ourselves like this for some fifty pounds of dragon dung?”

“Why fame and fortune, Body, me lad,” Smudge told him. Seeing that this basic explanation was not going to be sufficient to get Bodkin back into the game, Smudge sighed and continued. “As ye must know, lad, dragons are creatures of great magic and every man jack in this realm who grows any sort of crop is well aware that the droppings of a female dragon are saturated with magical growth properties and so it’s by far the best fertilizer to be ‘ad, at any price.

“Now, there’s not many of us who are willing to take the time and the risk required to track a dragon until she drops ‘er special prize, but for those brave few,” and his smile broadened, “ah, lad, those few reap the rewards and the gratitude of many.”

Bodkin was thoughtful for a moment. “Fame and fortune, eh?” he asked quietly.

“Aye, lad, that and more,” Smudge replied, holding out the sack once again. Bodkin slowly replaced his cap on his head and moved forward, took the sack and held it open.

“That’s me boy!” Smudge grabbed his shovel and started filling the sack. Working quickly, they filled as many bags as they could carry with the highly aromatic prize and then started back, hoping to reach town before dark.

The stench coming from the wet bags, as well as from the two of them was quite overpowering, and Bodkin asked, “So, then, you’re sure people will rush out to meet us when we arrive back with our booty, eh?”

“Oh, aye, that they will,” Smudge assured him, then sniffed at the air a bit. “Well, not right up close o’ course, but they’ll be for sure ‘appy to see us from a distance, ye just wait.”

Sensing that his friend needed more encouragement, he added, “Aye, and aside from paying us well and good for each little cup full of our prize, they’ll long sing the praises of Smudge and Bodkin, the mighty Dragon ‘Unters.”

Bodkin smiled at the thought.

“From a goodly distance, ‘o course,” Smudge added with a wink.