Speaker 2>groaned and seemed disinclined to stir, but the boys kicked

295
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.960
<v Speaker 2>him with their heels, and there was nothing for it

296
00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:31.319
<v Speaker 2>but to gee up. After he had been up and

297
00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:35.960
<v Speaker 2>down several times and the boy's clothes were nearly torn

298
00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:40.240
<v Speaker 2>to pieces, he suddenly turned into a great crevice in

299
00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:44.640
<v Speaker 2>the rocks that led down into a dark passage, and

300
00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:49.359
<v Speaker 2>the boys felt really frightened for the first time. Daylight

301
00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:56.200
<v Speaker 2>has a wonderfully bracing effect on the nerves. In a moment, however,

302
00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.400
<v Speaker 2>a few rays of sunshine penetrated the black, dark wackness,

303
00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:03.680
<v Speaker 2>and they saw that they were in a small cave.

304
00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:08.160
<v Speaker 2>The next thing they experienced was that the dragon shook

305
00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:13.200
<v Speaker 2>himself violently, and the small boys fell off his back

306
00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:17.400
<v Speaker 2>like apples from a tree on the wet and sloppy floor.

307
00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:22.279
<v Speaker 2>They picked themselves up again in a second, and there

308
00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:26.960
<v Speaker 2>they saw the dragon before them, panting after his extersions

309
00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:33.279
<v Speaker 2>and filling the cavern with a poisonous smelling smoke. Helmut

310
00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:37.400
<v Speaker 2>and Wolf and Werner stood near the cracks, which did

311
00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:44.200
<v Speaker 2>the duty of windows, and held their pistols pointed at him. Luckily,

312
00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:47.640
<v Speaker 2>he was too stupid to know that they were only

313
00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:51.920
<v Speaker 2>toy guns, and when they fired them off crack crack,

314
00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:56.240
<v Speaker 2>they soon discovered that he was in a terrible fright.

315
00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:01.680
<v Speaker 2>What have I done to you, young sirs, he gasped out,

316
00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:05.680
<v Speaker 2>What have I done to you that you should want

317
00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:10.400
<v Speaker 2>to shoot me? Yet? Shoot me? Yes, destroy me if

318
00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:14.960
<v Speaker 2>you will, and end my miserable existence. He began to

319
00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:21.480
<v Speaker 2>groan until the cavern reverberated with his cries. What's the matter,

320
00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:25.680
<v Speaker 2>old chappy, said Helmut, who observing the weakness of the

321
00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:31.720
<v Speaker 2>enemy had regained his courage. I am an anachronism, said

322
00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:36.480
<v Speaker 2>the dragon. Don't you know what that is? Well? I

323
00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:40.039
<v Speaker 2>am one born out of my age. I am a

324
00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:45.359
<v Speaker 2>survival of anything but the fittest. You are the masters, now,

325
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.440
<v Speaker 2>you miserable, floppy looking race of mankind. You can shoot me.

326
00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:55.920
<v Speaker 2>You can blow me up with dynamite. You can poison me,

327
00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:00.640
<v Speaker 2>you can stuff me. Oh oh, you can put me

328
00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:04.720
<v Speaker 2>into a cage in the zoological gardens. You have flying

329
00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:08.119
<v Speaker 2>dragons in the sky who could drop on me suddenly

330
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:13.720
<v Speaker 2>and crush me. You have the power. We great creatures

331
00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:16.759
<v Speaker 2>of bygone ages, have only been able to creep into

332
00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:21.319
<v Speaker 2>the rocks and caves to hide from your superior cleverness

333
00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:27.440
<v Speaker 2>and your willy machinations. We must perish while you go

334
00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:32.799
<v Speaker 2>on like the brook forever, so saying, he began to

335
00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:38.200
<v Speaker 2>shed great tears that dropped on the floor splash, plash,

336
00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:44.559
<v Speaker 2>like the water from the rocks. The boys felt embarrassed.

337
00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:49.680
<v Speaker 2>This was not their idea of manly conduct, and considerably

338
00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:54.559
<v Speaker 2>lowered their opinions of dragons in general. Do not betray me,

339
00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:58.359
<v Speaker 2>young sirs, went on the dragon in a pathetic and

340
00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:03.160
<v Speaker 2>weepy voice. I have managed so far to lie here,

341
00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:07.720
<v Speaker 2>concealed though multitudes. If people have passed this way and

342
00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:13.559
<v Speaker 2>never perceived me, I tell you what, said Helmut, touched

343
00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:18.519
<v Speaker 2>by the dragon's evident terror. Let's make friends with him. Boys,

344
00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:22.839
<v Speaker 2>he's given us a nice ride for nothing. We will

345
00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:28.319
<v Speaker 2>present him with the flag of truce. Turning to the dragon,

346
00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:32.519
<v Speaker 2>he said, allow us to give you a banana, an

347
00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:37.920
<v Speaker 2>a roll in token of our friendship and esteem. Oh,

348
00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:43.440
<v Speaker 2>said the dragon, brightening up. I like bananas. People often

349
00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:48.680
<v Speaker 2>throw the skins away here. I prefer them to orange peals.

350
00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:52.119
<v Speaker 2>I live on such things. You must know, the cast

351
00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:59.079
<v Speaker 2>off refuse of humanity, he said, becoming tragic again. They

352
00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.519
<v Speaker 2>presented him with the banana, and he ate it, skin

353
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:06.680
<v Speaker 2>and all. It seemed to give him an appetite. He

354
00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:10.160
<v Speaker 2>appeared to recover his spirits, and the boys thought it

355
00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:13.839
<v Speaker 2>would be better to look for the way out. The

356
00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:18.599
<v Speaker 2>cavern seemed quite smooth and round, except for the cracks

357
00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:23.359
<v Speaker 2>through which the daylight came. They could not discover the

358
00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:28.200
<v Speaker 2>passage by which they had entered. The dragon's eyes were

359
00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:33.279
<v Speaker 2>beginning to look bloodthirsty, remembrances of his former strength shot

360
00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:39.799
<v Speaker 2>across his dulled brains. He could crush aneath these little boys,

361
00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:45.079
<v Speaker 2>after all, and nobody would be the wiser. Little boys

362
00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:52.160
<v Speaker 2>tasted better than bananas even Meanwhile, Wolf and Werner had

363
00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:56.039
<v Speaker 2>stuck their flags through the holes in the rocks so

364
00:29:56.119 --> 00:30:01.559
<v Speaker 2>that they were visible from the outside. Little Adolf had

365
00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:05.640
<v Speaker 2>gone straight home and had told awful tales of the

366
00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:09.319
<v Speaker 2>games the others were up to, and he conducted the

367
00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:13.279
<v Speaker 2>four mothers to the dragon's gorge, where they wandered up

368
00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:18.279
<v Speaker 2>and down looking for their boys. Adolph observed the flags

369
00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:21.599
<v Speaker 2>sticking up on the rocks and drew attention to them.

