THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER

There was once a great war, and the King had a great many
soldiers, but he gave them so little pay that they could not live
upon it. Then three of them took counsel together and determined
to desert.

One of them said to the others, 'If we are caught, we shall be
hanged on the gallows; how shall we set about it?' The other
said, 'Do you see that large cornfield there? If we were to hide
ourselves in that, no one could find us. The army cannot come
into it, and to-morrow it is to march on.'

They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but
remained encamped close around them. They sat for two days and
two nights in the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died;
but if they were to venture out, it was certain death.

They said at last, 'What use was it our deserting? We must
perish here miserably.'

Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the
air. It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.

They answered, 'We are three soldiers, and have deserted because
our pay was so small. Now if we remain here we shall die of
hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.'

'If you will serve me for seven years,' said the dragon, I will