The Timid Dragon

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C5350371 Wyndham Timid dragon

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Timid Dragon

For Janie's Jocylyn

ThQ Timid Dragon

by Lf£ WYNDHAM (-^/€i^v<.-

illuetrated

by

OL ^[

,

pseud

/7*

KURTWERTH

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., INC.

•

NEW YORK

/

® 1960 by Lothrop, Lee

fis

Shepard

Co., Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 59-15441 All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Hardly anyone

lives in a castle these

especially in America.

Many

days —

But George and Janie

did.

years before they were born, their great-

grandfather Palmer had a castle brought over

from Scotland, stone by of a hill in

New

stone,

and

CO.

Jersey-.

rebuilt

on top

SCHOOLS

C'S'^^0'^^

The Palmer, who

Blodget Castle had two towers and a keep. family lived in the keep and Mrs.

was an

artist,

had her studio

in the square tower.

But the round tower stood empty.

"And thank goodness!" grumbled Mrs. McMurtrie,

the housekeeper. "All those winding stairs

Why

to climb.

anyone wants

to live in a castle

these days!"

But George and Janie Palmer castle.

They

talked about

their school friends

them,

it

began

much

some

of

envy them. One

of

so to

liked living in a

that

Tommy Lewis, even said that the castle was

haunted.

"Haunted!" George Palmer hooted. see

some moldy

old ghost try to

"I'd like to

haunt

We'd

us.

show him! Wouldn't we, Janie?"

Now

Janie wasn't quite as bold and brave as

her older brother. But she tried to be.

And

trying

so hard to be, sometimes she was. So she said, "I

should say

we

would!"

"Is that so?" jeered is

Tommy

the big round tower

haunted. "I bet

I

bet you're

all

all

Lewis. "Then

shut up?

I

bet thafs

scared to go into

it."

we're not!" George cried hotly. "In

Janie and

I

are going to sleep in

it.

why

fact,

Aren't we,

Janie?"

This was news to his dusty and musty and

would have

to sleep in

sister.

full of it

The

old tower

was

cobwebs. But they

now, or

Tommy

and the other kids would think they were

Lewis scared.

So that night their

at dinner

George and Janie told

mother and father they'd Hke

move

to

into

the round tower. At breakfast the next day they said they'd like to

move

into the

round tower. At

lunch they said please couldn't they

move

round tower? At dinner they said couldn't they

move

into the

into the

well,

why

round tower?

This went on until George, and even Janie, believed that their dearest wish

was

to

move

into

the dusty, moldy, cobwebby round tower. Finally

Mrs. Palmer mentioned

to Mrs.

it

McMurtrie.

"Humph!" snorted Mrs. McMurtrie. "George and Janie will have to clean

goodness knows, a castle and

all

I've

has

up

enough

me

another tower, now!

it

run

I'll

off

for themselves

to do.

—

This living in

my legs,

it

have no part in

has.

And

it."

"There's your answer," Mr. Palmer said. "We'll do

it!"

George decided grandly. "Janie, get

the brooms and things,"

"You

get them, too," Janie said. "It

was your

idea to begin with."

They

spent

all

Saturday cleaning the tower.

There were two chambers

at the very top, each like

a half-moon, with a tiny passage between.

was

set

up

in each,

A

bed

and the thick wooden doors

were

and

left ajar,

forth.

bed, they

so George

On Sunday went up

and Janie could

night,

when

it

talk back

was time

to the tower to sleep.

for

But as soon as Janie climbed began

squeak

little

Could

to hear little rustlings.

As she shivered under the

it

be ghosts?

bedclothes, she heard a

an

by

followed

into her bed, she

and

eeeek

an

eeeeeeeee/c!

The sound came

Janie sat up.

dows seemed

to

crowd

"GE-OOORGE!"

again,

around

in all

and sha-

her.

Janie shrilled.

"WHAT?" George matter?" He jumped

shouted back. "What's the out of his bed and padded

into her room. "I

hear things.

George

Maybe

it's

a ghost."

listened, not quite so

brave for a mo-

ment.

Squeak, squeak, eeek, eeeeeeeeek! "Doesn't sound like a ghost," George decided, relieved.

