200 THE CHIMERA.

But, in the first place, as the monster was so pro-
digiously swift, he bethought himself that he should
never win the victory by fighting on foot. The wisest
thing he could do, therefore, was to get the very best
and fleetest horse that could anywhere be found. And_
what other horse, in all the world, was half so fleet as
the marvellous horse Pegasus, who had wings as well
as legs, and was even more active in the air than on
the earth? To be sure, a great many people denied
that there was any such horse with wings, and said that
the stories about him were all poetry and nonsense. But,
wonderful as it appeared, Bellerophon believed that Pega-
sus was a real steed, and hoped that he himself might
be fortunate enough to find him; and, once fairly
mounted on his back, he would be able to fight the
Chimera at better advantage.

And this was the purpose with which he had travelled
from Lycia to Greece, and had brought the beautifully:
ornamented bridle in his hand. It was an enchanted bri-
dle. If he could only succeed in putting the golden bit
into the mouth of Pegasus, the winged horse would be
submissive, and would own Bellerophon for his master,
and fly whithersoever he might choose to turn the rein.

But, indeed, it was a weary and anxious time, while
Bellerophon waited and waited for Pegasus, in hopes
that he would come and drink at the Fountain of Pirene.
He was afraid lest King Iobates should imagine that he
had fled from the Chimera. It pained him, too, to think
how much mischief the monster was doing, while he
himself, instead of fighting with it, was compelled to