IV.
There came a burst of low sweet music, as if the south wind were murmuring through the strings of many Æolian harps. And chiming in with the music came the far-off roar of the ocean. Then a flood of sunshine fell over the earth, and the roses burst into bloom, so did the eglantine, that had been hiding away till the sun gave the signal.
"Rollo passes by," said the Magpie.
"Rollo?"
"The child beloved by earth and sea and wind," said the Magpie. "Give the box a shake, and look up."
Lilla did as she was desired.
"I only see a purple cloud," she said. "Does Rollo come from the clouds?"
"Rollo lives here, so do not fear,
The Multiphobus his course can steer,"
answered the Magpie, looking straight at Lilla.
"lilla ... perceived ... an extraordinary animal."
"Multi——" and here Lilla stopped. She had never heard the word before.
"The Multiphobus," said the Magpie; and he spelt it over for her.
"Yes, the Multiphobus. What is a Multiphobus?"
"A creature that can do many things. He can live on the earth or in the sea or in the air. He can run, swim, or fly, just as Rollo wishes. Rollo is riding on the Multiphobus now. If you look up into the air you will see him."
Lilla looked up, and perceived that what she had taken for a great purple cloud sailing through the sky was in reality an extraordinary animal, partly like a panther, partly like a hippopotamus, partly like a bat and an eagle, for it had wings, claws, and feathers. And seated on its breast, with one arm round its neck, and nestling close to it, was a boy with a deerskin bound round him, and a crown of gay feathers on his head.
Though the Multiphobus had an ugly face, yet he was evidently amiable, and he and Rollo appeared to be talking together.
The Magpie nodded approvingly, but Lilla felt a little alarmed at so enormous and nondescript an animal; and she trembled so much that the box shook, and the words rattled violently inside.
"They want to get out," she said; "shall I open the lid?"
"Certainly not," replied the Magpie; "they will come out of themselves when it is time. Stand still, and watch the Multiphobus descending."
It was easy to say "stand still," but not so easy for Lilla to do so; she shook and shivered, and could only keep herself steady by supporting herself against the trunk of a tall pine-tree.
Suddenly the Multiphobus ceased to work his wings, but he stretched them out to their full extent, and then dropped quietly to the ground. When he touched the earth, his wings fell off, and he looked like an ordinary quadruped.
"He has only to say 'Wings,' and they come to him at once," explained the Magpie.
But Lilla scarcely heard him; she was in a greater fright than ever. Not only did the Multiphobus look more huge, but at that moment a sharp-nosed Wolf appeared in sight, and Lilla's box rattled so loudly that she was afraid he would hear it, and look round at her.
"rollo ... advanced to meet him."
She could not keep it still.
"No matter, no matter,
If it does make a clatter,"
said the Magpie.
"Will the Wolf hurt Rollo?" asked Lilla.
But the Magpie only whistled.