Sir George goes home 6/8

Framed in the entrance to the tent was the massive figure of a knight on horseback in full armour, the plume in his helmet nodding slightly in the breeze from outside the tent. The red cross on his shield was gleaming under the ring lights.

"Death to all dragons!" cried Sir George and raising his hand, he snapped shut the visor of his helmet with a clang that rang loudly in the silence. The ring of tempered steel as he drew his sword brought a gasp from the audience.

This was no fake woollen chain mail and slapstick wooden sword, but the real thing and everyone in the tent knew it. He trotted forward and began the ritual chase of the dragon.

For once the horse wasn't bemoaning his fate.

"This may be daft, but if we're leaving, we're certainly leaving in style," he neighed proudly.

The dragon ran round the ring far more quickly than usual. "Come off it George, what's got into you? That thing looks dangerous."

"Die foul beast!" shouted Sir George, his voice slightly muffled inside his helmet, and raising his sword struck the dragon's head from the body with one blow.

The dragon screamed in fright, and the two men inside ran off in different directions. The clowns had already run away and the Great Alfredo was left in the middle of the ring with a tent full of screaming people scrambling over the bench seats, fighting each other to get out as quickly as they could.

Sir George continued to trot round the ring, the panic-stricken crowd parting to avoid him as he approached. He came to a stop just in front of Jennifer Jane and raised his visor.

"That was a bit more like it," he grinned and raising his sword in salute he turned and trotted out of the tent into the night.

"Well, that was certainly something special, just as he promised," said Mary, "but it's strange how he seems to know young Jennifer.

Jennifer Jane's parents looked at her questioningly.

"Perhaps the ring master told him about Dad's knowledge of dragons," suggested Jennifer Jane.

"I suppose that could be it," said Dave rather pleased with himself. "Oh well, I don't suppose we'll ever see him again."

But he was wrong!