if you wish to get a good view of the stone image of
yourself."

"That will suit me very well," said the Griffin. "I see you are a man
of good sense. I am tired, and I will take a nap here on this soft
grass, while I cool my tail in the little stream that runs near me.
The end of my tail gets red-hot when I am angry or excited, and it is
quite warm now. So you may go, but be sure and come early to-morrow
morning, and show me the way to the church."

The Minor Canon was glad enough to take his leave, and hurried into
the town. In front of the church he found a great many people
assembled to hear his report of his interview with the Griffin. When
they found that he had not come to spread ruin and devastation, but
simply to see his stony likeness on the church, they showed neither
relief nor gratification, but began to upbraid the Minor Canon for
consenting to conduct the creature into the town.

"What could I do?" cried the young man. "If I should not bring him he
would come himself and, perhaps, end by setting fire to the town with
his red-hot tail."

Still the people were not satisfied, and a great many plans were
proposed to prevent the Griffin from coming into the town. Some
elderly persons urged that the young men should go out and kill him;
but the young men scoffed at such a ridiculous idea. Then some one
said that it would be a good thing to destroy the stone image so that
the Griffin would have no excuse for entering the town; and this
proposal was received with such favor that many of the people ran for
hammers, chisels, and crowbars, with which to tear down and break up
the stone griffin. But the Minor Canon resisted this plan with all
the strength of his mind and body. He assured the people that this
action would enrage the Griffin beyond measure, for it would be
impossible to conceal from him that his image had been destroyed
during the night. But the people were so determined to break up the
stone griffin that the Minor Canon saw that there was nothing for him
to do but to stay there and protect it. All night he walked up and
down in front of the church-door, keeping away the men who brought
ladders, by which they might mount to the great stone griffin, and
knock it to pieces with their hammers and crowbars. After many hours
the people were obliged to give up their attempts, and went home to
sleep; but the Minor Canon remained at his post till early morning,
and then he hurried away to the field where