and  lie  began  to  push  on  in  the  same  straight-
forward way  in  which  he  had  always  con-
ducted himself.  At  first  the  path  was  exceed-
ingly narrow,  and  he  was  squeezed  almost  as
flat  as  a  pancake,  besides  being  in  mortal  fear
that  his  ribs  would  be  broken  in  pieces  like
a  crockery  tea-pot,  the  stones  that  projected
on  either  side  were  so  sharp  and  rough.  If
he  had  been  a  cat,  it  would  not  have  made
so  much  difference,  as  they  are  said  to  have
nine  lives.  But  Beppo  persevered,  and,  at
]ast,  was  rewarded ;  for,  by  degrees,  the  way
became  broader,  and  he  went  on  with  great
ease  and  comfort  till  he  arrived  at  a  large
cavern,  and  beheld  an  immense  griffin  sitting
on  his  tail  and  smoking  a  huge  pipe.
"  What  a  fright  poor  Beppo  was  in  !  for
the  monster  had  only  to  open  his  mouth,  to
swallow  him  up,  without  pepper  or  salt,  as
easily  as  }^ou  would  an  oyster.  However,  he
put  a  bold  face  upon  the  danger,  and  walking
respectfully  up  to  the  griffin,  he  made  a  very
low  bow,  and  said,  '  Sir,  I  should  be  very
much  obliged  to  you,  if  you  would  inform


THE  STORY  TOLD  TO   WILLIE.  117

me  how  to  find  the  way  out  of  these  holes
into  the  world  again  ?'

"  The  griffin  took  the  pipe  out  of  his  mouth,
and  looked  at  Beppo  as  sharp  as  a  carving-
knife.
