Then , stooping to pick up a large cheese which lay at his feet , he added , ` Go and get a stone like this out of the river , so that we may lose no time in seeing who is the best man . ' The dragon did as Stan bade him , and brought back a stone out of the brook . ` Can you get buttermilk out of your stone ? ' asked Stan . The dragon picked up his stone with one hand , and squeezed it till it fell into powder , but no buttermilk flowed from it . ` Of course I ca n't ! ' he said , half angrily . ` Well , if you ca n't , I can , ' answered Stan , and he pressed the cheese till buttermilk flowed through his fingers . 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 XXXXX it but to take everything quietly , and not show that he was afraid .
Of about along as for if lest like till with