"Doubtless," said William, "and a good many others besides.
"You there," he said to one man. "What was the last brave
deed you did?"
The knight looked at his captain, looked at William.
Finally, he said, "I saved the princess' poodle from a large
and ferocious rat one day, sir, and the king knighted me on the
spot."
"I see," said William. "And you?" he asked another knight.
"What was your brave deed?"
"I escorted the queen to a ball, back when the king had an
attack of the gout. He knighted me for it."
"I see," said William. "How about you?" he asked another.
"Have you ever captured a dragon?"
"No, sir," answered the knight, "but I caught a boy
picking flowers in the palace garden and the king knighted me
for it."
"A small boy?" asked William.
"He was pretty big for his age," said the knight.
"That was my nephew Louis," said William. "I remember the
incident. He is short for his age.
"Have any of you knights ever seen a dragon?" he called out.
No one answered.
"How about you, captain?" he asked.
The captain looked back at his platter and reached for
his tankard. "I do not choose to answer that question, because
it is none of your business," he told him.
"Then no one here knows anything about dragons, and no
one here will help me?"
No one answered.
"All right. Then you are all cowards, and I will go by
myself to seek a dragon." He turned away and walked out of the
inn.
Chapter 4