370
00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:28.880
<v Speaker 2>The dragon's gorge resounded with the cries of Helmut, Wolf Werner.

371
00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:35.119
<v Speaker 2>The dragon heard the voices as well. His evil intentions

372
00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:39.759
<v Speaker 2>died away. The chronic fear of discovery came upon him again.

373
00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:45.519
<v Speaker 2>He grew paler and paler. Clouds of smoke came from

374
00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:52.079
<v Speaker 2>his nostrils until he became invisible. At the same moment, Helmut,

375
00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:56.240
<v Speaker 2>groping against the wall that lay in shadow, found the

376
00:30:56.279 --> 00:31:00.880
<v Speaker 2>opening of the passage through which they had come Through this,

377
00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:06.400
<v Speaker 2>the three boys now crawled, hardly daring to breathe for

378
00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:11.079
<v Speaker 2>fear of exciting the dragon. Again. Soon a gleam of

379
00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:15.880
<v Speaker 2>light at the other end told of their deliverance. Their

380
00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:20.039
<v Speaker 2>tender mothers fell on their necks and scolded them at

381
00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:25.839
<v Speaker 2>the same time. Truly, never did boys look dirtier or

382
00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:32.279
<v Speaker 2>more disreputable. We feel positively ashamed to go home with you,

383
00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:37.000
<v Speaker 2>their mother said to them. Well, for once, I was

384
00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:42.480
<v Speaker 2>jolly glad you did come. Mother, said Helmut, that treacherous

385
00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:47.200
<v Speaker 2>old dragon wanted to turn on us. After all, he

386
00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:50.559
<v Speaker 2>might have devoured us if he had not turned up

387
00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:54.119
<v Speaker 2>in the nick of time. Not that I believe that

388
00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:57.599
<v Speaker 2>he really would have done anything of the sort. He

389
00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:00.839
<v Speaker 2>was a coward, you know, And when when we leveled

390
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:05.799
<v Speaker 2>our guns at him, he was awfully frightened. Still, he

391
00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:09.640
<v Speaker 2>might have found out that our guns were not properly loaded,

392
00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:15.720
<v Speaker 2>and then it would have been unpleasant. Mother smiled. She

393
00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:19.240
<v Speaker 2>did not seem to take this story quite so seriously

394
00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:24.839
<v Speaker 2>as Helmut wished. We had a gorgeous ride on his back. Mother, dear,

395
00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:29.000
<v Speaker 2>would you like to see him? You have only to

396
00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:33.200
<v Speaker 2>lie down flat and squeeze yourself through that crack in

397
00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:38.720
<v Speaker 2>the rocks till you come to his cave. No, thank you,

398
00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:45.319
<v Speaker 2>said mother. I think I can do without seeing your dragon. Oh,

399
00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:48.960
<v Speaker 2>we have forgotten our flags, called out Wolf and Werner.

400
00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:53.640
<v Speaker 2>Wait a minute for us, and they climbed up over

401
00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:57.839
<v Speaker 2>the rocks and rescued the flags. He's still in there,

402
00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:04.039
<v Speaker 2>they whispered to Helmut in a mysterious whisper. Mother said

403
00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:07.759
<v Speaker 2>Helmut that evening, when she came to wish him good night.

404
00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:11.440
<v Speaker 2>Do you know if you stand up to a dragon

405
00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:14.799
<v Speaker 2>like a man and are not afraid of him, he

406
00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:19.920
<v Speaker 2>is not so difficult to vanquish? After all? I'm glad

407
00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:24.839
<v Speaker 2>you think so, said mother. Volo cumdeo. There is a

408
00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:29.440
<v Speaker 2>Latin proverb for you. It means that with God's help,

409
00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:36.119
<v Speaker 2>willpower is the chief thing necessary. This even dragons know.

410
00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:41.960
<v Speaker 2>Thus a little boy can conquer even greater dragons than

411
00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:51.519
<v Speaker 2>the monsters vast of ages past. Hum said Helmut musingly, Mother, dear,

412
00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:55.799
<v Speaker 2>I was a real hero today. I think you would

413
00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:59.680
<v Speaker 2>have been proud of me. But I must confess between

414
00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:06.960
<v Speaker 2>ours that the old dragon was a bit of a fool.

415
00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:13.400
<v Speaker 2>The Dragon's Tale. I wonder if the girls and boys

416
00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:16.519
<v Speaker 2>who read these stories have heard of the charming and

417
00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:22.599
<v Speaker 2>romantic town of Eisenoch. I suppose not, for it is

418
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:26.559
<v Speaker 2>a curious fact that few English people visit the place,

419
00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:32.559
<v Speaker 2>though very many Americans go there. Americans are well known

420
00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:37.880
<v Speaker 2>to have a special interest in old places with historical associations,

421
00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:43.679
<v Speaker 2>because they have nothing of the sort in America. Moreover,

422
00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:47.440
<v Speaker 2>many of them are Germans by birth and have heard

423
00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:52.880
<v Speaker 2>stories of the Wartburg, that beautiful old castle which, from

424
00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:57.920
<v Speaker 2>the summit of a hill surrounded by woods, overlooks the

425
00:34:57.960 --> 00:35:03.920
<v Speaker 2>town of Eisenoch. The Wartburg is quaintly built, with dear

426
00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:09.400
<v Speaker 2>little turrets and gables and high towers, a long curving

427
00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:14.000
<v Speaker 2>wall with dark beams like the peasant cottages, and windows

428
00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:18.880
<v Speaker 2>looking out into the forest. It belongs at present to

429
00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:24.719
<v Speaker 2>the Grand Duke of sachsen Weimar Eisenach. Every stone and

430
00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:29.440
<v Speaker 2>corner of the Wartburg is connected with some old story

431
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:34.880
<v Speaker 2>or legend. For instance, there is the hall with the

432
00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:40.199
<v Speaker 2>raised dais at one end and beautiful pillars surrounding the roof,

433
00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:45.360
<v Speaker 2>where menacingers of old times used to hold their great

434
00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:51.480
<v Speaker 2>musical festivals. As we should say nowadays, there was keen

435
00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:55.639
<v Speaker 2>competition for the prizes that were offered and reward for

436
00:35:55.719 --> 00:36:01.800
<v Speaker 2>the best music and songs. And the castle are also

437
00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:05.760
<v Speaker 2>the rooms of Saint Elizabeth that sweet saint who was

438
00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:09.719
<v Speaker 2>so good to the poor, and who suffered so terribly

439
00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:15.199
<v Speaker 2>herself in parting from her husband and children. Then there

440
00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:18.320
<v Speaker 2>is the lion on the roof, who could tell a

441
00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:23.320
<v Speaker 2>fine tale if he chose. The great banqueting hall and

442
00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:28.119
<v Speaker 2>the little chapel. On the top of the tower is

443
00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:31.599
<v Speaker 2>a beautiful cross that is lit up at night by

444
00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:35.679
<v Speaker 2>electric light and can be seen from a great distance

445
00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:40.719
<v Speaker 2>in the country round. This is, of course a modern addition.

