"Are any of you men afraid of dragons?" he called out in aloud voice.

"N-no," came several soft answers. "But of course, we'reout of practice when it comes to dragon-slaying. . "

"Not slaying, just catching," said William, "and I can seethat I'm getting nowhere this way. So I'll just ask forvolunteers. Do any of you men want to volunteer to go get adragon for the princess' birthday party and bring it backalive?"

No one answered.

"Come, come!" cried William, jumping up onto a table."Surely a few of you brave fellows would be willing to do thisthing to make the princess' birthday a happy and memorableoccasion. Who will be first to volunteer?"

Still no one answered.

"Then I think you are all cowards!" said William.

"Not so, not so ! " cried the captain. "Consider, if youplease, the circumstances. All of these men are fearless andhave done many brave deeds in the past, or they would not beknights today. They are, as I said, just out of practice whenit comes to dragons. They do not know the meaning of the word'fear'."

"Doubtless," said William, "and a good many others besides.

"You there," he said to one man. "What was the last bravedeed you did?"

The knight looked at his captain, looked at William.Finally, he said, "I saved the princess' poodle from a largeand ferocious rat one day, sir, and the king knighted me on thespot."

"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 anattack 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