GBIFFINS AND UNICOBNS 7 



Griffins were not to be met with every day, nor in 

 every country ; but they roamed freely through the 

 Caucasus Mountains, in search of gold and precious 

 stones. Indeed, so fond of gold was the griffin, that 

 after he had dug out a large heap with his powerful 

 claws, he would roll about in it with delight, or sit and 

 look at it by the hour together. 



But, unluckily, the griffin was not allowed to enjoy this 

 innocent pleasure undisturbed. The gold mines were the 

 property of an ugly one-eyed race, who dwelt near a cave 

 which is the home of the north wind, and when they 

 found they were being quietly robbed, they consulted 

 what they should do to punish the thief. It was not an 

 easy task, for the griffin was much cleverer and quicker 

 than his enemies, and, indeed, he nearly always got the 

 best of it. Whenever they went out to dig for gold and 

 emeralds, the griffin would hide until they had collected 

 a large store, and then jump on them, flapping his 

 great wings, and shaking his terrible claws, till they ran 

 away in terror, dropping all their hard-earned treasure. 

 There was only one way in which they could revenge 

 themselves, and that was by carrying off the griffin's egg, 

 that had the power of curing every disease from which 

 mankind can suffer. But it was seldom that any one was 

 fortunate enough or clever enough to win this prize, for 

 the griffin is a very cunning creature, and more than a 

 match for the one-eyed race. Still, now and then, an egg 

 was discovered by some accident, and then how the 

 whole nation rejoiced and prospered, till the precious 

 tbing got broken in some careless hands ! 



We all know about the battle, in ' Alice in Wonder- 

 land,' between the lion and the unicorn for the possession 

 of the crown, and how the unicorn was worsted, and 

 ' beaten all round the town,' by the victorious lion. Since 

 that victory the lion has waved triumphantly from the 

 English flag; but he and the unicorn are deadly foes 

 still, and glare furiously at each other across the arms of 



