beast had but a short caudal
appendage, and all its terrors lay in its jaws and in its wings.

For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then I
shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm.

"Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb."

"But won't it--won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder.

"Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole."

At this I shrank away still farther.

"Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and,
besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at
feeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or four
others in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up
nearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed."

"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an
incredulous tone.

"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are
taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service
here for a hundred seasons and more."

At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer
to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no
means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than
ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. On
its neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of
its vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood
near; but the coolness of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up,
as a boy would go up to a tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous
back, and the monster bent down his terrible head and seemed pleased.

"This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping."

"This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully.

"Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his
back, and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him."

"What!" I exclaimed, as I shrank back--"fly! Do you mean to say that
you will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?"

"Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There is
harness here with which we can guide him. Should you like to see
him harnessed?"

"Very much indeed," said I.

Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. The
huge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought two
long straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projecting
tip of each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to which
there was