"More

like a

mouse."

Janie listened again. "Let's look for it's

it.

Maybe

hurt."

They found

their flashlights

and crept toward

the sound, and

when they were

right

on top

of

it,

cHckl Their two circles of light shone on a crack in the stone wall of the tower.

"I don't see

what's that?"

anything," George said, "except

He

pointed to a small green some-

thing that seemed to be struggling on the wall.

sounds were definitely coming from

George stared

at Janie. "It's

wasn't quite sure what

"A

little lizard!"

It can't

—

it

The

it.

a— it's a—" George

was.

Janie gasped. "And

it's

caught.

get out."

"Only

my

tail,"

wailed a

little voice.

"My

tail's

wedged between the stones. Oh, please help me out. spent years trying to get loose."

I've

"You mean you've been caught here

for years?"

Janie asked. "Yes! Ever since your great-grandfather took

Blodget Castle apart in Scotland and put gether again over here. of stones

me

and here

I

I

am

was trapped by a

still.

it

to-

pile-up

Can't you please help

out?"

Janie looked at George. "I

know what

minute."

He

to do,"

he

said. "Just

you wait a

ran downstairs and came up again

with a chisel and a hammer. Very, very carefully he chipped away at the stone while the lizard

squeaked with alarm. All at once floor.

"There you are!" George

said.

it

plopped to the

"Oh, thank you!"

The

little

creature huffed

puffed, then took a deep breath.

and

And while the chil-

dren watched in amazement, steam began shooting

from

its nostrils

"It's

"I

and

it

not a lizard at

should say

began

all,"

not!"

it's

to grow.

Janie whispered.

George shouted.

"It's

a

dragon!"

and

Instantly the dragon began to shrink

few moments "It

it

was

as tiny as before.

must be magic!"

Janie's eyes

were

big.

"Not exactly," the dragon replied in a tiny "It's just

at

me

or

in a

that I'm timid.

voice.

Whenever anyone shouts

makes a sudden move,

I

And

I'm

will

we,

shrink.

deathly afraid of loud voices."

"Then we won't shout any more, George?" Janie said sympathetically. "No,

we

won't,"

George promised. "You've noth-

ing to be afraid of here." Instantly the dragon began to

"You are magical

grow

to be able to

do

again. that," Janie

cried.

"Well —

if

you want

shrugged. "But

it all

The dragon

seems perfectly natural

When you're afraid, you afraid,

to say so."

you grow. Like

shrink.

this

to

me.

When you are not

— I'm

doing

it

now."

"Oh!" Janie said, dragon! I'm so glad

"I

do think you're a wonderful

we found

you."

The dragon turned a little pink, which was quite becoming on the green

scales.

"I'm going back to bed," George announced.

"You

come with me, Dragon." "No!

I

want the dragon

Janie declared.

heard

"I

my

forth,

and as

their voices

dragon shrank to the size of a poodle.

then to the size of a kitten.

to the size of a great

"You can

During the

back

between

us,"

they

to bed.

night, the

crept into Janie's

it

Dane.

sleep in the hallway

and went

And

A little alarmed, George

and Janie stopped quarreling and coaxed

decided,

room!"

it first."

They argued back and rose, the

to sleep in

dragon got lonely and

room and nuzzled her hand. She

woke up and they

talked a

bit,

and Janie learned

a great deal about dragons. She also learned that

the dragon's

pened

name was

Amelia, and

how

it

hap-

to be hiding in her great-grandfather's castle.

i

-^o

"You

Age was

see,"

the creature said,

over, all the

to Dragonland.

We

"when the Dragon

dragons were supposed to

had

to cross

an ocean and

was

so tremendous...! took one look at

was

terrified. It

of a lizard

was then

and hid

fly

it

and

it

I

that I shrank to the size

in the crack of that stone in

Blodget Castle." Janie said she understooa perfectly because she

was even a

little

afraid herself sometimes.

patted the green scales comfortingly.

have to worry about

it

any more," she

"You said.

She don't

The

next morning both children

overslept.

