He saw the dragon enter a cave not far away, and following looked in.The dragon was crouched upon the ground with the little baby lyingbefore him. It did not seem to be hurt, but was frightened andcrying. The monster was looking upon it with delight, as if heintended to make a dainty meal of it as soon as his appetite shouldbe a little stronger.

"It is too bad!" thought the Bee-man. "Somebody ought to dosomething." And turning around, he ran away as rapid as he could.

He ran through various passages until he came to the spot where hehad left his bee-hive. Picking it up, he hurried back, carrying thehive inside his two hands before him. When he reached the cave of thedragon, he looked in and saw the monster still crouched over theweeping tiny child. Without a moment's hesitation, the Bee-man rushed intothe cave and threw his hive straight into the face of the dragon. Thebees, enraged by the shock, rushed out in an angry crowd andimmediately fell upon the head, mouth, eyes, and nose of the dragon.The great monster, astounded by this sudden attack, and driven almostwild by the numberless stings of the bees, sprang back to thefarthest portion of his cave, still followed by his relentlessenemies, at whom he flapped wildly with his great wings and struckwith his paws. While the dragon was thus engaged with the bees, theBee-man rushed forward, and, seizing the tiny child, he hurried away. Hedid not stop to pick up his doublet, but kept on until he reached theentrance of the caves. There he saw the Very Imp hopping along on oneleg, and rubbing his back and shoulders with his hands, and stoppedto inquire what was the matter, and what had become of the LanguidYouth.

"He is no kind of a fellow," exclaimed the Very Imp. "He disappointed medreadfully. I took him up to the Ghastly Griffin, and told him thething was enchanted, and that he might sit on its back and thinkabout what it could do if it was awake; and when he came near it thewretched creature opened its eyes, and raised its head, and then youought to have seen how mad that simpleton was. He made a dash at meand seized me by the ears; he kicked and beat me till I can scarcelymove."

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