he spat , `` remain , and you will learn otherwise to your peril , '' and flung himself back towards his dragon , shouting orders ; the whole flight together backed away some little distance and settled themselves in the shade of a small grove of fruit-trees bordering upon the road leading to the city , which they disposed themselves across ; and the smallest of them leapt aloft and flew away towards the city at an energetic pace ; shortly he grew too small to see , and vanished against the haze .