Стража! Стража!

           Ithititontheear,bounced,ricochetedoffawallsixfeetaway,andheadedbacktowardsColonapparentlyataslightlyincreasedspeed,goingpasthisearwithasilkyhummingnoise.

           Itvanishedinthedirectionofthecitywalls.

           AfterawhileNobbycoughedandgaveCarrotalookofinnocentinquiry.

           "Abouthowbig,"hesaid,"isadragon’svoonerables,roughly?"

           "Oh,itcanbeatinyspot,"saidCarrothelpfully.

           "Iwassortofafraidofthat,"saidNobby.Hewanderedtotheedgeoftheroof,andpointeddownwards."There’sapondjusthere,"hesaid."Theyuseitforcoolingwaterinthestills.Ireckonit’sprettydeep,soafterthesergeanthasshotatthedragonwecanjumpinit.Whatd’yousay?"

           "Oh,butwedon’tneedtodothat,"saidCarrot."Becausethesergeant’sluckyarrowwouldofhitthespotandthedragon’llbedead,sowewon’thaveanythingtoworryabout."

           "Granted,granted,"saidNobbyhurriedly,lookingatColon’sscowlingface."Butjustincase,youknow,ifbyamillion-to-onechancehemisses-I’mnotsayinghewill,markyou,youjusthavetothinkofalleventualities-if,byincrediblebadluck,hedoesn’tquitemanagetohitthevoonerabledeadon,thenyourdragonisgoingtolosehisrag,right,andit’sprobablyagoodideatonotbehere.It’salongshot,Iknow.Callmeaworry-wartifyoulike.That’sallI’msaying."

           SergeantColonadjustedhisarmourhaughtily.

           "Whenyoureallyneedthemthemost,"hesaid,"million-to-onechancesalwayscropup.