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surprised — and probably rather sceptical at this — because Dr. Drake continued: “Dragons are practically the only creatures, apart from humans and unicorns, of course, that can talk. Not all of them have this ability, however. Knuckers generally don’t, but there have been some exceptions. But to find out anything, of course, you have to find the knucker. Which means a spot of tracking. Why don’t you look around? I suggest starting with some soft ground.”
    Dr. Drake gestured with his stick, and I climbed down a steep bank and through some thick undergrowth to where I could hear the trickling stream. I was amazed to discover a set of large lizardlike footprints in the sandy mud.
    â€œYou must make a record of what those tracks look like, Daniel,” said Dr. Drake. “Draw a picture of them. Then you will be able to recognise them again. Try to show how deep the various bits press into the sand, and make sure you get the proportions right.”
    And so I bent down to study the tracks and drew a careful picture of the clearest of the tracks as best I could. There were three long, thin toe marks at the front, each with a claw at the end that had made only the lightest of impressions. There was a deep pad mark and another mark left by the beast’s single hind claw. When I had finished, I showed my work to Dr. Drake.
    â€œExcellent,” he said. “Now follow the tracks.”
    So I stepped over the narrow stream and followed the tracks up to where they disappeared among the leafy bracken.
    â€œBe careful, Daniel!” whispered Dr. Drake behind me.
    I peered ahead into the gloom and realised that there was something slithering gently ahead of me through the undergrowth. It was the knucker.

    â€œWeasel is hunting rabbits,” whispered Dr. Drake. “She almost always hunts in the early morning.”
    As I edged forwards, I trod on a stick, which broke with a loud snap and caused Weasel to stop and raise her head. As she turned towards me, I could see that she had two bright, snakelike eyes. But her eyes didn’t have the intelligence of Scorcher’s eyes.
    â€œBe careful, Daniel,” said Dr. Drake in a loud whisper. “Stay absolutely still.”
    I stayed as still as I could. The knucker, which must have been very used to Dr. Drake by now, glanced over at him and then ignored us. I studied her carefully. She was leathery brown and seemed to have skin rather than scales. I could see two little bunches near her front legs, which must have been the useless wings Dr. Drake had mentioned.
    Meanwhile Weasel continued her rabbit hunt. She slithered into a thick patch of undergrowth, her attention fixed on a patch of grass. Several rabbits, which had been disturbed by the noises I had made, had returned to feed. Weasel’s head quivered in anticipation as she watched one particularly fat-looking rabbit hop over to join two others on a patch of clover. Suddenly she leapt forwards, her tail flicked around behind, and her snakelike body curled into three loops, which she dropped neatly over the three rabbits’ heads. Soon they were dangling from the loops in Weasel’s body like clothes bobbing on a washing line. Then, with three quick gulps, they were gone. The knucker stretched, gave a happy little shudder and wiggle, then slithered away.
    â€œNow,” said Dr. Drake, when Weasel had gone, “that is your first lesson completed. I would like you to complete the first entries in your record book by this evening if possible.”
    And with that, we returned through the forest, and back to Castle Drake.
    When we arrived, I found Beatrice sitting at a little table in the drawing room. She was reading a book, and I saw that she had a record book just like mine, lying open beside her, with a dictionary next to it. She seemed to have completed quite a large entry on the knucker already. She looked up.
    â€œHow was your trip?” she asked. “Did