` I 'll tell you what ! ' he said . ` Let me carry your skins for you . ' ` Most certainly not , ' answered Stan , going on with his digging , and the dragon , in dread lest he should fulfil his threat , tried what bribes would do , and in the end had again to promise seven sacks of ducats before Stan would agree to leave the brook alone and let him carry the water into the house . On the third day the old mother sent Stan into the forest for wood , and , as usual , the dragon went with him . Before you could count three he had pulled up more trees than Stan could have cut down in a lifetime , and had arranged them neatly in rows . When the dragon had finished , Stan began to look about him , and , choosing the biggest of the trees , he climbed up it , and , breaking off a long rope of wild vine , bound the top of the tree to the one next it . And so he did to a whole line of trees . ` What are you doing there ? ' asked the dragon . ` You can see for yourself , ' answered Stan , going quietly on with his work . ` Why are you tying the trees together ? ' ` Not to give myself unnecessary work ; when I pull up one , all the others will come up too . ' ` But how will you carry them home ? ' ` Dear me ! do n't you understand that I am going to take the whole forest back with me ? ' said Stan , tying two other trees as he spoke . ` I 'll tell you what , ' cried the dragon , trembling with fear at the thought of such a thing ; ` let me carry the wood for you , and you shall have seven times seven sacks full of ducats . ' ` You are a good fellow , and I agree to your proposal , ' answered Stan , and the dragon carried the wood . Now the three days ' service which were to be reckoned as a year were over , and the only thing that disturbed Stan was , how to get all those ducats back to his home !
In the evening the dragon and his mother had a long talk , but XXXXX heard every word through a crack in the ceiling .
Stan days ducats fear home house skins thought times year