Page 47 - Tree of Happiness

But just as the Queen was about to reach the Dragon, the Dragon realized that the rider on the horse was not alone. In fact, there were hundreds of others with swords and clubs charging up the hill.
The Dragon had never been confronted by anything like this. It had no idea how to deal with such a force. An instant before the Queen reached him, the dragon turned and with all of its considerable speed, ran away.
The peasants who were with the Queen cheered and cheered. The Queen got off of her horse and addressed them. “We have done a wonderful thing today. We have run off the Dragon but it may return or others like it may raise their ugly heads to threaten us.
We may have to do this over and over again. And if we ever don’t do it, they will come and take over our countryside again. What we have done is good and brave but we must be ready to do it whenever the need arises.”
The Queen could tell that some in the crowd understood and would follow her again, that some would weaken just as she had done in the past and would not be willing to face another dragon.
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