Stan wandered , and wandered , and wandered , till he reached to the end of the world , where that which is , is mingled with that which is not , and there he saw , a little way off , a sheepfold , with seven sheep in it . In the shadow of some trees lay the rest of the flock . Stan crept up , hoping that he might manage to decoy some of them away quietly , and drive them home for food for his family , but he soon found this could not be . For at midnight he heard a rushing noise , and through the air flew a dragon , who drove apart a ram , a sheep , and a lamb , and three fine cattle that were lying down close by . And besides these he took the milk of seventy-seven sheep , and carried it home to his old mother , that she might bathe in it and grow young again . And this happened every night . The shepherd bewailed himself in vain : the dragon only laughed , and Stan saw that this was not the place to get food for his family . But though he quite understood that it was almost hopeless to fight against such a powerful monster , yet the thought of the hungry children at home clung to him like a burr , and would not be shaken off , and at last he said to the shepherd , ` What will you give me if I rid you of the dragon ? ' ` One of every three rams , one of every three sheep , one of every three lambs , ' answered the herd . ` It is a bargain , ' replied Stan , though at the moment he did not know how , supposing he DID come off the victor , he would ever be able to drive so large a flock home . However , that matter could be settled later . At present night was not far off , and he must consider how best to fight with the dragon . Just at midnight , a horrible feeling that was new and strange to him came over Stan -- a feeling that he could not put into words even to himself , but which almost forced him to give up the battle and take the shortest road home again . He half turned ; then he remembered the children , and turned back . ` You or I , ' said Stan to himself , and took up his position on the edge of the flock . ` Stop ! ' he suddenly cried , as the air was filled with a rushing noise , and the dragon came dashing past . ` Dear me ! ' exclaimed the dragon , looking round . ` Who are you , and where do you come from ? ' '
I am Stan Bolovan , who eats rocks all night , and in the day feeds XXXXX the flowers of the mountain ; and if you meddle with those sheep I will carve a cross on your back . '
In as at besides from of off on till with