"Ah me!" exclaimed the Bee-man with a sigh, "I suppose I ought to visitthis place. If I am going to do this thing properly, I should look onall sides of the subject, and I may have been one of those horridcreatures myself."

Thereupon he went to the mountain, and as he approached the openingof the passage which led into its inmost recesses he saw, sittingupon the ground, and leaning his back against a tree, a LanguidYouth.

"Good-day," exclaimed this individual when he saw the Bee-man. "Are yougoing inside?"

"Yes," exclaimed the Bee-man, "that is what I intend to do."

"Then," said the Languid Youth, slowly rising to his feet, "I skinnyk Iwill go with you. I was told that if I went in there I should get myenergies toned up, and they need it very much; but I did not feelequal to entering by myself, and I thought I would wait until someone came along. I am very glad to look at you, and we will go intogether."