transcribed from the @number@ j w arrowsmith edition by david price , email @email@ { book cover : p0.jpg } prince ricardo of pantouflia being the adventures of prince prigio's son , by andrew lang author of prince prigio illustrated by gordon browne published at bristol by j w arrowsmith , quay street , and at london by simpkin , marshall , hamilton , kent & company limited dedication . to guy campbell . my dear guy , here you have some of his later adventures , and you will learn from this story the advantages of minding your book . yours always , a lang . { andrew lang 's signature : p0v.jpg } introductory . explaining matters . { decorative letter t : p0ix.jpg } there may be children whose education has been so neglected that they have not read prince prigio . the fairies gave the little prince cleverness , beauty , courage ; but one wicked fairy added , " you shall be too clever . " his love for her taught him not to be conceited , though he did not cease to be extremely clever and fond of reading . the moral of the story will easily be discovered by the youngest reader , or , if not , it does not much matter . chapter i . the troubles of king prigio . { prince ricardo and lady tied up : p13.jpg } " i 'm sure i don't know what to do with that boy ! " said king prigio of pantouflia . you are so clever . " the queen could not read most of them herself , but the king used to read them aloud to her . " no , i don't know what to do with dick , " said the king . he meant his son , prince ricardo , but he called him dick in private . " i believe it 's the fault of his education , " his majesty went on . " we have not brought him up rightly . these fairy books are at the bottom of his provoking behaviour , " and he glanced round the shelves . " but she was wrong , you know , " said the queen . but perhaps the thing has been overdone ; at all events , it is not a success . i wonder if fathers and sons will ever understand each other , and get on well together ? " and now , here 's dick , " the monarch continued , " i can't hold him back . never opens a book . what does he care , off after every adventure he can hear about ? an idle , restless youth ! ah , my poor country , when i am gone , what may not be your misfortunes under ricardo ! " here his majesty sighed , and seemed plunged in thought . " but you are not going yet , my dear , " said the queen . " why you are not forty ! and young people will be young people . i 'm sure she is like a daughter to me . i cannot do without her . " " i wish she were a daughter-in-law ; i wish dick would take a fancy to marry her , " said the king . " a nicer girl i never saw . " " and so accomplished , " added queen rosalind . " that girl can turn herself into anything a mouse , a fly , a lion , a wheelbarrow , a church ! i never knew such talent for magic . even now , when she is out of the schoolroom , she still practises her scales . i saw her turning little dollie into a fish and back again in the bath-room last night . the child was delighted . " " yes , she 's a dear , good girl , " said the king ; " yet she looks melancholy . i believe , myself , that if ricardo asked her to marry him , she would not say ' no . ' but that 's just one of the things i object to most in dick . he has no more heart than a flounder . why , at his age i " " at his age , my dear , you were so hard-hearted that you were quite a proverb . why , i have been told that you used to ask girls dreadful puzzling questions , like ' who was caesar borgia ? ' ' what do you know of edwin and morcar ? ' and so on . " " i had not seen you then , " said the king . " and ricardo has not seen her , whoever she may be . besides , he can't possibly marry all of them . but ever since he found his way into that closet where the fairy presents lie , everything has been made too easy for him . it is a royal road to glory , or giant-slaying made easy . in his cap of darkness a poor brute of a dragon can't see him . in his shoes of swiftness the giants can't catch him . his sword of sharpness would cut any oak asunder at a blow ! " it 's intellect i miss in ricardo . how am i to know whether he could make a good fight for it without all these fairy things ? i wonder what the young rogue is about to-day ? he 'll be late for dinner , as usual , i daresay . " young people will be young people , " said the queen . " if you are anxious about him , why don't you look for him in the magic crystal ? " " i 'll just take a look at it , " said the king ; " it only wants three-quarters of an hour to dinner-time . " his majesty rose , and walked to the crystal globe , which was in a stand , like other globes . he stared into it , he turned it round and round , and queen rosalind saw him grow quite pale as he gazed . " i don't see him anywhere , " said the king , " and i have looked everywhere . i do hope nothing has happened to the boy . he is so careless . if he dropped his cap of darkness in a fight with a giant , why who knows what might occur ? " " oh , ' gio , how you frighten me ! " said the queen . king prigio was still turning the crystal globe . they must have fixed her up as a sacrifice to a sea-monster , like what's-her-name . " this proves how anxious he was , or , being so clever and learned , he would have remembered that her name was andromeda . " i bet dick is not far off , where there is an adventure on hand . but where on earth can he be ? . . . my word ! " suddenly exclaimed the monarch , in obvious excitement . " what is it , dear ? " cried the queen , with all the anxiety of a mother . " why , the sea where the girl is , has turned all red as blood ! " exclaimed the king . " now it is all being churned up by the tail of a tremendous monster . he is a whopper ! he 's coming on shore ; the girl is fainting . he 's out on shore ! he is extremely poorly , blood rushing from his open jaws . he 's dying ! he 's covered with blood , but he 's well and hearty . he must have been swallowed by the brute , and cut him up inside . now he 's cutting the beast 's head off . now he 's gone to the princess ; a very neat bow he has made her . dick 's manners are positively improving ! now he 's cutting her iron chains off with the sword of sharpness . and now he 's made her another bow , and he 's actually taking leave of her . poor thing ! how disappointed she is looking . and she 's so pretty , too . " i think not , dear ; the palace is quite full , " said the queen . " as you like , " said the king , who knew what was in her mind very well . " besides , i see her own people coming for her . i 'm sorry for her , but it can't be helped , and dick is half-way home by now on the shoes of swiftness . i daresay he will not keep dinner waiting after all . but what a fright the boy has given me ! " at this moment a whirring in the air and a joyous shout were heard . it was prince ricardo flying home on his seven-league boots . " hi , ross ! " he shouted , " just weigh this beast 's head . i 've had a splendid day with a sea-monster . get the head stuffed , will you ? we 'll have it set up in the billiard-room . " " it 's a fine head , whatever , " he added , meditatively . { ross weighing the beast 's head : p28.jpg } prince ricardo now came beneath the library window , and gave his parents a brief account of his adventure . " i picked the monster up early in the morning , " he said , " through the magic telescope , father . " " what country was he in ? " said the king . " the country people whom i met called it ethiopia . they were niggers . " " and in what part of the globe is ethiopia , ricardo ? " " oh ! i don't know . asia , perhaps , " answered the prince . the king groaned . " that boy will never understand our foreign relations . ethiopia in asia ! " he said to himself , but he did not choose to make any remark at the moment . the prince ran upstairs to dress . on the stairs he met the princess jaqueline . " oh , dick ! are you hurt ? " she said , turning very pale . " no , not i ; but the monster is . i had a capital day , jack ; rescued a princess , too . " " was she was she very pretty , dick ? " " oh ! i don't know . pretty enough , i daresay . much like other girls . why , you look quite white ! what 's the matter ? now you look all right again ; " for , indeed , the princess jaqueline was blushing . " i must dress . chapter ii . princess jaqueline drinks the moon . { the king and the prince : p30.jpg } when dinner was over and the ladies had left the room , the king tried to speak seriously to prince ricardo . this was a thing which he disliked doing very much . my taste was for books ; i only took to adventures because i was obliged to do it . dick 's taste is for adventures ; i only wish some accident would make him take to books . but everyone must get his experience for himself ; and when he has got it , he is lucky if it is not too late . i wish i could see him in love with some nice girl , who would keep him at home . " the king did not expect much from talking seriously to dick . however , he began by asking questions about the day 's sport , which ricardo answered with modesty . " i really wish , ricardo , that you would attend to your geography a little more . " i could always spot them through the magic glass , father , " said dick ; " it saves such a lot of trouble . i hate geography . " " but the glass might be lost or broken , or the fairies might take it away , and then where are you ? " " oh , you would know where to go , or mr belsham . " now mr belsham was his tutor , from oxford . " but i shall not always be here , and when i die " " don't talk of dying , sire , " said dick . " why , you are not so very old ; you may live for years yet . besides , i can't stand the notion . you must live for ever ! " " that sentiment is unusual in a crown prince , " thought the king ; but he was pleased for all that . " well , to oblige you , i 'll try to struggle against old age , " he said ; " but there are always accidents . now , dick , like a good fellow , and to please me , work hard all to-morrow till the afternoon . i 'll come in and help you . and there 's always a splendid evening rise of trout in the lake just now , so you can have your play after your work . you 'll enjoy it more , and i daresay you are tired after a long day with the big game . it used to tire me , i remember . " " i wish he would not call me jack , " said the princess to the queen . the princess was silent , and fixed her eyes on her book . presently the king came in , and played a game with lina at picquet . when they were all going to bed , he said : " just come into the study , lina . i want you to write a few letters for me . " the princess followed him and took her seat at the writing table . the letters were very short . they were all summoned to be at the palace early next morning . then his majesty yawned , apologised , and went to bed . the princess also went to her room , or bower as it was then called , but not to sleep . she was unhappy that dick did not satisfy his father , and that he was so careless , and also about other things . " i could find out . i could turn myself into a dog or a cat , and go into the room where he is giving his orders . besides , i know it is wrong to listen to what one is not meant to hear . it is often difficult to be a magician and a good girl . the temptations are so strong , stronger than most people allow for . " " how stupid of me , " she said at length , " after all the lessons i have had . why , i can drink the moon ! " whether it is quite fair is another matter ; but , at all events , it is not listening . king prigio 's secret , why he sent for the tailor and the other people , was his own secret . however , the princess did not think about right and wrong , unluckily . then she closed the book and put it back on the shelf . then the princess took a great silver basin , covered with strange black signs and figures raised in the silver . she poured water into the basin , and as she poured it she sang the magic spell from the latin book . it was something like this , in english : { the princess drinks the moon : p41.jpg } " now i know all about it , " she said . but it seems a cruel trick to play on poor ricardo . after meditating in this way , the princess fell sleep , and did not waken till her maid came to call her . " why , what is it ? " asked the princess . " they have not hurt the carpet ? " said the princess . " oh dear ! the queen won't be pleased at all . it was a little chemical experiment i was trying last night . " but she knew very well that she must have dropped seven drops of the enchanted water . her majesty has often spoke about it . " and , rosina , you may keep the silver drops for yourself . " we never know how far we may be carried , and so jaqueline found out . for when she went down to breakfast , there was the king in a great state of excitement , for him . " it 's most extraordinary , " said his majesty . " what is ? " asked the queen . " why , didn't you notice it ? no , you had gone to bed before it happened . but i was taking a walk in the moonlight , on the balcony , and i observed it carefully . " " observed what , my dear ? " asked the queen , who was pouring out the tea . " didn't you see it , dick ? late as usual , you young dog ! " the king remarked as ricardo entered the room . " see what , sir ? " said dick . " oh , you were asleep hours before , now i think of it ! but it was the most extraordinary thing , an unpredicted eclipse of the moon ! you must have noticed it , jaqueline ; you sat up later . how the dogs howled ! " " yes , i did see it , " she admitted , blushing . " had it not been predicted ? " " not a word about it whispered anywhere , " said his majesty . " i looked up the almanack at once . it is the most extraordinary thing i ever saw , and i 've seen a good many . " " the astronomers must be duffers , " said prince ricardo . " i never thought there was much in physical science of any sort ; most dreary stuff . why , they say the earth goes round the sun , whereas any fool can see it is just the other way on . " king prigio was struck aghast by these sentiments in the mouth of his son and heir , the hope of pantouflia . but what was the king to say in reply ? the astronomers of pantouflia , who conceived that they knew a great deal , had certainly been taken by surprise this time . indeed , they have not yet satisfactorily explained this eclipse of the moon , though they have written volumes about it . " why , it may be the sun next ! " exclaimed his majesty . " anything may happen . the very laws of gravitation themselves may go askew ! " " some of the royal tradesmen , by appointment , to see your majesty . " chapter iii . the adventure of the shopkeepers . { man with sword : p48.jpg } dick went on with his breakfast . meanwhile the king had joined the tradesmen who attended by his orders . they were all met in the royal study , where the king made them a most splendid bow , and requested them to be seated . but they declined to sit in his sacred presence , and the king observed that , in that case he must stand up . " your majesty has only to command , " said herr schnipp . the other merchants murmured assent , for king prigio was really liked by his people . he was always good-tempered and polite . he never went to war with anybody . he spent most of the royal income on public objects , and of course there were scarcely any taxes to speak of . " a fellow who can't teach himself to read , " said the king , " is not worth teaching . " only one tradesman , bowing very deep and blushing very much , said : " your majesty , will you hear me for one moment ? " " for an hour , with pleasure , herr schmidt , " said the monarch . but keep a secret from my wife , i fairly own to your majesty that i can not . " herr schmidt went down on his knees and wept . { herr schmidt went down on his knees : p52.jpg } " rise , herr schmidt , " said the king , taking him by the hand . " a more honourable and chivalrous confession of an amiable weakness , if it is to be called a weakness , i never heard . there is no one here , i hope , but respects and will keep the secret of herr schmidt 's confession ? " the assembled shopkeepers could scarcely refrain from tears . " long live king prigio the good ! " they exclaimed , and vowed that everything should be kept dark . " indeed , sire , " said the swordmaker , " all the rest of us are bachelors . " the caps were the wishing cap and the cap of darkness . the rug was the famous carpet which carried its owner through the air wherever he wished to go . the sword was the sword of sharpness . the ivory glass showed you anyone you wanted to see , however far off . the boots were the seven-league boots , which