_What the Weathercock Said_
The password--what could it be? George puzzled and puzzled until he almost
grew dizzy with thinking, but no, he couldn't remember. Then, at last--of
course! The weathercock on top of the castle knew. He remembered the
voices which he had heard talking in the forest and what they had said.
But how could he get the weathercock to tell him? He whistled and called,
but all in vain. Nothing whatever happened.
Then suddenly the thought came into his head: "Why, those voices I
heard in the forest must have been birds talking.... Why didn't I hear
them before that day?... They must have been magic birds ... perhaps
fairies?... Oh, I wonder if Tom Tiddler's leaves had anything to do with
it? I know I put one in my cap.... Where is my cap?"
He bent down and picked it up from the ground. The leaf was still where
he had placed it. He placed it on his head, and then, looking up at the
weathercock, cried "_Coo-ee!_"
The cock turned round slowly and, fixing its green eye upon George, asked:
"Who calls?"
"A friend!" George thought this was quite the right thing to say. It was
the answer to the sentry's "Who goes there?" He felt that as he was squire
to a knight it was as good as being a soldier.
The cock went on turning. At last: "You're George, aren't you?" he said.
"Yes," replied George. "I met your brother not so long ago. He lives close
by my house in the wood."
"Ah!" said the cock, and went on turning and turning.
"I hope he won't be long," thought George. "He doesn't seem as nice as my
friend."
"What do you want?" said a voice in his ear.
He gave a jump, for there was the cock standing by his side.
"I suppose you want the password? She brought you here, so it will be all
right. I must whisper it--nobody but you may hear it." The cock turned,
whispered in George's ear, and before you could wink an eyelid was back on
top of the castle.
* * * * *
"Where's Sir Tristram?" George looked everywhere, but there was no sign of
him.
At last, after he had walked quite a long way, he caught sight of him and
the dragon actually--yes, actually fighting! He was horrified, for the
dragon was leaping, turning, and twisting in all directions, while Sir
Tristram's sword was hissing and flashing through the air like lightning.
"They'll hurt one another, I'm sure!" And George ran as near to them as he
dared, calling out: "Stop! Oh, stop!"
The dragon stopped at once and called out: "It's all right! Don't be
afraid. I'm only showing your friend one or two tricks in fighting. We
shouldn't dream of hurting one another."
"This is indeed a glorious dragon," said Sir Tristram, leaning on his
sword and smiling. "Little did I think that I should ever be friends with
one. He has taught me much that I did not know before."
"Oh, so you were only pretending?" George laughed, and then said solemnly:
"I've learnt the password, but it's ever so difficult, and I'm not to tell
it to anybody else."
The knight did not answer him for a moment. "I think then, young squire,
it would be best for you to go upon this quest alone. Your friend the
dragon has told me that She wishes it."
"Oh!" cried George. "All by myself?"
The dragon laughed. "We'll wait here for you, George. You came to seek
your fortune, you know, and you're not far off it now. You're getting
warm!"
"All right!" answered George. "If you hear me cry '_Coo-ee!_' you must
come to my help at once. This is going to be a tremendous adventure.
Alexander doesn't know how much he is missing. Here goes!"--and waving his
hand to the two friends, he ran off. He looked back once and saw that they
had again commenced to play at fighting, and then he ran on again until he
came to the great gates.
He paused for a moment to repeat the password over to himself; then
said it out aloud. The gates swung open with a clang, and, as he walked
through, shut behind him.
[Illustration]
_Whisper this!_
_It is the password, and this is how you must say it. Stand with
both feet firmly pressed together, crook the little finger on each
hand into one another, and say three times backward:_
ABRACADABRA
_For goodness sake don't let anyone hear you! It is a very powerful
charm, and might--if a wicked magician were anywhere near at
hand--lift your house up into the air and pop it down into a sandy
desert, five thousand miles away!_
[Illustration]