Jacob and Ben were back at the old log meeting place again a few days later. They got there on their mountain bikes. They couldn't wait for the next family picnic.

Jacob called for Crafty, "Craaaafty. Craaafty. Where are you?"

He came swooping down like he did before onto a low branch near them. "Caak! Hello again Jacob. Hello again Ben."

"Hello," said Jacob, "we want to go and see Castle Wizbin."

"Waak! I knew it. I knew it. O.k. but first you have to promise me something."

"Anything," said Ben, always the first to make a promise. Keeping it being another matter altogether.

"Haak! If I take you there you must promise to do exactly as I tell you, and right away. If you don't really bad things could happen. We got lucky the last time."

"What things?"

"Waak! Never mind what, you have to promise or I won't take you. I shan't. I won't. It would be too dangerous.

Jacob was a bit older and bit more cautious than Ben, "Well we promise but...."

"Baak! But nothing. You either promise or we don't go and that's that."

Jacob and Ben looked at each other and then back at Crafty,"We promise, cross our hearts and hope to die."

"Aak! Hoping to die is what I don't want to do but I understand your 'human' oath. Off we go then." And with that he swooped off down the path. The boys jumped on their mountain bikes and were nearly able to keep up with Crafty, he only had to stop a couple of times, once when Ben hit a big rock and got thrown off. Luckily neither he nor the bike were damaged so on they went.

Eventually Crafty was stopped waiting and when they caught up he said,"O.k. I think you should leave your bikes here and walk the last little bit. We don't want anyone getting upset."

Before they could ask him who would get upset he was off again and they had to run to keep up. Soon enough they were back at the bottom of the meadow and grassy hill. "Caak! Don't look up there just yet." They stood looking down for a minute or two.

"Aak! Now then when you look don't stare, just think of the castle like a - er - like a very pretty flowering tree or something that you find quite interesting. We don't want to upset Freckles again."

They looked up the hill as Crafty had asked. Jacob was about to ask who Freckles was when he saw what looked like a dinosaur walking down the path. As the dinosaur got closer and closer and bigger and bigger the boys hid in the bushes. Crafty laughed."

Jacob suddenly realized what it was,"It's a dragon," he whispered to Ben.

Freckles stopped a few yards in front of Craft and snorted a small gush of flame and smoke. Crafty bobbed up and down a bit, "Aak! Hello Freckles."

"Hhhhhello Crafty. Hhhhis thhhhis Jacob and Ben you told me about. The ones trembling in the bushes for some strange reason."

The heat from the dragon's breath washed over them and it smelled hot and dry like a wood fireplace. "Whhell," said Freckles, "I suppose if they are too scared to come out then ...." and he started to turn to go back up the path.

Jacob jumped out,"H-h-hi er Hello Freckles I'm Jacob." He just stood there, shaking hands with a dragon didn't seem appropriate and he didn't know that else to do so he bowed slightly at the waist. Ben copied his brother.

"Yhhoo don't have to bow to me," laughed Freckles and flames and smoke belched out of his mouth setting fire some grass which he calmly stepped on to put it out again.

A bell up in the castle began to clang, a very loud bell. "Clang, clang, clang,..." It didn't stop.

"Uh-oh! Hhhhi've been away from my guard post too long. That's the ahhhlarm." More flames and smoke.

"You're a guard?" asked Jacob.

"Yhhhess, that's my job to guard Castle Wizbin. It's the job I accepted when I left home."

Freckles seemed a bit said as he said this but before Jacob could ask why the bell was now almost deafening and Freckles turned and made his way back up the path shouting,"Goodbye for now," over his shoulder.

See it.

Ben started to go after him,"Waak! Stop, stop. Come back." This time Ben did what Crafty asked. "Aak! Time to go," and Crafty began the journey back and the boys had no choice but to follow.

Back at the old log Jacob was quick to speak before Crafty could leave,"I want to ask some questions."

"Aak! I suppose if you must."

"What is that castle? Where did it come from? Who lives there?...."

"Baak! Stop! Stop! You want to know too much all at once and some things I don't know myself. You had better ask Freckles the next time you come." and with that he swooped off and away out of sight.

On the ride back home they wondered about those things but one thing they didn't wonder about. They would be back for another visit soon, maybe tomorrow.