and drew the covering towards him , pulling , as he did so , the young man into the room . Then the dragon flung himself on the youth and bound him fast with cords saying as he tied the last knot , ` To-morrow when I go to church you must stay at home and kill him and cook him , and when I get back we will eat him together . ' So the following morning the dragoness took hold of the young man and reached down from the shelf a sharp knife with which to kill him . But as she untied the cords the better to get hold of him , the prisoner caught her by the legs , threw her to the ground , seized her and speedily cut her throat , just as she had been about to do for him , and put her body in the oven . Then he snatched up the covering and carried it to the king . The king was seated on his throne when the youth appeared before him and spread out the covering with a deep bow . ` That is not enough , ' said his majesty ; ` you must bring me the dragon himself , or I will have you hewn into a thousand pieces . ' ` It shall be done , ' answered the youth ; ` but you must give me two years to manage it , for my beard must grow so that he may not know me . ' ` So be it , ' said the king . And the first thing the young man did when his beard was grown was to take the road to the dragon 's house and on the way he met a beggar , whom he persuaded to change clothes with him , and in the beggar 's garments he went fearlessly forth to the dragon . He found his enemy before his house , very busy making a box , and addressed him politely , ` Good morning , your worship . Have you a morsel of bread ? ' ` You must wait , ' replied the dragon , 'till I have finished my box , and then I will see if I can find one . ' ` What will you do with the box when it is made ? ' inquired the beggar . ` It is for the young man who killed my wife , and stole my flying horse and my bed covering , ' said the dragon . ` He deserves nothing better , ' answered the beggar , ` for it was an ill deed . Still that box is too small for him , for he is a big man . ' ` You are wrong , ' said the dragon . ` The box is large enough even for me . '
` Well , the rogue is nearly as tall as you , ' replied the beggar , ` and , of course , XXXXX you can get in , he can .
'till as before for if into on that to with