Breakfast was ready and waiting, and

was no sound from the

tower. So Mrs.

still

there

McMurtrie

huffed and puffed up the winding tower stairs to see whatever

had become of them. But

at the land-

ing she stopped short.

"Help! Help!" she shrieked. She had almost

stumbled over

the

sleeping

dragon

stretched full length between the

that

lay

two chambers.

The dragon woke instantly, and with a

WHOO-

oosh! began to shrink.

Janie and George raced to the hall but Mrs.

down the stairs voice. And the dragon

Murtrie was already galloping

screaming at the top of her

was

shrinking, shrinking

Mc-

It

was some time

suade

it

mother

down

before the children could per-

to puff itself

up

again.

But when

their

them

come

called for the fourth time for

new pet was again Dane. They led it proudly to

imnnediately, their

size of a great

dining

to

the

the

hall.

"Well, by Saint George and the

.

.

."

Mr. Palmer

gasped.

"Oh!" Mrs. Palmer cried, and stepped hastily

behind her husband.

George and Janie stood on either side

new

of their

friend.

"This," George

dragon."

said,

"is

the Blodget Castle

"We

found him!" Janie added.

He watched

"Well!" Mr. Palmer remarked.

the

dragon warily. Just as warily the dragon watched Mr. Palmer.

became a

Then

little

it

gave a

little

whoosh and

smaller.

"Extraordinary!" Mr. Palmer said. "Isn't it!" said

Mrs. Palmer, peering from behind

her husband. "Perhaps

I

should paint him."

"Humph!" snorted Mrs. McMurtrie, peering from behind Mrs. Palmer. get rid of

"I certainly

hope

you'll

him— right away!"

"Get rid of him," George exclaimed,

"I

should

say not! He's our castle dragon and we're going to take

him out

to

show everybody!"

"Oh, no you're not!" Mr. Palmer said. "Certainly not!" Mrs.

Palmer echoed. "What

would people think?" "Well,

"How

think

I

we ought

to feed

it,"

Janie said.

about some scrambled eggs?"

Mrs. Palmer heaped some on a plate and passed it

gingerly to the dragon,

gulp.

"Look

at that!" she said.

scrambled eggs

me.

It is

who

.

.

.

perhaps

a lovely color.

I

finished in one

"A dragon that

could get

Maybe we

it

eats

to pose for

should keep

it."

"Not in any house where I'm housekeeper." Mrs.

McMurtrie folded her arms and glared body, especially the dragon. "If

Mr. Palmer was

horrified.

it

at every-

stays, I go."

Mrs. McMurtrie was

indispensable, he said.

Janie and George weren't so sure.

Before anything could be decided, to go to school.

ear and said,

it

was time

George bent toward the dragon's

"BOO!"

WHOOoosh!

shrank to mouse-size in no time,

It

quivering with fright. "George! You're mean!" Janie scolded. "I

had

to

make it

small enough to carry," George

explained, as he tucked the dragon into his pocket

and raced

outside.

His

sister followed.

"Wait

till

Tommy Lewis sees it!" he shouted, as they ran into the school yard. "I guess this will

show him

whether we're scaredy cats or not!"

But

it

didn't

work out that way.

took the dragon out to show

growing big and

fierce as

dragon got even smaller.

came

near, zip!

it

Tommy wasn't at

When

Tommy,

George

instead of

George had hoped, the

And

the minute

Tommy

dived back into George's pocket. all

impressed.

"You

call that

a dragon?

Why,

it's

nothin' but a

lizard." "It's

not a lizard!" Janie could feel her cheeks

getting hot.

"It's

a dragon."

look like a dragon and

"It doesn't

like a dragon. It's as scary as a

"Well,

a

little

it's

"She told

me

"Last night.

Tommy. "How do

so." still

didn't believe

Her name

is

"A

you can have

I—" she

"I didn't

have a

you."

dragon!" George

girl

it.

Amelia!

glanced uneasily at her brother. tell

she's

a girl dragon?"

"When?" George

chance to

"And

all."

George was as surprised as it's

doesn't act

mouse."

a girl dragon," Janie said.

timid, that's

you know

it

her!"