hop-o'-my-thumb stole from the ogre about @number@ there were other valuable objects , but these were the most useful and celebrated . of course the king did not tell the tradesmen what they were . " now , gentlemen , " said his majesty , " you see these old things . the tradesmen examined the objects , each choosing that in his own line of business . " as to the sword , sire , " said the cutler , " it is an andrea ferrara , a fine old blade . by a lucky accident , i happen to have one at home in a small collection of ancient weapons , exactly like it . this evening it shall be at your majesty 's disposal . " " with pleasure , your majesty , " says the cutler . " then you can do like herr schnitzler , " who was the cutler . " and i , " said the hatter , " have two old caps just like these , part of a bankrupt theatrical stock . " " we are most fortunate , " said the king . " the boots , now i come to think of it , are unimportant , at least for the present . perhaps we can borrow a pair from the theatre . " " as for the glass , " said the optician , " if your majesty will allow me to take it home with me " then he called for a servant , to order luncheon for the shopkeepers , and paper for them to write their orders on . but no one was within hearing , and in that very old part of the palace there were no bells . i have a reason for it . " " where on earth are they ? " cried the king , rushing through all the rooms in that part of the castle . he shouted for them , and looked everywhere ; but there was not a trace of tailor , hatter , optician , swordmaker , upholsterer . the king hastened to a window over the gate , and saw the sentinels on duty . " hi ! " he called . and the sentinels turned round , looked up , and saluted . " have you seen anyone go out ? " he cried . " no one , sire , " answered the soldiers . the king , who began to guess what had happened , hurried back to the turret-room . there were all the tradesmen with parcels under their arms . " what means this , gentlemen ? " said his majesty , severely . " for what reason did you leave the room without my permission ? " they all knelt down , humbly imploring his compassion . " get up , you donkeys ! " said the king , forgetting his politeness . " get up , and tell me where you have been hiding yourselves . " the hatter came forward , and said : " sire , you will not believe me ; indeed , i can scarcely believe it myself ! " " nor none of us can't , " said the swordmaker . " we have been home , and brought the articles . all orders executed with punctuality and dispatch , " he added , quoting his own advertisement without thinking of it . on this the swordmaker took out and exhibited the andrea ferrara blade , which was exactly like the sword of sharpness . the upholsterer undid his parcel , and there was a persian rug , which no one could tell from the magical carpet . and what he wished happened , of course , as was natural . in a moment he was alone in the turret-room . " owl that i am ! " said king prigio to himself . " i might have better wished for a complete set of sham fairy things which would not work . however , what i have got will do very well . " then he would be left to his own cleverness and courage to get him out of the scrape . of course he might have locked the things up , and forbidden ricardo to touch them , but that might have seemed harsh . he only wanted to give him a fright or two , and make him respect the judgment of older and wiser people than himself . chapter iv . two lectures . { the prince with the telescope : p64.jpg } for several days prince ricardo minded his books , and , according to his tutors , made considerable progress in polite learning . every morning he would climb the turret and sweep the horizon , and even much beyond the horizon , with the ivory spy-glass . but look as he would , he saw no monsters preying on human-kind anywhere , nor princesses in distress . but this was not the kind of adventure which he enjoyed . dragons for his money ! ricardo had very bad sport , when suddenly the trout began to rise all over the lake . { drifting in a light breeze : p66.jpg } but , as too often occurs , they were taking one particular fly which was on the water , and would look at nothing else . " oh , bother them ! " cried ricardo . " i can't find a fly in my book in the least like that little black one they are feeding on ! " " it 's no use , " he said ; " i have not a fly that will suit . let's go home , " and he threw a tin can at a rising trout . " now , dick , " said jaqueline , " you know i can help you . i did not learn magic for nothing . she had turned herself into an artificial fly ( a small black gnat ) , and dick might set to his sport again . " what a trump that girl is , " he said aloud . " clever , too ! " and he began casting . he got a trout every cast , great big ones , over a pound , and soon he had a basketful . but he began to feel rather bored . " there 's not much fun taking them , " he said , " when they are so silly . " at that very moment he noticed that the fly was off his cast , and jaqueline was sitting at the oars . " you see , ricardo , " she said , " i was right after all . there is not much pleasure in sport that is easy and certain . now , apply this moral to dragon-killing with magic instruments . dick had no answer ready , so he only grumbled : " you 're always preaching at me , jack ; everybody always is . i seem to have been born just to be preached at . " some people are ; and it does grow rather tedious in the long run . things were not always to go smoothly , far from it ; and it was poor jaqueline who fell into trouble next . she had been very ready to lecture dick , as we saw , and took a good deal of credit to herself for his steadiness . it consisted of seven drops of silver , set like this : { the drops : p72.jpg } " h'm ! " said the king . " very curious and pretty ! may i ask you where you got this , rosina ? " { " "h'm ! " said the king . " very curious and pretty ! " : p73.jpg } " please , your majesty , the princess gave me the drops . " " very interesting , " said the king . " there is a little white moon shining in each of them ! i wonder if they shine in the dark ? " he opened the door of a cupboard which had no windows , where the housemaid kept her mops and brooms , and shut himself in . yes , there was no mistake ; the darkness was quite lighted up with the sheen of the seven little moons in the silver . the king looked rather grave . " if you can trust me with this cross till to-morrow , rosina , i should like to have it examined and analysed . this is no common silver . " of course rosina could only curtsy , but she was very much alarmed about the consequences to her mistress . after luncheon , the king asked jaqueline to come into his study , as he often did , to help him with his letters . when they had sat down his majesty said : " what does your majesty mean ? " said poor jaqueline , feeling very uncomfortable ; for the king had never lectured her before . " yes , sire , i did give her the drops . she had them made up herself . " " then give it back to her when you see her next . i am glad you are frank , jaqueline . and you know , of course , that the drops are not ordinary silver ? you can have no reason for it , such as a great king might have whose enemies are plotting against his country . " " oh , sire , i will tell you everything ! " cried jaqueline . " no , don't ; i don't want to know . i am sure you will make no use of your information which you think i should not approve of . but there is another thing that eclipse of the moon ! oh , jaqueline , was it honourable , or fair to the astronomers and men of science , to say nothing about it ? their european reputations are seriously injured . " poor jaqueline could only cry . " never mind , " said his majesty , comforting her . but you are young , of course , and cannot be expected to think of everything . " " i never thought about it at all , " wept jaqueline . " ' evil is wrought by want of thought , ' " said the king , quoting the poet . later , when you are older , we shall see about it . " the princess flew to her room , and returned with her book . and the king kissed her , and told her to go and see if her majesty meant to take a drive . " i 'll never deceive him again , never . ..y ..y unless it is quite necessary , " said the