446
00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:46.280
<v Speaker 2>But the most interesting room in the castle is that

447
00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:51.320
<v Speaker 2>where doctor Martha and Luther spend his time translating the Bible.

448
00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:55.599
<v Speaker 2>Our reward had been offered to any one who should

449
00:36:55.679 --> 00:37:00.840
<v Speaker 2>kill this arch heretic, so his friends brought up disguised

450
00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:04.320
<v Speaker 2>as a knight to the Wartburg, and very few people

451
00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:09.400
<v Speaker 2>knew of his whereabouts. As you look through the latticed

452
00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:13.480
<v Speaker 2>windows of that little room, the exquisite blue and purple

453
00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:17.280
<v Speaker 2>hills of the Thuringen walled stretch away in the distance,

454
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:23.119
<v Speaker 2>and no human habitation is to be seen. There. Too,

455
00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:26.559
<v Speaker 2>you may see the famous spot on the wall where

456
00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:31.079
<v Speaker 2>Luther through the inkpot at the devil. To be correct,

457
00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:34.960
<v Speaker 2>you can see the hole where the ink stain used

458
00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:38.840
<v Speaker 2>to be, for visitors have cut away every trace of

459
00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:42.559
<v Speaker 2>the ink, and even portions of the old wooden bedstead.

460
00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:47.519
<v Speaker 2>There is the writing desk with the translation of the Bible,

461
00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:52.159
<v Speaker 2>and the remarkable footstool that consisted of the bone of

462
00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:56.880
<v Speaker 2>a mammoth. Those were the days in which a man

463
00:37:57.039 --> 00:38:00.280
<v Speaker 2>risks his life for his faith. But they were the

464
00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:07.239
<v Speaker 2>days also we must remember of witchcraft and magic. One

465
00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:10.639
<v Speaker 2>other story of the Wartburg. I must snare it in

466
00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:13.239
<v Speaker 2>order to give you some idea of the interest that

467
00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:17.760
<v Speaker 2>still surrounds this place and influences the children who grow

468
00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:21.280
<v Speaker 2>up there. It was in the days of the old

469
00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:27.920
<v Speaker 2>Emperor Barbarossa Redbeard. The sister of the Emperor, whose name

470
00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:32.039
<v Speaker 2>was Utah, was married to the Landgraf Ludwig of Thuringen,

471
00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:38.000
<v Speaker 2>and they lived at the Wartburg. One day, when Barbarossa

472
00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:41.880
<v Speaker 2>came to visit them, he observed that the castle had

473
00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:47.400
<v Speaker 2>no outer walls round it, as was usual in those days.

474
00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:51.519
<v Speaker 2>What a pity, he said, that such a fine castle

475
00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:55.320
<v Speaker 2>should be unprotected by walls and ramparts. It ought to

476
00:38:55.400 --> 00:39:01.559
<v Speaker 2>be more strongly fortified, Oh, said Langgrafluodudwick. If that is

477
00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:06.639
<v Speaker 2>all the castle needs, it can soon have them, how soon,

478
00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:11.159
<v Speaker 2>said the emperor mockingly, in the space of three days,

479
00:39:11.559 --> 00:39:15.719
<v Speaker 2>answered his brother in law. That could only be possible

480
00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:19.800
<v Speaker 2>with the aid of the devil, said Barbarossa, Otherwise it

481
00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:24.519
<v Speaker 2>could not be done. Wait and see for yourself, said

482
00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:30.400
<v Speaker 2>the Landgraf. On the third day of his visit, Ludwig

483
00:39:30.519 --> 00:39:33.519
<v Speaker 2>said to the Emperor, what do you care to see

484
00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:39.400
<v Speaker 2>the walls? They are finished now. Barbarossa crossed himself several

485
00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:44.360
<v Speaker 2>times and prepared for some fearful manifestation of black magic.

486
00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:48.760
<v Speaker 2>But what was his surprise to see a living wall

487
00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:53.719
<v Speaker 2>round the castle of Stout peasants and burghers ready armed

488
00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:57.920
<v Speaker 2>with weapons in their hands. The banners of well known

489
00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:01.639
<v Speaker 2>knights and lords waved their penn in the wind where

490
00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:07.880
<v Speaker 2>battlements should have been. The Emperor was much astonished and

491
00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:12.480
<v Speaker 2>called out, many thanks, brother in law, for your lesson

492
00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:18.000
<v Speaker 2>stronger walls. I have never seen nor better fitted together

493
00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:23.400
<v Speaker 2>rough stones. They may some of them be, said the Langrath,

494
00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:28.000
<v Speaker 2>Yet I can rely on them as you see now,

495
00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:31.079
<v Speaker 2>as you may imagine. The children who grow up in

496
00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:34.719
<v Speaker 2>this town must have their heads full of these tales,

497
00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:39.480
<v Speaker 2>and many poets and artists have been inspired by the

498
00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:44.280
<v Speaker 2>beauties of Eisenach. The natural surroundings of the town are

499
00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:49.320
<v Speaker 2>so wonderful that they also provide rich material for the imagination.

500
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:55.760
<v Speaker 2>Helmut was a boy who lived in Eisenach. He was

501
00:40:55.800 --> 00:41:00.239
<v Speaker 2>eight years old and went to a day school. He

502
00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:04.280
<v Speaker 2>lived outside the town, not far from the entrance to

503
00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:09.320
<v Speaker 2>the forest. He was a pale, fair haired little boy

504
00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:13.760
<v Speaker 2>and did not look the tremendous hero he fancied himself

505
00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:17.639
<v Speaker 2>in his dreams, not even when he buckled on helmet

506
00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:22.400
<v Speaker 2>breastplate and swared and marched out into the street to

507
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:26.199
<v Speaker 2>take his part in the warfare that went on constantly

508
00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:30.519
<v Speaker 2>here between the boys of this neighborhood and the boys

509
00:41:30.559 --> 00:41:35.199
<v Speaker 2>who belonged to another part of the town. Now, the

510
00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:40.360
<v Speaker 2>Dragon's Gorge is a most marvelous place. It is surrounded

511
00:41:40.360 --> 00:41:44.440
<v Speaker 2>on all sides by thick forests, and you come onto

512
00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:48.920
<v Speaker 2>it suddenly when walking in the woods. It is a

513
00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:54.280
<v Speaker 2>group of huge green rocks like cliffs that stand picturesquely

514
00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:59.519
<v Speaker 2>piled close together, towering up to the sky. There is

515
00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:06.400
<v Speaker 2>only a very narrow pathway between them. Helmuut had often

516
00:42:06.440 --> 00:42:09.480
<v Speaker 2>been there with his father and mother, or with other

517
00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:16.159
<v Speaker 2>boys after heavy rain or thawing snow, it became impassable.

