When the dragon saw that , he thought it was time he made the best of his way home again , but Stan stood in his path . ` We have still some accounts to settle , ' said he , ` about what you have been doing here , ' and the poor dragon was too frightened to stir , lest Stan should slay him at one breath and bury him among the flowers in the mountain pastures . ` Listen to me , ' he said at last . ' I see you are a very useful person , and my mother has need of a fellow like you . Suppose you enter her service for three days , which are as long as one of your years , and she will pay you each day seven sacks full of ducats . ' Three times seven sacks full of ducats ! The offer was very tempting , and Stan could not resist it . He did not waste words , but nodded to the dragon , and they started along the road . It was a long , long way , but when they came to the end they found the dragon 's mother , who was as old as time itself , expecting them . Stan saw her eyes shining like lamps from afar , and when they entered the house they beheld a huge kettle standing on the fire , filled with milk . When the old mother found that her son had arrived empty-handed she grew very angry , and fire and flame darted from her nostrils , but before she could speak the dragon turned to Stan . ` Stay here , ' said he , ` and wait for me ; I am going to explain things to my mother . ' Stan was already repenting bitterly that he had ever come to such a place , but , since he was there , there was nothing for it but to take everything quietly , and not show that he was afraid . ` Listen , mother , ' said the dragon as soon as they were alone , ' I have brought this man in order to get rid of him . He is a terrific fellow who eats rocks , and can press buttermilk out of a stone , ' and he told her all that had happened the night before . ` Oh , just leave him to me ! ' she said . ' I have never yet let a man slip through my fingers . ' So Stan had to stay and do the old mother service . The next day she told him that he and her son should try which was the strongest , and she took down a huge club , bound seven times with iron .
The dragon picked it up as if it had been a feather , and , after whirling it round his head , flung it lightly three miles away , telling XXXXX to beat that if he could .
Stan Stay before buttermilk day days ducats fire flowers years