Part 4 (2/2)
[Illustration]
”Goodstraight ahead
”Phoenix,” the lady continued coaxingly, ”I'm awfully bored Won't you race me? Please?”
”Idle hands find ood use of our tiest that _you_ do the same”
”Don't be so stuffy, Phoenix” She pouted ”Coot a new brooood it is Please!”
”No,” said the Phoenix sharply
”Oh, all right for _you_!” she said, tossing her head ”You just don't dare, because you know I'll beat your tail feathers off!” And she shot back into the mist below
”Indeed!” the Phoenix snorted ”Beat my tail feathers off! Ha!”
”Is she a Witch?” David asked
”Yes, eneration She will coood end, believe me Tail feathers, indeed!”
Just then they burst out of the clouds and into the hot sunlight
Below the plain covered for the roves of trees drooping beneath the sun The Phoenix, still snorting indignantly to itself, dropped to within a hundred feet of the ground
They began to soar back and forth
”Can you see anything, my boy?”
David had never seen a Gryffin, of course; so he was not sure what to look for But he caught sight of so in the shade of a bush and pointed it out to the Phoenix
”Ah, quite so,” the Phoenix said doubtfully ”It does not look like a--but we can take a closer look”
They landed and walked toward the bush In its shadow sprawled a very untidy animal Its tail and hindquarters were exactly like those of a panther, its chest and forelegs were like a hawk's, and it had pointed wings Burrs matted its dusty fur Its claere shabby and split, and nu over its haunches The bush tre our ti brute, isn't it?” And the Phoenix sniffed disapprovingly
”Maybe if ake it up,” David suggested, ”it could tell us where the other ones live”
”Next to i, a cannon could not awaken the beast For another thing, it would not, even if awake, be able to tell us anything You siine the stupidity of these brutes”
”Well, let's _try_ it, anyway,” David said
”Very well, my boy But it will be a coed its shoulders, stepped up to the Gryffen, and kicked it violently
”Phoenix!” David cried in alarm ”Don't hurt it!”
”No fear,” said the Phoenix, delivering another lusty kick ”One si Gryffen Give me a hand, , and the Phoenix seized its tail For the next ten”HEY!” and ”WAKE UP!” at the top of their lungs It was hot work, and David finally adht But before he could say so, the Phoenix coely bit the Gryffen's tail
That did it The Gryffen opened one eye halfway and said, ”Unffniph?”