Withhisfalcononhiswrist,andhisgreyhoundandcatbehindhim,theyoungmanwalkedalongway,inquiringofeveryonehemetwhethertheyhadseenhisenemytheogre。Butnobodyhad。Thenhebadehisfalconflyupintothesky——up,up,andup——andtryifhissharpeyescoulddiscovertheoldthief。Thebirdhadtogosohighthathedidnotreturnforsomehours;buthetoldhismasterthattheogrewaslyingasleepinasplendidpalaceinafarcountryontheshoresofthesea。
Thiswasdelightfulnewstotheyoungman,whoinstantlyboughtsomemeatforthefalcon,biddinghimmakeagoodmeal。
\'To—morrow,\'saidhe,\'youwillflytothepalacewheretheogrelies,andwhileheisasleepyouwillsearchallabouthimforastoneonwhichisengravedstrangesigns;thisyouwillbringtome。InthreedaysIshallexpectyoubackhere。\'
\'Well,Imusttakethecatwithme,\'answeredthebird。
Thesunhadnotyetrisenbeforethefalconsoaredhighintotheair,thecatseatedonhisback,withhispawstightlyclaspingthebird\'sneck。