But I can't give you one of these, because my master has made me promise to watch over them all, and I have given him my paw on it.

I am sure a dog of your respectable appearance will say nothing further on the subject." Then the little dog answered pettishly, "Pooh, what nonsense you talk! surely a great griffin can't miss a little bone fit for me ?" and nestling his nose under the watch-dog, he tried forthwith to bring up one of the bones.
On this the watch-dog grew angry, and, though with much reluctance, he seized the little dog by the nape of the neck and threw him off, but without hurting him.

Suddenly the little dog changed into a monstrous serpent, bigger even than the griffin himself, and the watch-dog barked with all his might.

The griffin rose in a great hurry, and the serpent sprang upon him ere he was well awake.

I wish, dearest Nymphalin, you could have seen the battle between the griffin and the serpent,--how they coiled and twisted, and bit and darted their fiery tongues at each other.