princess to herself . " indeed , it is not so easy to deceive the king . what a lot he has read ! " in fact , king prigio had been very studious when a young man , before he came to the throne . " poor child ! " thought the king . " no doubt she was trying her fortune , wondering if ricardo cares for her a little . of course i could not let her tell me that , poor child ! " in this guess , as we know , his majesty was mistaken , which seldom happened to him . " i wonder who she is ? " the king went on speaking to himself . " that great booby , ricardo , saved her from wild birds , which were just going to eat her . she was fastened to a mountain top , but where ? that 's the question . ricardo never has any notion of geography . her ornaments were very peculiar ; there was a broad gold sun on her breast . i must look at them again some day . she said she was a daughter of the sun ; but that , of course , is absurd , unless by jove ! " dismal old muscovite ! " sighed the king . " a monarch has not a moment to himself for his private studies . ah , prigio ! why wert thou not born to a private station ? but duty before everything , " and wreathing his royal countenance in smiles , his majesty prepared to give count snoreonski an audience . it was all about the attitude of pantouflia in the event of a polish invasion of russia . " i may give your message to my august mistress , the czarina ? " said the ambassador . the old count was affected to tears , and withdrew , while king prigio said : " i have not lost a day ; i have made an amiable but very stupid man happy . " such are , or rather such were , the toils of monarchs ! chapter v prince ricardo crosses the path of history . { hand reaching for a crown with wings : p83.jpg } " i say , jack , " said prince ricardo one morning , " here 's a queer letter for me ! " " i don't know the arms , " ricardo said . " oh , ricardo , how you do neglect your heraldry ! old green stocking is in despair over your ignorance . " now green stocking was the chief herald of pantouflia , just like blue mantle in england . " why , these are the royal arms of england , you great ignorant dick ! " " but rome isn't in england , is it ? and the post-mark is ' roma ' : that 's rome in some lingo , i expect . it is in latin , anyhow , i know . mortuus est romae ' he died at rome . ' it 's in the latin grammar . let's see what the fellow says , anyhow , " added ricardo , breaking the seal . " he begins , ' prins and dear cousin ! ' i say , jaqueline , he spells it ' prins ; ' now it is p-r-i-n-c-e . he must be an ignorant fellow ! " " people in glass houses should not throw stones , dick , " said jaqueline . " he signs himself ' charles , p . w. , ' " said ricardo , looking at the end . " who on earth can he be ? why does he not put ' p . w . charles , ' if these are his initials ? look here , it 's rather a long letter ; you might read it to us , jack ! " the princess took the epistle and began : " how nice it smells , all scented ! the paper is gilt-edged , too . " " luxurious beggar , whoever he is , " said ricardo . prins , you may be less well informed about my situation . i have not killed any dragguns , there being nun of them here ; but i have been under fiar , at gaeta . ' where 's gaeta , dick ? " " never heard of it , " said ricardo . " well , it is in italy , and it was besieged lately . he goes on : ' and i am told that i did not misbehave myself , nor disgrace the blud of bruce .'[!] " i remember him well enough . " " well , your correspondent seems to be a descendant of his . " " that 's getting more interesting , " said dick . " i wish my father would go to war with somebody . with the sword of sharpness i 'd make the enemy whistle ! drive on , jack . " " ' as a prins in distress , i apeal to your valler , so renouned in europe . let our sords be drawn together in the caus of freedom and an outraged country , my own . " ' i remain , " ' prins and dear cuzen , " ' charles , p . w. ' " p w means prince of wales , " added jaqueline . " he is turned out of england you know , and lives at rome with his father . " " i like that chap , " said prince ricardo . " he does not spell very well , as you say , but i sometimes make mistakes myself ; and i like his spirit . i 've been looking out for an adventure ; but the big game is getting shy , and my sword rusts in his scabbard . i 'll tell you what , jack i 've an idea ! just wait till i spot the places . " " well , dick , but how do you mean to do it ? " " do it ? nothing simpler ! " but if the english don't like prince charles when they get him ? " " like him ? they 're sure to like him , a young fellow like that ! besides , i 'll take the sword with me in case of accidents . " " oh , he won't mind this time ! there 's no kind of danger ; and i 'm sure he will approve of the principle of the thing . kings must stick up for each other . why , some electing characters might come here and kick us out ! " " your father is not the sort of king who is kicked out , " said jaqueline . but there was no use in talking to dick . he made his simple preparations , and announced that he would be back in time for luncheon . what was poor jaqueline to do ? she was extremely anxious . she knew , as we saw , what king prigio had intended about changing the fairy things for others that would not work . she was certain dick would get himself into a scrape ; how was she to help him ? she made up her mind quickly , while dick was putting his things together . then she changed herself into a mosquito a kind of gnat that bites and hid herself under a fold of dick 's coat . of course he knew nothing about her being there . there he saw an elderly gentleman , in a great curled wig , sound asleep on a seat beneath a tree . the old gentleman had a long , pale , melancholy face , and across his breast was a broad blue ribbon with a star . ah ! how changed was king james from the handsome prince who had loved fair beatrix esmond , thirty years ago ! near him were two boys , not quite so old as prince ricardo . the younger was a pretty dark boy , with a funny little roundabout white wig . the other lad had a broad scotch bonnet on , and no wig ; beautiful silky yellow locks fell about his shoulders . he had laid his sword on the grass . prince ricardo stepped up to this boy , took off his cap , and said : " i think i have the honour of addressing the prince of wales ? " may i inquire the reason which offers me the pleasure of this unexpected interview ? " " oh , i 'm ricardo of pantouflia ! " says dick . " i had a letter from you this morning , and i believe you wanted to see me . " " from pantouflia , sir , " said prince charles ; " why , that is hundreds of leagues away ! " " it is a good distance , " said dick ; " but a mere step when you wear seven- league boots like mine . " the duke of york prince ricardo of pantouflia . gentlemen , know each other ! " the prince bowed in the most stately manner . it 's new to me . you sent the ball a tremendous long shot . " " the game is called golf , and is the favourite pastime of my loyal scottish subjects , " said prince charles . i 'm practising walking without stockings , too , to harden my feet , " he said , in a more familiar tone of voice . " i fancy there are plenty of long marches before me , and i would not be a spear 's length behind the hardiest highlander . " " by jove ! it will all be plain sailing . " " pray explain your plan , " said prince charles . " the task of conquering back the throne of my fathers is not so simple as you seem to suppose . " " i 've done a good many difficult things , " said dick , modestly . " oh ! with a sword of sharpness and a cap of darkness , and so forth , you have a great pull over almost anything . " " and you really possess those talismans ? " said the prince . " certainly i do . you see how short a time i took in coming to your call from pantouflia . " " oh , never mind holy church , harry ! " said prince charles . " this is business . besides , the english are protestants . " " i pray for their conversion daily , " said the duke of york . " the end justifies the means , you know , " answered prince charles . " all 's fair in love and war . " " i should think so , " said ricardo , " especially against those brutes of electors ; they give trouble at home sometimes . " " you , too , are plagued with an elector ? " asked