518
00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:20.519
<v Speaker 2>At the best of times. It was advisable for a

519
00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:24.559
<v Speaker 2>lady not to put on her sunday hat, especially if

520
00:42:24.599 --> 00:42:29.320
<v Speaker 2>it were large and had feathers, for the rocks are

521
00:42:29.400 --> 00:42:34.480
<v Speaker 2>constantly tripping with water. The great boulders are covered with

522
00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:39.599
<v Speaker 2>green moss or tiny ferns, and in the springtime wood

523
00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:44.360
<v Speaker 2>sorrel grows on them in great patches, the underside of

524
00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:49.760
<v Speaker 2>the leaves tinged an exquisite violet or pink color. The

525
00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:54.440
<v Speaker 2>entrance to the dragon's gorge is through these rocks. They

526
00:42:54.559 --> 00:43:00.360
<v Speaker 2>narrow and almost meet overhead, obscuring the sky till it

527
00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:05.159
<v Speaker 2>seems as if one were walking under the sea. Two

528
00:43:05.320 --> 00:43:10.039
<v Speaker 2>persons cannot walk side by side here In some parts, indeed,

529
00:43:10.599 --> 00:43:14.719
<v Speaker 2>one can only just squeeze through. The way winds in

530
00:43:14.800 --> 00:43:19.360
<v Speaker 2>and out in the most curious manner. There are little

531
00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:23.800
<v Speaker 2>side passages too, that you could hardly get into it all.

532
00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:29.440
<v Speaker 2>In some places you can hear the water roaring under

533
00:43:29.480 --> 00:43:33.960
<v Speaker 2>your feet. Then the rocks end abruptly, and you come

534
00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:38.360
<v Speaker 2>out into the forest again, and hear the birds singing,

535
00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:42.039
<v Speaker 2>and see the little brook dancing along by the side

536
00:43:42.079 --> 00:43:47.360
<v Speaker 2>of the way. Altogether, it is the most fascinating, wet

537
00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:54.480
<v Speaker 2>and delightful walk that you could imagine. Helmut had long

538
00:43:54.519 --> 00:43:58.480
<v Speaker 2>been planning an expedition to these rocks in company with

539
00:43:58.639 --> 00:44:04.039
<v Speaker 2>other boyfriends, in order to slay the dragon. He dreamt

540
00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:07.119
<v Speaker 2>of it day and night until he brought home a

541
00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:12.679
<v Speaker 2>bad mark for attention in his school report. He told

542
00:44:12.760 --> 00:44:16.079
<v Speaker 2>his mother about it. She laughed and said he might

543
00:44:16.239 --> 00:44:19.800
<v Speaker 2>leave the poor old fellow alone. There were plenty of

544
00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:26.480
<v Speaker 2>dragons to slay at home. Self will, disobedience inattention, and

545
00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:31.400
<v Speaker 2>so on. She made a momentary impression on the little boy,

546
00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:35.400
<v Speaker 2>who always wanted to be good, but found it difficult

547
00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:39.880
<v Speaker 2>at times. Curious to say to carry out his intention,

548
00:44:41.360 --> 00:44:46.159
<v Speaker 2>he looked thoughtful and answered, of course, mother, I know,

549
00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:50.280
<v Speaker 2>but this time I want to slay a really and

550
00:44:50.480 --> 00:44:54.360
<v Speaker 2>truly dragon. May I will you let me go with

551
00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:59.719
<v Speaker 2>the other boys. It would be such fun the dragon's

552
00:44:59.760 --> 00:45:02.960
<v Speaker 2>gore which was not far off, and mother did not

553
00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:07.760
<v Speaker 2>think that Helmut could do himself any harm except by

554
00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:10.800
<v Speaker 2>getting wet and dirty, and that he might do as

555
00:45:10.840 --> 00:45:15.519
<v Speaker 2>well in the garden home. If you put on your

556
00:45:15.639 --> 00:45:19.280
<v Speaker 2>old suit and your thick boots, I think you may

557
00:45:19.320 --> 00:45:23.679
<v Speaker 2>go keep with the other boys, and promise me not

558
00:45:23.840 --> 00:45:29.880
<v Speaker 2>to get lost. Oh, I say, won't it be fun?

559
00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:34.800
<v Speaker 2>I'll run off and tell the other fellows hurrah, and

560
00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:40.039
<v Speaker 2>Helmut ran off into the street. Soon four heads were

561
00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:44.519
<v Speaker 2>to be seen close together making plans for the next day.

562
00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:51.400
<v Speaker 2>We'll start quite early, at six o'clock, they said, and

563
00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:56.880
<v Speaker 2>take our second breakfast with us. In Germany, eleven o'clock

564
00:45:56.960 --> 00:46:02.599
<v Speaker 2>lunch is called second breakfast. However, it was seven o'clock

565
00:46:02.840 --> 00:46:06.760
<v Speaker 2>a m before the boys had had their first breakfast

566
00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:12.760
<v Speaker 2>and met outside the house. How mother and father laughed

567
00:46:12.760 --> 00:46:16.639
<v Speaker 2>to see the little fellows all dressed in the most

568
00:46:16.679 --> 00:46:22.599
<v Speaker 2>warlike costumes, like miniature soldiers, armed with guns and swords.

569
00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:26.840
<v Speaker 2>Mother was a little anxious and hoped they would come

570
00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:30.000
<v Speaker 2>to no harm, but she liked her boy to be

571
00:46:30.239 --> 00:46:35.000
<v Speaker 2>independent and knew how happy children are if left to

572
00:46:35.079 --> 00:46:39.960
<v Speaker 2>play their pretense games alone. She watched the four set

573
00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:44.039
<v Speaker 2>off at a swinging march down the street. Soon they

574
00:46:44.119 --> 00:46:48.079
<v Speaker 2>had recruits, for it was a holiday and there were

575
00:46:48.159 --> 00:46:54.679
<v Speaker 2>plenty of boys around. Helmut was commanding officer. The boys

576
00:46:54.719 --> 00:46:59.920
<v Speaker 2>shouldered their guns or presented arms as he directed. They

577
00:47:00.119 --> 00:47:03.239
<v Speaker 2>passed the pond and followed the stream through the woods

578
00:47:03.960 --> 00:47:07.880
<v Speaker 2>until they came to the dragon's gorge, where the rocks

579
00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:13.199
<v Speaker 2>rise up, suddenly high and imposing. Looking here, they could

580
00:47:13.239 --> 00:47:19.480
<v Speaker 2>only proceed in single file. Helmut headed the band, feeling

581
00:47:19.519 --> 00:47:24.840
<v Speaker 2>as courageous as in his dreams. His head swam with elation.

