For a long time Eustace did not dare to move. Perhaps this as the brute’s trick， the way it lured travellers to their doom. ut one couldn‘t wait for ever. He took a step nearer， then wo steps， and halted again. The dragon remained motionless； e noticed too that the red fire had gone out of its eyes. At st he came up to it. He was quite sure now that it was dead.
ith a shudder he touched it； nothing happened.
The relief was so great that Eustace almost laughed out ud. He began to feel as if he had fought and killed the ragon instead of merely seeing it die. He stepped over and went to the pool for his drink， for the heat was etting unbearable. He was not surprised when he heard a eal of thunder. Almost immediately afterwards， the sun isappeared and before he had finished his drink big drops f rain were falling.
The climate of this island was a very unpleasant one. In ss than a minute Eustace was wet to the skin and half linded with such rain as one never sees in Europe. There as no use trying to climb out of the valley as long as this sted. He bolted for the only shelter in sight.the dragon’s ave. There he lay down and tried to get his breath.