He

was

outraged. "Here,

picked Amelia out of his

pocket and dropped her into Janie's hands.

Tommy laughing.

Lewis looked as though he could die

He

reached over and pulled Amelia's

tail.

"Tommy Lewis, you

stop that!" Janie cried, and

turned her back on the two boys. "Oh, they're so mean!" she said to Amelia.

When George and Janie went home from school, Mrs. Palmer met them at the door of the

"What a dreadful

day!

I

do hope you two were able

McMurtrie has been

to get rid of that dragon. Mrs.

so upset

and

Did you

castle.

haven't been able to paint a stroke.

I

get rid of it?

Or did

run away?" she

it

asked hopefully. "Well, not exactly," Janie said, pocket.

Amelia poked her head out and gazed

fully at Mrs. step.

and patted her

"Oh

dole-

Palmer. Mrs. Palmer moved back a

up

Janie, do take that creature

tower and lock

it

Murtrie will do

up.

if

I

don't

she sees

to the

know what Mrs Mc-

it

again."

Janie turned to her brother, but George looked

away. So she sighed and went alone up the stone stairs.

for her for

Poor, poor Amelia.

Nobody seemed

to care

company. Perhaps the best thing would be

Amelia

to go

back to Dragonland and

live

with

the other dragons.

But when Janie suggested "I couldn't.

Not over

it,

that ocean!"

"There's nothing to be afraid "If

the other dragons did

to be brave." here.

I'll

Amelia shuddered.

it,

of,"

Janie told her.

you can! You

She put the dragon on her

just

have

bed. "Stay

go downstairs and think about

it.

While

I'm gone you think hard,

too.

I'll

be back in a

little

while."

Mrs. McMurtrie had milk and cookies ready for

George and Janie in the kitchen. Janie

It

was while

was nibbling a chocolate chip cookie

idea popped into her head.

that the

When she had been very

small Mrs. McMurtrie used to say, "Eat up, eat up!

Then

you'll get big

and brave

like

your brother!"

Janie finished her milk, tucked several cookies into her pocket

and ran up the winding

stairs to

the tower. "Amelia, Amelia!" she called, "you don't

have to worry any more! We'll get you back to Dragonland!"

I

Amelia crawled cautiously out from under Janie's pillow.

"Look, Amelia, I've found something to

make

you brave!"

"You have?" Amelia brightened and began

to

puff herself up.

"Yes! Right here of the cookies.

"You

.

.

."

Janie said, pulling out one

eat this

and you'll

feel as

brave

as anything! Right now!"

Amelia nibbled the

cookie. "It's delicious," she

said then in a surprised tone, "and

"Of course!" Janie

cried.

"And

I

do

feel braver."

just

remember,

you won't be afraid anymore— ever— because you've eaten the bravery cookies."

''Well, tell

I

thank you!" Amelia said happily.

you how much

could

I

appreciate

"I can't

Do you

this.

think

too?"

fly,

"Of course," Janie assured her.

Amelia tested her wings. She rose

off

the floor

a few inches.

"Look!" she cried.

"I

am

flying!"

"You can do anything now!" Janie

said confi-

dently. "Just keep telling yourself that."

Amelia

"I will!"

"I'm brave

.

.

.

said, flying

I'm brave

.

.

.

around the tower.

I'm brave

she said "I'm brave," she grew a before Janie could stop her she to

.

.

."

little

Every time more.

was almost

And

too big

go through the door. "Oh, please, Amelia," begged Janie. "Don't get

any

bigger."

Just then George

came

racing

up the

stairs.

"What's going on here?" he asked. "Sh-shhh," Janie said. "Help

doors and

They

I'll tell

you."

hustled the dragon

stairs of the

me get Amelia outdown

the winding

tower and onto the lawn. Then Janie

explained everything to George. But, while she was

talking, a field

and

mouse

skittered across the lawn,

right over Amelia's toes.

Janie held her breath. This

began

Amelia gasped, and

was the

to shrink... but she

test. If

didn't.

Amelia

Instead, she

bared her dragon teeth and said "Grrr-rrr-ahhhH!"

The mouse scampered

off.

