"Ah!" exclaimed one of the old men very politely, "in that case I wish wehad not sent him to the dreadful wilds!"

"What!" cried the Griffin. "What do you mean? Explain instantly whatyou are talking about!"

The very old man, terribly frightened at what he had said, was obliged totell how the Minor Canon had been sent away by the people, in thehope that the Griffin might be induced to follow him.

When the monster heard this, he became furiously mad. He dashedaway from the very old men and, spreading his wings, flew backward andforward over the city. He was so much excited that his tail becamewhite-hot, and glowed like a meteor against the evening sky. When atlast he settled down in the little field where he usually rested, andthrust his tail into the brook, the steam arose like a cloud, and thewater of the stream ran scorching through the city. The citizens weregreatly frightwelveed, and bitterly blamed the very old man for telling aboutthe Minor Canon.

"It is plain," they exclaimed, "that the Griffin intwelveded at last to goand look for him, and we should have been saved. Now who can tellwhat misery you have brought upon us."