` 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 Stan to beat that if he could . They walked to the spot where the club lay . Stan stooped and felt it ; then a great fear came over him , for he knew that he and all his children together would never lift that club from the ground . ` What are you doing ? ' asked the dragon . ' I was thinking what a beautiful club it was , and what a pity it is that it should cause your death . ' ` How do you mean -- my death ? ' asked the dragon . ` Only that I am afraid that if I throw it you will never see another dawn . You do n't know how strong I am ! ' ` Oh , never mind that be quick and throw . ' ` If you are really in earnest , let us go and feast for three days : that will at any rate give you three extra days of life . ' Stan spoke so calmly that this time the dragon began to get a little frightened , though he did not quite believe that things would be as bad as Stan said .
They returned XXXXX the house , took all the food that could be found in the old mother 's larder , and carried it back to the place where the club was lying .
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