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 of his way home again , but Stan stood in his path . ` We have still some accounts to settle , ' said he , ` about what you have been doing here , ' and the poor dragon was too frightened to stir , lest Stan should slay him at one breath and bury him among the flowers in the mountain pastures . ` Listen to me , ' he said at last . ' I see you are a very useful person , and my mother has need of a fellow like you . Suppose you enter her service for three days , which are as long as one of your years , and she will pay you each day seven sacks full of ducats . ' Three times seven sacks full of ducats ! The offer was very tempting , and Stan could not resist it . He did not waste words , but nodded to the dragon , and they started along the road .
It was a long , long way , but when they came to the end they found the XXXXX 's mother , who was as old as time itself , expecting them .
accounts dragon fingers match offer person stone time voice words