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 on the flowers of the mountain ; and if you meddle with those sheep I will carve a cross on your back . ' When the dragon heard these words he stood quite still in the middle of the road , for he knew he had met with his match . ` But you will have to fight me first , ' he said in a trembling voice , for when you faced him properly he was not brave at all . ' I fight you ? ' replied Stan , ` why I could slay you with one breath ! ' 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 XXXXX his way home again , but Stan stood in his path .
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