582
00:47:26.199 --> 00:47:30.519
<v Speaker 2>Huge walls towered above them, the rocks dropped water on

583
00:47:30.639 --> 00:47:34.880
<v Speaker 2>their heads. As yet, they had seen or heard nothing

584
00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:38.599
<v Speaker 2>of the dragon. Yet as they held their breath to listen,

585
00:47:39.159 --> 00:47:44.480
<v Speaker 2>they could hear something roaring under their feet. Don't you

586
00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:49.679
<v Speaker 2>tell me that that is only water, said Helmut. A

587
00:47:49.719 --> 00:47:53.920
<v Speaker 2>little brook can't make such a row as that. That's

588
00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:58.840
<v Speaker 2>the dragon. The other boys laughed. They were skepticals to

589
00:47:58.920 --> 00:48:04.559
<v Speaker 2>the dragon and were only pretending, whereas Helmut was in earnest.

590
00:48:05.400 --> 00:48:09.719
<v Speaker 2>I'm hungry, said one boy. Supposing we find a dry

591
00:48:09.800 --> 00:48:13.679
<v Speaker 2>place and have our lunch. They came to where the

592
00:48:13.719 --> 00:48:18.280
<v Speaker 2>path wound out again into the open air, and sat

593
00:48:18.360 --> 00:48:23.440
<v Speaker 2>down on some stones which could hardly be described as dry.

594
00:48:24.880 --> 00:48:32.239
<v Speaker 2>Here they ate bread and sausage, oranges and bananas. Give

595
00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:36.000
<v Speaker 2>me the orange peel, you fellows. Mother hates us to

596
00:48:36.119 --> 00:48:40.920
<v Speaker 2>throw it about. It makes the place so untidy, So

597
00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:45.440
<v Speaker 2>saying Helmut, pushed his orange peel right into a crevice

598
00:48:45.480 --> 00:48:49.719
<v Speaker 2>of the rock and covered it with old leaves, but

599
00:48:49.840 --> 00:48:53.280
<v Speaker 2>the other boys laughed at him and chucked theirs into

600
00:48:53.320 --> 00:48:59.679
<v Speaker 2>the little stream, which made Helmut very angry. I won't

601
00:48:59.679 --> 00:49:03.440
<v Speaker 2>be your officer anymore if you do not do as

602
00:49:03.480 --> 00:49:09.719
<v Speaker 2>I say, he said, and they began to quarrel. We're

603
00:49:09.760 --> 00:49:13.519
<v Speaker 2>not going to fight your old dragon. We're going home

604
00:49:13.599 --> 00:49:17.199
<v Speaker 2>again to play football. That will be a far better fun,

605
00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:21.440
<v Speaker 2>said the boys who had joined as recruits, and they

606
00:49:21.480 --> 00:49:26.920
<v Speaker 2>went off home till only Helmut's chums were left. They

607
00:49:26.920 --> 00:49:29.920
<v Speaker 2>were glad enough to get rid of the other boys.

608
00:49:30.719 --> 00:49:34.079
<v Speaker 2>We have more chance of seeing the dragon without those

609
00:49:34.119 --> 00:49:40.199
<v Speaker 2>stupid fellows, they said. They finished their lunch, shouldered their

610
00:49:40.280 --> 00:49:44.800
<v Speaker 2>guns again, and enter the second gorge, which is even

611
00:49:44.840 --> 00:49:50.920
<v Speaker 2>more picturesque and narrow than the first. Suddenly Helmut a

612
00:49:51.079 --> 00:49:55.519
<v Speaker 2>spied something round and slimy and long, lying on the

613
00:49:55.559 --> 00:49:59.440
<v Speaker 2>path before him, like a blind worm, but much thicker

614
00:49:59.480 --> 00:50:06.519
<v Speaker 2>than blind worms generally are. He became fearfully excited. Come along, you, fellows,

615
00:50:06.599 --> 00:50:11.320
<v Speaker 2>hurry up, he said, I do believe it's the dragon's tail.

616
00:50:13.079 --> 00:50:17.079
<v Speaker 2>They came up close behind him and looked over his shoulders.

617
00:50:17.840 --> 00:50:21.119
<v Speaker 2>The gorge was so narrow here that they could not

618
00:50:21.440 --> 00:50:26.239
<v Speaker 2>pass one another. Good gracious, they said, whatever shall we

619
00:50:26.239 --> 00:50:29.840
<v Speaker 2>do now? They all felt frightened at the idea of

620
00:50:29.880 --> 00:50:33.559
<v Speaker 2>a real dragon, but they stood to their guns like men,

621
00:50:34.199 --> 00:50:38.719
<v Speaker 2>all but the youngest, Adolph, who wanted to run away home,

622
00:50:39.599 --> 00:50:44.800
<v Speaker 2>but the others would not let him. Helmut catch hold

623
00:50:44.800 --> 00:50:48.880
<v Speaker 2>of it quick now, whispered Werner and Wolf the other

624
00:50:48.960 --> 00:50:55.679
<v Speaker 2>two boys. Helmut stretched out his hand courageously. Perhaps it

625
00:50:55.800 --> 00:50:59.480
<v Speaker 2>was only a huge blind worm after all. But as

626
00:50:59.519 --> 00:51:04.199
<v Speaker 2>he tried to catch it, the thing slipped swiftly away.

627
00:51:04.840 --> 00:51:08.480
<v Speaker 2>They all followed it, running as fast as they could

628
00:51:08.519 --> 00:51:14.119
<v Speaker 2>through the narrow gorge, bumping themselves against the walls, scratching

629
00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:19.039
<v Speaker 2>themselves and tearing their clothes. But all the time Helmut

630
00:51:19.639 --> 00:51:23.079
<v Speaker 2>never let that tail. If it was a tail out

631
00:51:23.159 --> 00:51:27.320
<v Speaker 2>of his sight. If we had some salt to put

632
00:51:27.360 --> 00:51:30.480
<v Speaker 2>on it, said he, we might catch it like a

633
00:51:30.519 --> 00:51:34.840
<v Speaker 2>dicky bird. It would be a fine thing to present

634
00:51:34.920 --> 00:51:39.320
<v Speaker 2>to a museum, said Wolf. Well, that thing led them

635
00:51:39.360 --> 00:51:43.480
<v Speaker 2>a fine dance. It would stop short, and then when

636
00:51:43.519 --> 00:51:46.639
<v Speaker 2>they thought they had got it, it started off again,

637
00:51:47.360 --> 00:51:51.320
<v Speaker 2>until they were all puffing and blowing. We've got to

638
00:51:51.440 --> 00:51:56.280
<v Speaker 2>catch it somehow, said Helmut, who thought that chase fine sport.

