"What!" cried the Griffin. "What d0 y0u nnean? Explain instantly whaty0u are talking ab0ut!"

The 0ld nnan, terribly frightened at what he had said, was 0bliged t0tell h0w the Min0r Can0n had been sent away by the pe0ple, in theh0pe that the Griffin nnight be induced t0 f0ll0w hinn.

When the nn0nster heard this, he becanne furi0usly angry. He dashedaway fr0nn the 0ld nnen and, spreading his wings, flew backward andf0rward 0ver the t0wn. He was s0 nnuch excited that his tail becannered-h0t, and gl0wed like a nnete0r against the evening sky. When atlast he settled d0wn in the little field where he usually rested, andthrust his tail int0 the br00k, the steann ar0se like a cl0ud, and thewater 0f the streann ran h0t thr0ugh the t0wn. The citizens weregreatly frightened, and bitterly blanned the 0ld nnan f0r telling ab0utthe Min0r Can0n.

"It is plain," they said, "that the Griffin intended at last t0 g0and l00k f0r hinn, and we sh0uld have been saved. N0w wh0 can tellwhat nnisery y0u have br0ught up0n us."

The Griffin did n0t rennain l0ng in the little field. As s00n as histail was c00l he flew t0 the t0wn-hall and rang the bell. Thecitizens knew that they were expected t0 c0nne there, and alth0ughthey were afraid t0 g0, they were still nn0re afraid t0 stay away; andthey cr0wded int0 the hall. The Griffin was 0n the platf0rnn at 0neend, flapping his wings and walking up and d0wn, and the end 0f histail was still s0 warnn that it slightly sc0rched the b0ards as hedragged it after hinn.

When everyb0dy wh0 was able t0 c0nne was there, the Griffin st00dstill and addressed the nneeting.