GRIFFEN THE HIGH FLIER 8$ 



wizard had given them, and to each of them 

 Astolpho appeared in a different form. To one 

 he seemed a giant ; to another a dragon ; to a third 

 an ugly dwarf; and to still another a savage 

 beast. All with one purpose rushed upon him 

 with swords and sticks and stones, anxious to 

 drive him away from their palace of pleasure. 



It would have gone hard with Astolpho, had 

 he not thought of a magic horn which he wore 

 suspended by a gold chain about his neck. It was 

 the gift of a famous enchantress, and was worth 

 a thousand swords. He put it to his lips and 

 blew a single blast. The sound was so fearful 

 that Atlantes and all his guests and servitors 

 took to their heels, and hastened to hide them- 

 selves in the inner chambers of the palace. It was 

 then but the work of a few moments for Astolpho 

 to raise the white stone. It revealed the entrance 

 to a spacious chamber in which were a thousand 

 curious things — ^burning lamps, magic circles, 

 golden bridles, and the like — and at the farther 

 end, tethered by a golden cord, was our old friend 

 Griffen, fully caparisoned with saddle and bridle, 

 ready for a flight among the clouds. What was 

 Rabican compared to such a steed as this ? Astol- 

 pho lost no time in leading him from the chamber. 



