great wings and struck
with his paws. While the dragon was thus engaged with the bees, the
Bee-man rushed forward, and, seizing the child, he hurried away. He
did not stop to pick up his doublet, but kept on until he reached the
entrance of the caves. There he saw the Very Imp hopping along on one
leg, and rubbing his back and shoulders with his hands, and stopped
to inquire what was the matter, and what had become of the Languid
Youth.

"He is no kind of a fellow," said the Very Imp. "He disappointed me
dreadfully. I took him up to the Ghastly Griffin, and told him the
thing was enchanted, and that he might sit on its back and think
about what it could do if it was awake; and when he came near it the
wretched creature opened its eyes, and raised its head, and then you
ought to have seen how mad that simpleton was. He made a dash at me
and seized me by the ears; he kicked and beat me till I can scarcely
move."

"His energies must have been toned up a good deal," said the Bee-man.

"Toned up! I should say so!" cried the other. "I raised a howl, and a
Scissor-jawed Clipper came out of his hole, and got after him; but
that lazy fool ran so fast that he could not be caught."

The Bee-man now ran on and soon overtook the Languid Youth.

"You need not be in a hurry now," said the latter, "for the rules of
this institution don't allow the creatures inside to come out of this
opening, or to hang around it. If they did, they would frighten away
visitors. They go in and out of holes in the upper part of the
mountain."

The two proceeded on their way.

"What are you going to do with that baby?" said the Languid Youth.

"I shall carry it along with me," said the Bee-man, "as I go on with
my search, and perhaps I may find its mother. If I do not, I shall
give it to somebody in that little village yonder. Any thing would be
better than leaving it to be devoured by that horrid dragon."

"Let me carry it. I feel quite strong enough now to carry a baby."

"Thank you," said the Bee-man, "but I can take it myself. I like to
carry something, and I have now neither my hive nor my doublet."

"It is very well that you had to leave them behind," said the Youth,
"for the bees would have stung the baby."

"My bees never sting babies," said the other.

"They probably never had a chance," remarked his companion.

They soon entered the village, and after walking a short distance the
youth exclaimed: "Do you see that woman over the