As the mouse vanished, a stalking front of

it

cat

which had been

leaped out of the bushes, stopped in

Amelia and hissed

at her, all its fur stand-

ing on end. Amelia glanced at Janie. Janie smiled

encouragingly. Amelia took a deep breath and

roared seven times louder than she had before.

"GRRRR-AAAHHHHHHHH!" The

cat scatted.

But now a lawn. on.

He

The

dog, chasing the cat, raced across the

skidded to a stop

when he saw

the drag-

hackles on his back rose and he barked

furiously. Janie held her breath again, but she

needn't have worried. This time Amelia

command. She switched her

great

tail,

was

in

and roared

seventeen times louder than she had before

"GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" With a

piercing yelp, the dog scuttled away,

between

its legs.

its tail

"Well!" said Amelia. "That

was

easy."

"Of course!" Janie cried happily. could do

lovely gold tinge.

an

to

all over.

Her

scales took

on a

She puffed out her chest and

grow even

airplane.

knew you

the time."

it all

Amelia beamed

began

"I

larger.

Now

She looked down

she was as big as at the astonished

Then she

George. She gazed fondly at Janie.

flapped her great leathery wings and the breeze

they stirred up almost knocked the children down. "I

said,

know

I'll

get to

"thanks to you, Janie.

just the cookie. It

But

Dragonland

before

right here.

I

leave

I'll

And

I

this time," she

know

was thinking brave I

have something

be back."

it

wasn't

that did

to do.

it.

Wait

Amelia rose into the

air

and soared away. She

swooped down behind some

tall

peared, carrying something that

treees

and reap-

was kicking and

screaming.

"Tommy

Lewis!" George yelled. "Amelia's kid-

napping Tommy." "Help!"

Tommy screamed.

"Help! Help! Help!"

"Oh, be quiet!" Amelia said, and floated

down to

the lawn.

"Here you

are,"

"Friend of yours

gave him a sent

him

little

I

she told George and Janie.

believe?"

She

set

Tommy down,

whop on the back with her tail and

sprawling.

"Make her

leave

me

alone,"

he whined.

"Why, Amelia wouldn't hurt dusting

and

him

pull her

off.

"Even

if

you did

you," Janie said, call

her a lizard,

tail."

Without a word, the terrified Tommy practically flew

down

the

hill.

"That was

to

keep him from teasing you in the

"And now

future,"

Amelia

But

never forget you. Neverr

I'll

"And

said.

I really

must be

off.

we'll never forget you," Janie promised.

"You're a real

Queen Dragon," George added

admiringly.

Amelia's eyes glistened. She extended a claw

and they shook hands

gravely. Janie suddenly felt

very fond of the Blodget Castle dragon. She ran

up

to

Amelia and made her bend

over,

then she

wrapped her arms around her and kissed Amelia on the cheek. Amelia turned pink and hummed like a boiling

kettle.

"Good-bye," she said again. "Good-bye..." She flapped her wings and rose into the or

air.

two she was nothing but a speck

In a minute

in the sky.

Janie sniffed as she watched even the speck vanish.

Then she wiped her eyes and turned

brother. "George," she said firmly, "I'm

back to to I

moving

my room in the keep. I don't have to prove

anybody I'm brave enough

know

to her

I

"Well,

to sleep in the tower.

am. You can do what you want." all right,"

George

said.

He was

still

a bit

stunned by everything that had happened. gazed at his

sister proudly.

"You are

He

brave, Janie.

And you're

smart, too.

And I

sort of

wish we could

have kept Amelia." "So do of

I,"

Dragons

Janie confessed. "But

is past,

Dragonland."

and Amelia

I

guess the Age

will be better off in

CO srHoni5

C535037

/

^

happy

"Yes," George agreed. "She'll be

onland

all right.

"Well,

maybe

She's not scared she'll

be a

'*

in

Drag-

any more."

little

scared again,"

Janie said, "once in a while. But she won't ever stay that way." Janie smiled as she and George

walked back to the castle. "Amelia knows the

secret

I

I

I

I

now— she said so herself. It was thinking brave that made

her grow."

V

.\

\

r

w

1

I

I

I