639
00:51:57.440 --> 00:52:00.800
<v Speaker 2>At that moment the gorge opened out again into the woods,

640
00:52:01.280 --> 00:52:05.000
<v Speaker 2>and the tail gave them the slip, for it disappeared

641
00:52:05.039 --> 00:52:07.719
<v Speaker 2>in a crevice of the rock, where there was no

642
00:52:07.920 --> 00:52:11.760
<v Speaker 2>room for a boy to follow it. It was a

643
00:52:11.800 --> 00:52:18.159
<v Speaker 2>blind worm, you see, said Werner. Presently, however, they heard

644
00:52:18.159 --> 00:52:21.840
<v Speaker 2>a noise as of thunder, and looking down the path,

645
00:52:21.960 --> 00:52:25.239
<v Speaker 2>they saw head glaring at them out of the rocks,

646
00:52:25.920 --> 00:52:31.320
<v Speaker 2>undeniably a dragon's head, with a huge jaw, red tongue,

647
00:52:31.719 --> 00:52:38.280
<v Speaker 2>and rows of jagged teeth. The boys stared aghast. They

648
00:52:38.320 --> 00:52:41.719
<v Speaker 2>were in for an adventure this time, and no mistake.

649
00:52:43.840 --> 00:52:48.000
<v Speaker 2>Slowly the dragon raised himself out of the rocks, so

650
00:52:48.039 --> 00:52:53.000
<v Speaker 2>that they saw his whole scaly length, like a huge crocodile.

651
00:52:53.840 --> 00:52:57.079
<v Speaker 2>Then he began to move along the path away from them.

652
00:52:58.400 --> 00:53:02.480
<v Speaker 2>He moved quite slowly now, so there was no difficulty

653
00:53:02.559 --> 00:53:06.320
<v Speaker 2>in keeping up with him, but his tail was so

654
00:53:06.559 --> 00:53:12.440
<v Speaker 2>slimy and slippery that they could not keep hold of it. Moreover,

655
00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:17.320
<v Speaker 2>it wriggled dreadfully whenever they tried to seize it. But

656
00:53:17.440 --> 00:53:22.159
<v Speaker 2>Helmut had inherited the cool courage of the Wartburg Nights,

657
00:53:22.760 --> 00:53:26.360
<v Speaker 2>and he was not going to be overcome by difficulties

658
00:53:28.719 --> 00:53:33.440
<v Speaker 2>with the wild Indian. Whoop, he sprang on the dragon's back,

659
00:53:34.159 --> 00:53:38.920
<v Speaker 2>and all the other boys followed his example, except little Adolf,

660
00:53:39.519 --> 00:53:42.719
<v Speaker 2>who was timid and began to set up a howl

661
00:53:42.760 --> 00:53:45.440
<v Speaker 2>for his mother. I'm sorry to say.

662
00:53:47.039 --> 00:53:47.159
<v Speaker 1>No.

663
00:53:47.360 --> 00:53:50.920
<v Speaker 2>Sooner were the boys on his back than the dragons

664
00:53:51.000 --> 00:53:53.840
<v Speaker 2>set off at a fine trot up and down the

665
00:53:53.920 --> 00:53:58.440
<v Speaker 2>dragon's gorge. They had to hold on tight and to

666
00:53:58.599 --> 00:54:02.679
<v Speaker 2>duck whenever the rock rejected overhead, or when they went

667
00:54:02.840 --> 00:54:08.920
<v Speaker 2>sharply round a corner. Hurrah, cried Helmut, waving a flag.

668
00:54:09.679 --> 00:54:12.760
<v Speaker 2>This is better than a motor ride, isn't he a

669
00:54:12.880 --> 00:54:18.719
<v Speaker 2>jolly old fellow? At this remark, the jolly old fellow

670
00:54:18.920 --> 00:54:23.480
<v Speaker 2>stopped dead and began to snort out fire and smoke

671
00:54:24.159 --> 00:54:29.000
<v Speaker 2>that made the boy's coffin choke. Now stop that, will you,

672
00:54:29.679 --> 00:54:33.920
<v Speaker 2>said Helmut imperatively, or we shall have to slay you.

673
00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:37.039
<v Speaker 2>After all, that's what we came out for, you know.

674
00:54:38.599 --> 00:54:40.960
<v Speaker 2>He pointed his gun at the head of the dragon

675
00:54:41.480 --> 00:54:46.880
<v Speaker 2>as he spoke, like a real hero. The dragon began

676
00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:51.079
<v Speaker 2>to tremble, and though they could only see his profile,

677
00:54:51.639 --> 00:54:56.760
<v Speaker 2>they thought he turned pale. Where's that other little boy?

678
00:54:57.280 --> 00:55:00.880
<v Speaker 2>He asked in a hollow voice. If you will give

679
00:55:00.960 --> 00:55:03.960
<v Speaker 2>him to me for dinner, I will spare you all.

680
00:55:05.360 --> 00:55:12.079
<v Speaker 2>Helmut laughed scornfully. Thanks, old fellow, he said, you're very kind.

681
00:55:12.800 --> 00:55:16.800
<v Speaker 2>I'm sure Adolph would be much obliged to you. I

682
00:55:16.920 --> 00:55:20.880
<v Speaker 2>expect he's run home to his mother long ago. He's

683
00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:23.559
<v Speaker 2>a bit of a funk. We shan't take him with

684
00:55:23.760 --> 00:55:29.199
<v Speaker 2>us another time. He looked so sweet and juicy and tender,

685
00:55:29.760 --> 00:55:34.079
<v Speaker 2>said the dragon, sighing. I never get a child for

686
00:55:34.199 --> 00:55:40.679
<v Speaker 2>dinner nowadays. Woe is me, he sniffed. You are an

687
00:55:40.760 --> 00:55:45.920
<v Speaker 2>old cannibal, said the boys, horrified and mistaking the meaning

688
00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:49.920
<v Speaker 2>of the word cannibal. Hurry up now and give us

689
00:55:49.960 --> 00:55:55.679
<v Speaker 2>another ride. It's a first rate fun. This. The dragon

690
00:55:55.800 --> 00:56:00.440
<v Speaker 2>groaned and seemed disinclined to stir, but the boys kicked

691
00:56:00.480 --> 00:56:03.519
<v Speaker 2>him with their heels, and there was nothing for it

692
00:56:03.679 --> 00:56:07.880
<v Speaker 2>but to gee up. After he had been up and

693
00:56:07.960 --> 00:56:12.519
<v Speaker 2>down several times and the boy's clothes were nearly torn

694
00:56:12.599 --> 00:56:16.800
<v Speaker 2>to pieces, he suddenly turned into a great crevice in

695
00:56:16.880 --> 00:56:21.199
<v Speaker 2>the rocks that led down into a dark passage, and

696
00:56:21.239 --> 00:56:25.920
<v Speaker 2>the boys felt really frightened for the first time. Daylight

697
00:56:26.440 --> 00:56:32.760
<v Speaker 2>has a wonderfully bracing effect on the nerves. In a moment, however,

698
00:56:33.360 --> 00:56:37.800
<v Speaker 2>a few rays of sunshine penetrated the black darkness, and

