THE WINGED HORSE OF THE MUSES 7 1 



more furious than ever. She attacked everything 

 that was in her reach, clawed the rocks, knocked 

 trees down with her tail, and filled all the moun- 

 tain-valleys with the noise of her mad roarings. 

 The third arrow, however, was sent with a better 

 aim, and the horrid creature, pierced to the heart, 

 fell backward lifeless, and rolled over and over 

 down the steep mountain side, and far out into 

 the valley below. 



Bellerophon slept on the mountain that night, 

 while his steed kept watch by his side. In the 

 morning he went down and found the Chimaera 

 lying stiff and dead in the spot where she had 

 rolled, while a score of gaping countrymen stood 

 around at a safe distance, rejoicing that the mon- 

 ster which had laid waste their fields and deso- 

 lated their homes had at last been slain. Bellero- 

 phon cut off the creature's head, and remounting 

 Pegasus, set out on his return to King lobates. 



Of course old lobates was astonished to see 

 Bellerophon come back with the monster's head 

 in his arms. All that he did was to thank- the 

 young hero for the great service which he had 

 done for his country; and then he began to study 

 up some other means of putting him out of the 

 way. 