prince charles . " an elector ? thousands of them ! " answered dick , who never could understand anything about politics . prince charles looked puzzled , but requested dick to explain his great plan . they sat down on the grass , and ricardo showed them how he meant to manage it , just as he had told jaqueline . as he said , nothing could be simpler . " england ! st james 's palace ! " but nothing happened ! the carpet was not the right magic carpet , but the one which king prigio had put in its place . " get on ! england , i said ! " cried dick . but there they remained , under the chestnut tree , sitting on the carpet above the flowery grass . { but there they remained : p99.jpg } prince charles leaped to his feet ; his face like fire , his eyes glowing . " enough of this fooling , sir ! " he said . " it is easy , but cowardly , to mock at an unfortunate prince . take your carpet and be off with you , out of the gardens , or your shoulders shall taste my club . " " nonsense ! you are an impostor , sir ! leave my presence ! " cried prince charles , lifting his golf-club . " the quarrels of princes are not settled with clubs , sir ! draw and defend yourself ! " he said , kicking off his boots and standing in his socks on the grass . think of the horror of poor jaqueline , who witnessed this terrible scene of passion from a fold in prince ricardo 's dress ! dick drew his sword , but , as suddenly , threw it down again . " hang it ! " he exclaimed , " i can't hit you with this ! this is the sword of sharpness ; it would cut through your steel and your neck at a touch . " he paused , and thought . " he seems to believe in his own nonsense . " the duke yielded his sword ; dick took it , made a nourish , and rushed at prince charles . now ricardo had always neglected his fencing lessons . " where 's the good of it , " he used to ask , " all that stamping , and posture-making , and ha- haing ? the sword of sharpness is enough for me . " the prince , very much surprised , parried in prime , riposted , and touched dick on the hand . at this moment the princess jaqueline did what she should have thought of sooner . she flew out of dick 's coat , and stung old king james on his royal nose . the prince had disarmed him . " hullo ! what 's all this ? " sir , take your life ! i cannot strike an unarmed man . a prince you may be , but you have not learned the exercises of gentlemen . " " what is all this , carluccio ? " asked the old king . " swords out ! brawling in my very presence ! blood drawn ! " for dick 's hand was bleeding a good deal . prince charles , as briefly as possible , explained the unusual nature of the circumstances . " a king must hear both sides , " said king james . " what reply have you , sir , to make to his royal highness 's statements ? " " the carpet would not work , sir , " said dick . " it never happened before . i can say no more , beyond offering my apology for a disappointment which i could not have foreseen . a gentleman can only say that he is sorry . but wait ! " he added ; " i can at least prove that my confidence in some of my resources is not misplaced . bid me bring you something anything from the ends of the earth , and it shall be in your hands . i can't say fairer . " " bring me , " said his majesty , " lord lovat 's snuff-mull . " " where does he live ? " said dick . " at gortuleg , in scotland , " answered king james . " most astonishing ! " said king james . " a miracle ! " said the duke of york . " you have entirely cleared your character , " said the king . " your honour is without a stain , though it is a pity about the carpet . your nobility in not using your magical sword , under the greatest provocation , reconciles me to this fresh blighting of my hopes . all my allies fail me , " said the poor king with a sigh ; " you alone have failed with honour . carluccio , embrace the prince ! " they fell into each other 's arms . " prince , " said dick , " you have taught me a lesson for which i shall not be ungrateful . with any blade a gentleman should be able to hold his own in fair fight . i shall no longer neglect my fencing lessons . " we shall not part till i have induced you to accept a sword which i can never hope to draw against another adversary so noble . in war , my weapon is the claymore . " here the prince offered to ricardo the ruby-studded hilt of his rapier , which had a beautiful white shark-skin sheath . " you must accept it , sir , " said king james ; " the hilt holds the rubies of john sobieski . " the prince of wales bowed , and placed the talisman on his finger . ricardo never interfered in foreign affairs again , but his ring proved very useful to prince charles , as you may have read in history . chapter vi . ricardo 's repentance . { bottle of weapon salve : p109.jpg } the queen , as it happened fortunately , was lunching with one of the ladies of her court . ricardo did not come down to luncheon , and jaqueline ate hers alone ; and very mournful she felt . the prince had certainly not come well out of the adventure . " i wonder what he 's doing ? " she said to herself , and at last she went up and knocked at ricardo 's door . " go away , " he said ; " i don't want to see anybody . who is it ? " " it 's only me jaqueline . " { " it 's only me " : p111.jpg } " go away ! i want nobody . " " do let me in , dear dick ; i have good news for you , " said the princess . " what is it ? " said ricardo , unlocking the door . " why do you bother a fellow so ? " he had been crying his hand obviously hurt him badly ; he looked , and indeed he was , very sulky . " how did you get on in england , dick ? " asked the princess , taking no notice of his bandaged hand . " oh , don't ask me ! " said ricardo . " i 've not been to england at all . " " why , what happened ? " i 'm quite broken down and desperate . i think i 'll run away to sea ; " and indeed he looked very wild and miserable . perhaps i can help you . " " i 'm a beast , " said dick . " i beg your pardon , jack dear . you are always a trump , i will say ; but i don't see what you can do . " " i was sure it was not so bad as you made it out , dick , " she said . she thought of lecturing him a little about disobeying his father , but it did not seem a good opportunity . besides , jaqueline had been lectured herself lately , and had not enjoyed it . " what am i to say to my mother ? " dick repeated . " we must think of something to say , " said jaqueline . " i can't tell my mother anything but the truth , " ricardo went on . " here 's my hand , how it does sting ! and she must find out . " " i think i can cure it , " said jaqueline . " didn't you say prince charles gave you his own sword ? " " yes , there it is ; but what has that to do with it ? " " everything in the world to do with it , my dear dick . how lucky it is that he gave it to you ! " and she ran to her own room , and brought a beautiful golden casket , which contained her medicines . taking out a smal l phial , marked ( in letters of emerald ) : " weapon salve , " the princess drew the bright sword , extracted a little of the ointment from the phial , and spread it on a soft silk handkerchief . " what are you going to do with the sword ? " asked ricardo . as she did so , ricardo 's arm ceased to hurt , and the look of pain passed from his mouth . " why , i feel quite better ! " he said . " i can use my hand as well as ever . " then he took off the stained handkerchief , and , lo , there was not even a mark where the wound had been ! but the secret of making it has long been lost , except in pantouflia . " you are the best girl in the world , jaqueline , " said ricardo . there 's something in books after all . " the princess did not take advantage of dick 's permission , but advised him to lie down and try to sleep . " i say , though , " he said , " what about my father ? " " the king need never be told anything about it , " said jaqueline , " need he ? " " oh , that won't do ! i tell my father everything ; but then , i never had anything like this to tell him before . don't you think , jaqueline , you might break it to him ? he 's very fond of you . just tell him what i told you ; it 's every word of it true , and he ought to know . he might see something about it in the mercure de france . " this was the newspaper of the period . " i don't think it will get into the papers , " said jaqueline , smiling . " nobody could tell , except the king and the princes , and they have reasons for keeping it to themselves . " " i don't trust that younger one , " said dick , moodily ; " i don't care for that young man . anyway , my father must be told ; and , if you won't , i must . " " well , i 'll tell him , " said jaqueline . " and now lie down till evening . " after dinner , in the conservatory , jaqueline told king prigio all about it . his majesty was very much moved . " what extraordinary bad luck that family has ! " he thought . it was the very nearest thing ! " " this meddling with practical affairs will never do , " he said aloud . " dick has had a lesson , sire , " said the princess . " he says he 'll never mix himself up with politics again , whatever happens . " that is well , as far as it goes , " said the king . " but , jaqueline , about that mosquito ? " for she had told him this part of the adventure . " that was a very convenient mosquito , though i don't know how dick was able to observe it from any distance . without your help , i tremble to think what might have occurred . " the princess blushed very much , and felt very happy . " now run away to the queen , my dear , " said his majesty , " i want to think things over . " he did think them over , and the more he thought the more he felt the inconvenience attending the possession of fairy things . " an eclipse one day , as nearly as possible a revolution soon after ! " he said to himself . " but for jaqueline , ricardo 's conduct would have been blazed abroad , england would have been irritated . it is true she cannot get at pantouflia very easily ; we have no sea-coast , and we are surrounded by friendly countries . but it would have been a ticklish and discreditable position . i must really speak to dick , " which he did next morning after breakfast . " you have broken my rules , ricardo , " he said . i have had enough of it . and i 'll turn over a new leaf . " very good , " said the king . " i believe you mean what you say . now go to your fencing lesson . " " but , i say , father , " cried ricardo , " was it not strange about the magic carpet ? " " i told you not to trust to these things , " said the king . you must learn to depend on yourself . now , be off with you , i 'm busy . and remember , you don't stir without my permission . " chapter vii . prince ricardo and an old enemy . { the yellow dwarf : p123.jpg } " really , ricardo , your language is most unprincely , " said his august father ; " i am always noticing it . you mean , i suppose , that there is one enemy of the human race whom you wish to abolish . what is the name of the doomed foe ? " " well , he is the greatest villain in history , " said ricardo . " you must have read about him , sir , the yellow dwarf . " " yes , i have certainly studied what is told us about him , " said the king . " he is no favourite of mine . " all that the friendly mermaid could do for them was to turn them into a pair of beautiful trees which intertwine their branches . not much use in that , sir ! and nothing was done to the scoundrel . he may be going on still ; and , with your leave , i 'll go and try a sword-thrust with him . francalanza says i 'm improving uncommon . " " you 'll take the usual sword of sharpness , " said his majesty . " what , sir , to a dwarf ? not i , indeed : a common small sword is good enough to settle him . " " very likely he has lost it or sold it , the shabby little miscreant ; however , i 'll risk it . and now i must make my preparations . " the king did not ask what they were ; as a rule , they were simple . " just plain rose-coloured glass , herr spex , " said dick , " i 'm not short- sighted . " { " hang that wops ! " said prince ricardo : p129.jpg } meanwhile , king prigio had taken his precautions , which were perfectly simple . he knew that this showed the neighbourhood of jaunia , or daunia , the country of the yellow dwarf . as he pricked on , his horse stumbled and nearly came on its nose . the prince noticed that a steel chain had been drawn across the road . " hi , blinkers ! " " well , young blinkers ! " said the dwarf , " what are you doing on my grounds ? you 're a prince , by your look . yah ! down with kings ! i 'm a man of the people ! " the very face of the dwarf , even seen through rose-coloured spectacles , made him nearly ill . " yes , when you can catch me , " said the dwarf ; " but that 's not to-day , nor yet to-morrow . what are you doing here ? are you an ambassador , maybe come to propose a match for me ? i 'm not proud , i 'll hear you . they say there 's a rather well-looking wench in your parts , the princess jaqueline " going at an alarming sacrifice ! " hold your impudent tongue ! " said dick . " oh ! you 're for a fight , are you ? " sneered the dwarf . " i might tell you to hit one of your own weight , but i 'm not afraid of six of you . yah ! mammy's brat ! look here , young blinkers , i don't want to hurt you . just turn old dobbin 's head , and trot back to your mammy , queen rosalind , at pantouflia . does she know you 're out ? " " i 'll be into you , pretty quick , " said ricardo . " but why do i bandy words with a miserable peasant ? " " and don't get much the best of them either , " said the dwarf , provokingly . " but i 'll fight , if you will have it . " the prince leaped from his horse , leaving pepper on the saddle-bow . no sooner had he touched the ground than the dwarf shouted : the dwarf took in the affair at a glance . at his call rushed up an enormous spanish cat , ready saddled and bridled , and darting fire from its eyes . to leap on its back , while ricardo sprang on his own steed , was to the active dwarf the work of a moment . wishing was now of no use . this odious fowl was the fairy of the desert , the dwarf 's trusted ally in every sort of mischief . should he see ricardo bleeding at the feet of the abominable dwarf ? the king scarcely dared to look ; never before had he known the nature of fear . the dwarf was on his feet in a moment , waving the diamond sword , which lighted up the whole scene , and yelling taunts . pepper was flying at his heels , and , with great agility , was keeping out of the way of the invincible blade . " ah ! " screamed the dwarf as pepper got him by the ankle . " call off your dog , you coward , and come down off your horse , and fight fair ! " at this moment , bleeding yellow blood , dusty , mad with pain , the dwarf was a sight to strike terror into the boldest . " yah ! who 's your hatter ? " screamed the infuriated dwarf . the prince ( thanks to his excellent training ) just succeeded in stepping aside , but the dwarf recovered with astonishing quickness . squirming fearfully , the little monster expired , his last look a defiance , his latest word an insult : " yah ! gig-lamps ! " prince ricardo wiped the diamond blade clean from its yellow stains . { the fight with the yellow dwarf : p141.jpg } " princess frutilla is avenged ! " he cried . then pensively looking at his fallen foe , " peace to his ashes , " he said ; " he died in harness ! " turning at the word , he observed that the two lions were stiff and dead , locked in each other 's gory jaws ! at that moment king prigio , looking in the crystal ball , gave a great sigh of relief . i am not satisfied , " his majesty went on reflecting , " with this plan of changing the magical articles . but , in to-day 's affair he owes his safety entirely to himself and pepper , " for he had not seen the wasp . " the fairy of the desert quite baffled me : it was terrible . i shall restore the right fairy things to-night . a hollow groan and the sound of a heavy body falling interrupted the king . he looked all about the room , but saw nothing . he was alone ! " but i must find her body ! " he could not see it , of course , but he felt it with his hands . " this is very awkward , " he remarked . " i cannot ring for the servants and make them take her away . there is only one plan . " so he wished she were in her family pyramid , in the egyptian desert , and in a second the sofa was unoccupied . meanwhile ricardo was riding gaily home . the yellow light of jaunia had vanished , and pure blue sky broke overhead as soon as the dauntless dwarf had drawn his latest breath . " it was sharp work , " he said to himself , " but much more exciting and glorious than the usual business . " on