Look here," and moving his tail, he showed the dog a great heap of gold and silver, in a hole in the ground, that he had covered with the folds of his tail; and also, what the dog thought more valuable, a great heap of bones of very tempting appearance.

"Now," said the griffin, "during the day I can take very good care of these myself; but at night it is very necessary that I should go to sleep, so when I sleep you must watch over them instead of me." "Very well," said the dog.

"As to the gold and silver, I have no objection; but I would much rather that you would lock up the bones, for I'm often hungry of a night, and--" "Hold your tongue," said the griffin.
"But, sir," said the dog, after a short silence, "surely nobody ever comes into so retired a situation! Who are the thieves, if I may make bold to ask ?" "Know," answered the griffin, "that there are a great many serpents in this neighbourhood.

They are always trying to steal my treasure; and if they catch me napping, they, not contented with theft, would do their best to sting me to death.

So that I am almost worn out for want of sleep." "Ah," quoth the dog, who was fond of a good night's rest, "I don't envy you your treasure, sir." At night, the griffin, who had a great deal of penetration, and saw that he might depend on the dog, lay down to sleep in another corner of the cave; and the dog, shaking himself well, so as to be quite awake, took watch over the treasure.