"But won't it—won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder.
"Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole."
At this I shrank away still farther.
"Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and, besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at feeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or four others in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up nearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed."
"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an incredulous tone.
"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service here for a hundred seasons and more."
At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. On its neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of its vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood near; but the coolness of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up, as a boy would go up to a tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous back, and the monster bent down his terrible head and seemed pleased.
"This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping."
"This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully.
"Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his back, and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him."