proud of his title of "Epet,"
which means servant, and more than usually obliging. I at once took
advantage of his complaisance, and requested him to show me the
athalebs. Upon this he led the way farther on, where I could see
through the gloom the shadowy outlines of four monsters, all of which
were resting in an upright posture against the wall, with their claws
fixed on a shelf of rock. They looked more than ever like dragons, or
rather like enormous bats, for their wings were disclosed hanging in
loose leathern folds.

"Can they be roused," I asked, "and made to move?"

"Oh yes," said the Epet, and without waiting for any further request
he proceeded to pull at the loose fan-like wing of the nearest one.
The monster drew himself together, gave a flutter with his wings, and
then moved back from the wall.

"Make him walk," said I, eagerly.

The Epet at this pulled upon his wing once more, and the athaleb moved
forward.

"Bring him to the portal, so that I may see him," said I.

The Epet, still holding the athaleb's wing, pulled at him, and thus
guided him toward the portal. I was amazed at the docility of this
terrific monster; yet, after all, I thought that it was no more
astonishing than the docility of the elephant, which in like manner
allows itself to be guided by the slightest pressure. A child may lead
a vast elephant with ease, and here with equal ease the Epet led the
athaleb. He led him up near to the portal, where the aurora light
beamed through far brighter than the brightest moon, and disclosed all
the vast proportions of the monster. I stood and looked on for some
time in silence, quite at a loss what to do next.

And now Layelah's words occurred to me as to the perfect willingness
of the Kosekin to do anything which one might wish. She had insisted
on it that they would not prevent our flight, and had given me to
understand that they would even assist me if I should ask them. This
is what now occurred to me, and I determined to make a trial. So I
said:

"I should like to fly in the air on the athaleb. Will you harness
him?"

I confess it was with some trepidation that I said this, but the
feeling was soon dissipated. The Epet heard my words with perfect
coolness, as though they conveyed the most natural request in the
world, and then proceeded to obey me, just as at home a servant might
hear and obey his master, who might say, "I should like to take a
ride; will you harness the bay mare?"