his return dick did not fail to mention the wasp , and again the king felt how great was his debt to jaqueline . but they did not think it well to trouble the good queen with the dangers dick had encountered . chapter viii . the giant who does not know when he has had enough . { 146 } { the enormous letter : p146.jpg } one morning the post brought a truly enormous letter for dick . it was as broad as a table-cloth , and the address was written in letters as long as a hoop-stick . he opened , with his sword , the enormous letter , which was couched in the following terms : i not being handy with the pen , the giant hopes you will excuse mistakes and bad writing . " dick simply gazed with amazement . " if ever i thought an enemy was killed and done for , it was that giant , " said he . " why , i made mere mince-collops of him ! " on second thoughts , he considered it unfair to take the cap . all the other articles were in working order . jaqueline on this occasion followed him in the disguise of a crow , flying overhead . presently he heard heavy footsteps sounding along the cavern , and the giant came out . if you cut off his head , he went on just as before , only without it ; and so about everything else . on the last occasion of their meeting , ricardo had left him in a painfully scattered condition , and thought he was done for . " mornin ' sir , " he said to dick , touching his forehead with his hand . " glad to see you looking so well . no bad feeling , i hope , on either side ? " the modern world has no room for them . " " that 's hearty , " said the giant ; " i like a fellow of your kind . now , shall we toss for corners ? " " all right ! " said dick , calling " heads " and winning . he took the corner with the sun on his back and in the giant 's face . to it they went , the giant aiming a blow with his club that would have felled an elephant . dick dodged , and cut off the giant 's feet at the ankles . " first blood for the prince ! " said the giant , coming up smiling . " half- minute time ! " he occupied the half-minute in placing the feet neatly beside each other , as if they had been a pair of boots . round ii . the giant sparring for wind , ricardo cuts him in two at the waist . the giant folded his legs up neatly , like a pair of trousers , and laid them down on a rock . he had now some difficulty in getting rapidly over the ground , and stood mainly on the defensive , and on his waist . round iii . dick bisects the giant . both sides now attack him on either hand , and the feet kick him severely . " no kicking ! " said dick . " nonsense ; all fair in war ! " said the giant . but do not let us pursue this sanguinary encounter in all its horrible details . he well deserved the title given him by the fancy , of " the giant who does not know when he has had enough . " the contest was over ; dick was resting on a rock . but the poor princess jaqueline ! there she stood , a beautiful , trembling maiden , her hands crossed on her bosom , entirely at the mercy of the giant ! she merely stood , pale and trembling . she had saved dick , but at an enormous sacrifice , for the sword and the seven- league boots were lying on the trampled grass . dick was rescued , that was all , and the princess jaqueline had sacrificed herself to her love for him . " let me introduce myself , " he said , and mentioned his name and titles . " may i ask what you are doing here , and how you came ? " { " let me introduce myself , " he said : p154.jpg } poor jaqueline threw herself at his feet , and murmured a short and not very intelligible account of herself . " i don't understand , " said the giant , replacing his head on his shoulders . " what to do with you , i 'm sure i don't know . ' please don't eat me , ' did you say ? why , what do you take me for ? i 'm not in that line at all ; low , i call it ! " jaqueline was somewhat comforted at these words , dropped out of the giant 's lips from a considerable height . " but they call you ' the giant who does not know when he has had enough , ' " said jaqueline . " and proud of the title : not enough of fighting . of punishment i am a glutton , or so my friends are pleased to say . " i can't take you home with me , that is out of the question . now jaqueline saw that the giant , big as he was , courageous too , was afraid of his wife ! " i 'll tell you what i 'll do ; i 'll hand you over to a neighbour of mine , who is a bachelor . " " a bachelor giant ; would that be quite proper ? " said jaqueline , trying to humour him . " he 's not a giant , bless you ; he 's a queer fellow , it is not easy to say what he is . he 's the earthquaker , him as shakes the earth now and then , and brings the houses about people 's ears . " jaqueline fairly screamed at hearing this awful news . " hush ! be quiet , do ! " said the giant . the earthquaker won't do you any harm ; it 's only for safe keeping i 'll put you with him . why , he don't waken , not once in fifty years . he 's quite the dormouse . come on ! " you have heard of whirlpools in water ; well , this was just like a whirlpool of air . but presently she sank softly on to a couch , in a beautifully-lighted rocky hall . all around her the floor was of white and red marble , but on one side it seemed to end in black nothing . jaqueline , after a few moments , recovered her senses fully , and changing herself into an eagle , tried to fly up and out . she was a prisoner in this great gleaming hall , ending in black nothingness . it had no form or shape , or none that she could make out ; but it pulsed with a heart . jaqueline placed her foot on this curious thing , when a voice came , like thunder heard through a feather-bed : it was the earthquaker ! we are certain that there are earthquakers , otherwise how can we account for earthquakes ? it was not easy to have the better of an enchantress like jaqueline and a prince like ricardo . the hills were those she used to see from her father 's palace windows when she was a child . jaqueline ran to them . " we are nurses of the earthquaker , " they said . " no , i 'm not , " said jaqueline . " i don't know the priests of manoa ; i don't know any new sleepy song . i only want to find the way out . " then they all wept softly in the stillness . " can we get anything to eat here ? " asked poor jaqueline , at last . she was beginning to be very hungry , and however alarmed she might be , she felt that dinner would not be unwelcome . chapter ix . prigio has an idea . { ricardo and semiramis : p165.jpg } a weary and way-worn little bird was prince ricardo when he fluttered into the royal study window , in the palace of pantouflia . she just caught his tail feather . in all his adventures the prince had never been in greater danger . he escaped , but no more , and went flying round the ceiling , looking for a safe place . finally he perched on a chandelier that hung from the roof . here he was safe ; and so weary was he , that he put his head under his wing and fell fast asleep . he was awakened by the return of the king , who threw himself on a sofa and exclaimed : " oh , that prime minister ! his dulness is as heavy as lead ; much heavier , in fact ! " then his majesty lit a cigar and took up a volume ; he certainly was a sad bookworm . dick now began to fly about the room , brushing the king 's face and trying to attract his notice . " poor little thing ! " said his majesty . and dick alighted , and nestled in his breast . on seeing this , semiramis began to growl , as cats do when they are angry , and slowly approached his majesty . " an enchanted prince or princess , " said prigio , " such as i have often read of . who can it be ? not jaqueline ; she could change herself back in a moment . by the way , where is jaqueline ? " he rang the bell , and asked the servant to look for the princess . semiramis tried to come in , but was caught and shut up downstairs . after doing this , the man replied that her royal highness had not been in the palace all day . the king rushed to the crystal ball , looked all the world over ; but no princess ! then he cocked his little eye at the king . i must look into this . " instantly dick stood before him . { instantly dick stood before him : p170.jpg } " ricardo ! " cried the king in horror ; " and in this disguise ! where have you been ? what have you done with jaqueline ? where are the seven-league boots ? where is the sword of sharpness ? speak ! get up ! " for dick was kneeling and weeping bitterly at the royal feet . " all lost ! " said dick . " poor jaqueline ! she was the best girl , and the prettiest , and the kindest . and the earthquaker 's got her , and the giant 's got the other things , " dick ended , crying bitterly . " calm yourself , ricardo , " said his majesty , very pale , but calm and determined . " here , take a glass of port , and explain how all this happened . " dick drank the wine , and then he told his miserable story . " you may well sob ! why didn't you use the cap of darkness ? mere conceit ! but there is no use in crying over spilt milk . the thing is , to rescue jaqueline . and what are we to say to your mother ? " " that 's the worst of it all , " said dick . " mother will break her heart . " " i must see her at once , " said the king , " and break it to her . " his majesty retired to his study , put his head in his hands , and thought and thought . " the thing is , of course , " he said , " to destroy the earthquaker before he wakens ; but how ? what can kill such a monster ? prodding him with the sword would only stir him up and make him more vicious . oh , for an idea ! " then his mind , somehow , went back to the council and the ponderous stupidity of the prime minister . " heavier than lead , " said the king . " by george ! i have a plan . " but how to get to the moon ? there are difficulties about that . " but difficulties only sharpened the ingenuity of this admirable king . " the other fellow had a flying horse , " said he . i must look into this . " the monarch received him with some surprise , but with stately kindness , and listened to prigio while he explained what he wanted . " i am only too happy to assist so adventurous a prince , " remarked the great mogul . " this is like old times ! he clapped his hands , the grand vizier appeared , and the king gave orders to have the flying horse saddled at once . he then presented king prigio with a large diamond , and came down into the courtyard to see him mount . " to the moon ! " up flew the horse with an easy action , and the king 's head nearly swam with the swiftness of the flight . { king prigio on the flying horse : p178.jpg } through the dark rode king prigio , into the silver dawn of the moon . before the gate stood two beautiful ladies . one was fair , with yellow locks , the colour of the harvest moon . the other lady was as dark as night dark eyes , dark hair ; her crown was of poppies . she held the ebony wand of sleep . her dress was of the deepest blue , sown with stars . he stopped the flying horse by turning the other knob in the saddle , alighted , and bowed very low to each of the ladies . " daring mortal ! what make you here ? " they asked . the ladies heard him in silence , and then they said : " indeed , madam , " said the king , " no one knows it better than i do . " " then make your choice of the best sort of stupidity for your purpose , " said the dark lady . and in the light which flowed from their bodies king prigio looked round at the various kinds of solid stupidity . " had we not better go to jaqueline first , sir ? " said ricardo . " no , " said the king ; " i think mine is the best plan . we are needed there , to judge by that angry crowd in the marketplace . how they howl ! " chapter x . the end . { man with rock : p186.jpg } it was on a strange sight that the king and ricardo looked down from the flying horse . beneath them lay the city of manoa , filling with its golden battlements and temples a hollow of the mountains . here were palaces all carved over with faces of men and beasts , and with twisted patterns of serpents . from every temple top came the roar of beaten drums , great drums of serpentskin . among them ran about priests with hideous masks , crying them on to besiege and break down the royal palace . from the battlements of the palace the king 's guardsmen were firing arrows and throwing spears . the mob shot arrows back , some of them tipped with lighted straw , to burn the palace down . the people were so furious and so eager that they did not , at first , notice king prigio as he slowly descended . " thou hast come , oh , pachacamac , as is foretold in the prophecy of the cord of the venerable knots ! thou hast come , but behold the shadow of the stone ! thou art too late , oh lord of the earth and the sea ! " then he pointed to the shadow , which , naturally , was growing shorter , as the sun drew near mid-day . " i have come , " prigio said , with presence of mind , " as it has been prophesied of old . " " riding on a beast that flies , " said the old priest , " even as the oracle declared . glory to pachacamac , even though we die to-day ! " " in what can i help my people ? " said prigio . " thou knowest ; why should we instruct thee ? lo , now the shadow shrinks to the foot of the huaca , and the maid is not offered ! for the lot fell on the daughter of thy servant the inca , and he refuses to give her up . " why , it must have been jaqueline . i killed the birds , " said ricardo , in pantouflian . " silence , not a word ! " said the king , sternly . " and what makes you bear arms against the inca ? " he asked the old man . " then wherefore would you slay them , when you must all perish ? " " the people , oh pachacamac , would have revenge before they die . " is it not predicted in the cord of the venerable knots that i shall slay this monster ? " " hasten , oh pachacamac , for the shadow shortens ! " said the priest . " lead me to the inca , " answered prigio . " i come , a king to a king , " he said . " my cousin , take courage ; your sorrows are ended . if i do not slay the earthquaker , sacrifice me to your gods . " " the prophecy is fulfilled , " said the inca , and wept for joy . " yet thou must hasten , for it draws near to noon . " then prigio went up to the golden battlements , and saying no word , waved his hand . in a moment the square was empty , for the people rushed to give thanks in the temples . " the lost are found to-day , " he said ; " be you ready to welcome them . " the sun was approaching mid-day , and prigio put spurs to the flying horse . " oh ! you have come , you have come ; i knew you would come ! " she cried . then king prigio advanced , the mighty weight in his hand , to the verge of the dreadful gulf of the earthquaker . a moment more , and he would waken in his strength ; and once awake , he would shatter the city walls and ruin manoa . king prigio stood with the mighty mass poised in his hands . the king drew a long breath . but afterwards he used to say that the moment when the earthquaker stirred was the most dreadful in his life . who shall describe the joy of the maidens , and how often jaqueline and ricardo kissed each other ? " you have saved me ! " she cried to the king , throwing her arms round him again . " you have saved manoa ! " " and you have saved the hope of pantouflia , not once or twice , " said his majesty , grandly . then dick kissed jaqueline again , and all the maidens kissed each other , and they quite cried for gladness . " but we keep his majesty the inca waiting , " said prigio . " punctuality is the courtesy of kings . you ladies will excuse me , i am sure , if i remove first from the dungeon her whom we call the princess jaqueline . the inca , her father , has a claim on us to this preference . " they beat the serpent drums , for they had no bells , on the tops of the temples . these young men had never cared for any one else . so , just to make everything orderly and correct , ricardo and jaqueline were married over again , in the cathedral of pantouflia . the marriage presents came in afterwards , of course , and among them , what do you think ? why , the seven-league boots and the sword of sharpness , with a very polite note of extraordinary size : the giant hopes no bad blood ; and i am , " yours very faithfully , " the g. , & c. " p.s. his little woman sends her congratulations . " " no need such kings should ever die ! " { the coach : p204.jpg } printing office of the publisher . footnotes : { 21 } you can buy these glasses now from the psychical society , at half-a- crown and upwards . { 135 } see the works of d'aulnoy . { 146 } this giant is mentioned , and his picture is drawn , in an old manuscript of about @number@ { 190 } huaca , sacred stone .