in a few minutes the manticora came sleepily out of the book, rubbing its eyes with its hands and mewing piteously. it seemed very stupid, and when lionel gave it a push and said, "go along and fight the dragon, do," it put its tail between its legs and fairly ran away. it went and hid behind the town hall, and at night when the people were asleep it went around and ate all the pussy-cats in the town. and then it mewed more than ever. and on the saturday morning, when people were a little timid about going out, because the dragon had no regular hour for calling, the manticora went up and down the streets and drank all the milk that was left in the cans at the doors for people's teas, and it ate the cans as well.