THE CHIMERA: 913

All at once, Bellerophon started as from a dream, and
knew it to be the Chimera. Pegasus seemed to know it,
at the same instant, and sent forth a neigh, that sounded
like the call of a trumpet to battle. At this sound the
three heads reared themselves erect, and belched out
great flashes of flame. Before Bellerophon had time to
consider what to do next, the monster flung itself out of
the cavern and sprung straight towards him, with its im-
mense claws extended, and its snaky tail twisting itself
venomously behind. If Pegasus had. not been as nimble
as a bird, both he and his rider would have been over-
thrown by the Chimeera’s headlong rush, and thus the
battle have been ended before it was well begun. But
the winged horse was not to be caught so. In the
twinkling of an eye he was up aloft, half-way to the
clouds, snorting with anger. He shuddered, too, not
with affright, but with utter disgust at the loathsomeness
of this poisonous thing with three heads.

The Chimera, on the other hand, raised itself up so as
to stand absolutely on the tip-end of its tail, with its
talons pawing fiercely in the air, and its three heads
spluttering fire at Pegasus and his rider. My stars, how
it roared, and hissed, and bellowed! Bellerophon, mean-
while, was fitting his shield on his arm, and drawing his
sword. | |

‘Now, my beloved Pegasus,” he whispered in the
winged horse’s ear, “‘ thou must help me to slay this in-
sufferable monster; or else thou shalt fly back to thy
solitary mountain-peak without thy friend Bellerophon.
For either the Chimera dies, or its three mouths shall