` It shall be done , ' answered the youth ; ` but you must give me two years to manage it , for my beard must grow so that he may not know me . ' ` So be it , ' said the king . And the first thing the young man did when his beard was grown was to take the road to the dragon 's house and on the way he met a beggar , whom he persuaded to change clothes with him , and in the beggar 's garments he went fearlessly forth to the dragon . He found his enemy before his house , very busy making a box , and addressed him politely , ` Good morning , your worship . Have you a morsel of bread ? ' ` You must wait , ' replied the dragon , 'till I have finished my box , and then I will see if I can find one . ' ` What will you do with the box when it is made ? ' inquired the beggar . ` It is for the young man who killed my wife , and stole my flying horse and my bed covering , ' said the dragon . ` He deserves nothing better , ' answered the beggar , ` for it was an ill deed . Still that box is too small for him , for he is a big man . ' ` You are wrong , ' said the dragon . ` The box is large enough even for me . ' ` Well , the rogue is nearly as tall as you , ' replied the beggar , ` and , of course , if you can get in , he can . But I am sure you would find it a tight fit . ' ` No , there is plenty of room , ' said the dragon , tucking himself carefully inside . But no sooner was he well in , than the young man clapped on the lid and called out , ` Now press hard , just to see if he will be able to get out . ' The dragon pressed as hard as he could , but the lid never moved . ` It is all right , ' he cried ; ` now you can open it . ' But instead of opening it , the young man drove in long nails to make it tighter still ; then he took the box on his back and brought it to the king .
And when the king heard that the dragon was inside , he was so excited that he would not XXXXX one moment , but broke the lock and lifted the lid just a little way to make sure he was really there .
cried find grow met opening press pressed replied stole wait