699
00:56:37.880 --> 00:56:41.360
<v Speaker 2>they saw that they were in a small cave. The

700
00:56:41.400 --> 00:56:45.920
<v Speaker 2>next thing they experienced was that the dragon shook himself violently,

701
00:56:46.599 --> 00:56:50.599
<v Speaker 2>and the small boys fell off his back like apples

702
00:56:50.639 --> 00:56:55.440
<v Speaker 2>from a tree on the wet and sloppy floor. They

703
00:56:55.440 --> 00:56:59.079
<v Speaker 2>picked themselves up again in a second, and there they

704
00:56:59.199 --> 00:57:03.519
<v Speaker 2>saw the dragon and before them, panting after his extersons

705
00:57:04.239 --> 00:57:09.840
<v Speaker 2>and filling the cavern with a poisonous smelling smoke. Helmut

706
00:57:10.039 --> 00:57:13.960
<v Speaker 2>and Wolf and Werner stood near the cracks, which did

707
00:57:14.000 --> 00:57:20.760
<v Speaker 2>the duty of windows, and held their pistols pointed at him. Luckily,

708
00:57:20.880 --> 00:57:24.199
<v Speaker 2>he was too stupid to know that they were only

709
00:57:24.320 --> 00:57:28.440
<v Speaker 2>toy guns, and when they fired them off crack crack,

710
00:57:29.119 --> 00:57:32.800
<v Speaker 2>they soon discovered that he was in a terrible fright.

711
00:57:34.280 --> 00:57:38.639
<v Speaker 2>What have I done to you, young sirs, he gasped out,

712
00:57:39.519 --> 00:57:42.239
<v Speaker 2>What have I done to you that you should want

713
00:57:42.280 --> 00:57:46.960
<v Speaker 2>to shoot me? Yet? Shoot me? Yes, destroy me if

714
00:57:47.000 --> 00:57:51.519
<v Speaker 2>you will, and end my miserable existence. He began to

715
00:57:51.639 --> 00:57:58.039
<v Speaker 2>groan until the cavern reverberated with his cries. What's the matter,

716
00:57:58.119 --> 00:58:02.239
<v Speaker 2>old chappy, said Helmer, who observing the weakness of the

717
00:58:02.400 --> 00:58:08.280
<v Speaker 2>enemy had regained his courage. I am an anachronism, said

718
00:58:08.320 --> 00:58:13.039
<v Speaker 2>the dragon. Don't you know what that is? Well? I

719
00:58:13.079 --> 00:58:16.599
<v Speaker 2>am one born out of my age. I am a

720
00:58:16.679 --> 00:58:21.920
<v Speaker 2>survival of anything but the fittest. You are the masters, now,

721
00:58:22.559 --> 00:58:28.000
<v Speaker 2>you miserable, floppy looking race of mankind. You can shoot me.

722
00:58:28.719 --> 00:58:32.480
<v Speaker 2>You can blow me up with dynamite. You can poison me,

723
00:58:33.039 --> 00:58:37.199
<v Speaker 2>you can stuff me. Oh oh, you can put me

724
00:58:37.239 --> 00:58:41.280
<v Speaker 2>into a cage in the zoological gardens. You have flying

725
00:58:41.360 --> 00:58:44.679
<v Speaker 2>dragons in the sky who could drop on me suddenly

726
00:58:44.719 --> 00:58:50.280
<v Speaker 2>and crush me. You have the power. We great creatures

727
00:58:50.320 --> 00:58:53.320
<v Speaker 2>of bygone ages, have only been able to creep into

728
00:58:53.360 --> 00:58:57.880
<v Speaker 2>the rocks and caves to hide from your superior cleverness

729
00:58:58.400 --> 00:59:04.000
<v Speaker 2>and your willy machinations. We must perish while you go

730
00:59:04.079 --> 00:59:09.360
<v Speaker 2>on like the brook forever, so saying, he began to

731
00:59:09.480 --> 00:59:15.639
<v Speaker 2>shed great tears that dropped on the floor splashplash, like

732
00:59:15.719 --> 00:59:21.920
<v Speaker 2>the water from the rocks. The boys felt embarrassed. This

733
00:59:22.119 --> 00:59:26.760
<v Speaker 2>was not their idea of manly conduct, and considerably lowered

734
00:59:26.760 --> 00:59:31.079
<v Speaker 2>their opinions of dragons in general. Do not betray me,

735
00:59:31.239 --> 00:59:34.920
<v Speaker 2>young sirs, went on the dragon in a pathetic and

736
00:59:34.960 --> 00:59:39.719
<v Speaker 2>weepy voice. I have managed so far to lie here,

737
00:59:40.119 --> 00:59:44.280
<v Speaker 2>concealed though multitudes. If people have passed this way and

738
00:59:44.400 --> 00:59:50.119
<v Speaker 2>never perceived me, I tell you what, said Helmut, touched

739
00:59:50.159 --> 00:59:54.840
<v Speaker 2>by the dragon's evident terror. Let's make friends with him. Boys,

740
00:59:55.760 --> 00:59:59.400
<v Speaker 2>he's given us a nice ride for nothing. We will

741
00:59:59.440 --> 01:00:04.880
<v Speaker 2>present him with the flag of truce. Turning to the dragon,

742
01:00:05.079 --> 01:00:08.920
<v Speaker 2>he said, allow us to give you a banana and

743
01:00:09.119 --> 01:00:14.480
<v Speaker 2>a roll in token of our friendship and esteem. Oh,

744
01:00:14.920 --> 01:00:20.000
<v Speaker 2>said the dragon, brightening up. I like bananas. People often

745
01:00:20.079 --> 01:00:24.559
<v Speaker 2>throw the skins away here. I prefer them to orange peals.

746
01:00:25.360 --> 01:00:28.679
<v Speaker 2>I live on such things. You must know, the cast

747
01:00:28.719 --> 01:00:35.639
<v Speaker 2>off refuse of humanity, he said, becoming tragic again. They

748
01:00:35.679 --> 01:00:39.079
<v Speaker 2>presented him with the banana, and he ate it, skin

749
01:00:39.199 --> 01:00:43.239
<v Speaker 2>and all. It seemed to give him an appetite. He

750
01:00:43.280 --> 01:00:46.719
<v Speaker 2>appeared to recover his spirits, and the boys thought it

751
01:00:46.719 --> 01:00:50.440
<v Speaker 2>would be better to look for the way out. The

752
01:00:50.480 --> 01:00:55.159
<v Speaker 2>cavern seemed quite smooth and round, except for the cracks

753
01:00:55.719 --> 01:01:00.039
<v Speaker 2>through which the daylight came. They could not discover the

754
01:00:59.800 --> 01:01:04.760
<v Speaker 2>passage by which they had entered. The dragon's eyes were

755
01:01:04.800 --> 01:01:09.840
<v Speaker 2>beginning to look bloodthirsty, remembrances of his former strength shot

756
01:01:09.880 --> 01:01:15.480
<v Speaker 2>across his dulled brains. He could crush and eat these

757
01:01:15.559 --> 01:01:19.559
<v Speaker 2>little boys, after all, and nobody would be the wiser.

