"J.R.R. Tolkien - Farmer Giles of Ham" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

was already far out of range. He ran all the rest of the
night, and arrived home about breakfast-time.

'Help! help! help!' he cried outside the back door.

Giles heard, and did not like the sound of it. It reminded
him that unexpected things may happen, when all seems to
be going well.

`Wife, let that dratted dog in,' said he, `and take a stick to
him!'

Garm came bundling into the kitchen with his eyes starting
and his tongue hanging out. `Help!' he cried.

`Now what have you been a-doing this time?' said Giles,
throwing a sausage at him.

`Nothing,' panted Garm, too flustered to give heed to the
sausage.

`Well, stop doing it, or I'll skin you,' said the farmer.

`I've done no wrong. I didn't mean no harm,' said the dog.
`But I came on a dragon accidental-like, and it frightened
me.'

The farmer choked in his beer. `Dragon?' said he. `Drat
you for a good-for-nothing nosey-Parker! What d'you
want to go and find a dragon for, at this time of the year,
and me with my hands full? Where was it?'
'Oh! North over the hills and far away, `beyond the
Standing Stones and all,' said the dog.
`Oh, away there!' said Giles, mighty relieved. `They're
queer folk in those parts, I've heard tell, and aught might
happen in their land. Let them get on with it I Don't come
worriting me with such tales. Get out!' '
Garm got out, and spread the news all over the village.
He did not forget to mention that his master was not
scared in the least. `Quite cool he was, and went on with
his breakfast'
People chatted about it pleasantly at their doors. `How
like old times!' they said. `Just as Christmas is coming,
too. So seasonable. How pleased the King will be! He will
be able to have Real Tail this Christmas.'
But more news came in next day. The dragon, it ap-
peared, was exceptionally large and ferocious. He was
doing terrible damage.
`What about the King's knights? people began to say.