758
01:01:20.840 --> 01:01:27.320
<v Speaker 2>Little boys tasted better than bananas even Meanwhile, Wolf and

759
01:01:27.400 --> 01:01:31.199
<v Speaker 2>Werner had stuck their flags through the holes in the

760
01:01:31.320 --> 01:01:36.519
<v Speaker 2>rocks so that they were visible from the outside. Now

761
01:01:36.559 --> 01:01:41.440
<v Speaker 2>little Adolf had gone straight home and had told awful

762
01:01:41.559 --> 01:01:44.599
<v Speaker 2>tales of the games the others were up to, and

763
01:01:44.760 --> 01:01:48.840
<v Speaker 2>he conducted the four mothers to the dragon's gorge, where

764
01:01:48.880 --> 01:01:53.519
<v Speaker 2>they wandered up and down looking for their boys. Adolf

765
01:01:53.639 --> 01:01:57.119
<v Speaker 2>observed the flags sticking up on the rocks and drew

766
01:01:57.199 --> 01:02:02.440
<v Speaker 2>attention to them. The dragons george resounded with the cries

767
01:02:02.519 --> 01:02:09.519
<v Speaker 2>of Helmut, Wolf Werner. The dragon heard the voices as well.

768
01:02:10.360 --> 01:02:15.039
<v Speaker 2>His evil intentions died away. The chronic fear of discovery

769
01:02:15.159 --> 01:02:20.760
<v Speaker 2>came upon him again. He grew paler and paler. Clouds

770
01:02:20.800 --> 01:02:25.599
<v Speaker 2>of smoke came from his nostrils until he became invisible.

771
01:02:26.800 --> 01:02:30.559
<v Speaker 2>At the same moment, Helmut, groping against the wall that

772
01:02:30.760 --> 01:02:34.559
<v Speaker 2>lay in shadow, found the opening of the passage through

773
01:02:34.599 --> 01:02:40.000
<v Speaker 2>which they had come Through this, the three boys now crawled,

774
01:02:40.559 --> 01:02:45.199
<v Speaker 2>hardly daring to breathe for fear of exciting the dragon again.

775
01:02:46.639 --> 01:02:50.079
<v Speaker 2>Soon a gleam of light at the other end told

776
01:02:50.159 --> 01:02:54.800
<v Speaker 2>of their deliverance. Their tender mothers fell on their necks

777
01:02:55.239 --> 01:03:00.199
<v Speaker 2>and scolded them at the same time. Truly, how ever,

778
01:03:00.280 --> 01:03:07.000
<v Speaker 2>did boys look dirtier or more disreputable? We feel positively

779
01:03:07.079 --> 01:03:12.559
<v Speaker 2>ashamed to go home with you, their mother said to them. Well,

780
01:03:12.639 --> 01:03:15.679
<v Speaker 2>for once, I was jolly glad you did come. Mother,

781
01:03:16.239 --> 01:03:21.800
<v Speaker 2>said Helmut. That treacherous old dragon wanted to turn on us.

782
01:03:22.599 --> 01:03:26.119
<v Speaker 2>After all, he might have devoured us if he had

783
01:03:26.159 --> 01:03:29.719
<v Speaker 2>not turned up in the nick of time. Not that

784
01:03:29.840 --> 01:03:32.880
<v Speaker 2>I believe that he really would have done anything of

785
01:03:32.920 --> 01:03:36.599
<v Speaker 2>the sort. He was a coward, you know, and when

786
01:03:36.679 --> 01:03:42.239
<v Speaker 2>we leveled our guns at him, he was awfully frightened. Still,

787
01:03:42.280 --> 01:03:44.960
<v Speaker 2>he might have found out that our guns were not

788
01:03:45.159 --> 01:03:51.519
<v Speaker 2>properly loaded, and then it would have been unpleasant. Mother smiled.

789
01:03:52.199 --> 01:03:55.119
<v Speaker 2>She did not seem to take this story quite so

790
01:03:55.199 --> 01:04:00.039
<v Speaker 2>seriously as Helmut wished. We had a gorgeous ride on

791
01:04:00.159 --> 01:04:03.280
<v Speaker 2>his back. Mother, dear, would you like to see him?

792
01:04:04.639 --> 01:04:08.679
<v Speaker 2>You have only to lie down flat and squeeze yourself

793
01:04:08.719 --> 01:04:11.880
<v Speaker 2>through that crack in the rocks till you come to

794
01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:17.920
<v Speaker 2>his cave. No, thank you, said mother. I think I

795
01:04:18.000 --> 01:04:22.719
<v Speaker 2>can do without seeing your dragon. Oh, we have forgotten

796
01:04:22.800 --> 01:04:27.320
<v Speaker 2>our flags, called out Wolf and Werner. Wait a minute

797
01:04:27.400 --> 01:04:30.960
<v Speaker 2>for us, and they climbed up over the rocks and

798
01:04:31.039 --> 01:04:35.760
<v Speaker 2>rescued the flags. He's still in there, they whispered to

799
01:04:35.880 --> 01:04:42.360
<v Speaker 2>Helmut in a mysterious whisper. Mother said Helmut that evening,

800
01:04:42.360 --> 01:04:45.400
<v Speaker 2>when she came to wish him good night. Do you

801
01:04:45.599 --> 01:04:48.400
<v Speaker 2>know if you stand up to a dragon like a

802
01:04:48.440 --> 01:04:51.719
<v Speaker 2>man and are not afraid of him, he is not

803
01:04:51.920 --> 01:04:57.119
<v Speaker 2>so difficult to vanquish? After all? I'm glad you think so,

804
01:04:57.719 --> 01:05:02.360
<v Speaker 2>said Mother Volo. Come down, there is a Latin proverb

805
01:05:02.480 --> 01:05:07.719
<v Speaker 2>for you. It means that with God's help, willpower is

806
01:05:07.760 --> 01:05:14.559
<v Speaker 2>the chief thing necessary. This even dragons know. Thus a

807
01:05:14.599 --> 01:05:19.480
<v Speaker 2>little boy can conquer even greater dragons than the monsters

808
01:05:19.679 --> 01:05:28.079
<v Speaker 2>vast of ages past. Hum said Helmut musingly, Mother dear,

809
01:05:28.639 --> 01:05:32.360
<v Speaker 2>I was a real hero today. I think you would

810
01:05:32.400 --> 01:05:36.280
<v Speaker 2>have been proud of me. But I must confess between

811
01:05:36.320 --> 01:05:40.840
<v Speaker 2>ourselves that the old dragon was a bit of a fool.

812
01:06:08.679 --> 01:09:17.720
<v Speaker 1>Build at auld build builded Bud