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diff --git a/old/55737-8.txt b/old/55737-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4351018..0000000 --- a/old/55737-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5745 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Queen Zixi of Ix, by L. Frank Baum - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Queen Zixi of Ix - Or, the Story of the Magic Cloak - -Author: L. Frank Baum - -Release Date: October 13, 2017 [EBook #55737] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUEEN ZIXI OF IX *** - - - - -Produced by Mary Glenn Krause, David Edwards, Eric Gjovaag, -Sharon Joiner, Stephen Hutcheson, Carol Spears, University -of Alberta, University of Texas, University of Michigan -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images -made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - -[Illustration: WEAVING THE MAGIC CLOAK.] - - - - - QUEEN ZIXI OF IX - Or, the Story of the Magic Cloak - - - BY - L. FRANK BAUM - AUTHOR OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ" - - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY - FREDERICK RICHARDSON - - [Illustration: Cameo of Queen Zixi] - - TORONTO - THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY - LIMITED - 1905 - - Copyright, 1904, 1905, by - L. FRANK BAUM - All Rights Reserved - _Published October, 1905_ - - PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO. - BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS, BROOKLYN, N. Y. - - FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THREE COLORS - BY THE DE VINNE PRESS - - - TO MY SON - FRANK JOSLYN BAUM - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I. - The Weaving of the Magic Cloak 3 - - - CHAPTER II. - The Book of Laws 17 - - - CHAPTER III. - The Gift of the Magic Cloak 29 - - - CHAPTER IV. - King Bud of Noland 43 - - - CHAPTER V. - Princess Fluff 55 - - - CHAPTER VI. - Bud Dispenses Justice 67 - - - CHAPTER VII. - The Wings of Aunt Rivette 81 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - The Royal Reception 93 - - - CHAPTER IX. - Jikki has a Wish Granted 107 - - - CHAPTER X. - The Counselors Wear the Magic Cloak 117 - - - CHAPTER XI. - The Witch-Queen 137 - - - CHAPTER XII. - Zixi Disguises Herself 149 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - Tullydub Rescues the Kingdom 158 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - The Rout of the Army of Ix 173 - - - CHAPTER XV. - The Theft of the Magic Cloak 181 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - The Plain Above the Clouds 198 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - The Descent of the Roly-Rogues 205 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - The Conquest of Noland 214 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - The Bravery of Aunt Rivette 227 - - - CHAPTER XX. - In the Palace of the Witch-Queen 240 - - - CHAPTER XXI. - The Search for the Magic Cloak 251 - - - CHAPTER XXII. - Ruffles Carries the Silver Vial 271 - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - The Destruction of the Monsters 279 - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - The Sailorman's Return 289 - - - CHAPTER XXV. - The Fairy-Queen 298 - - - - - QUEEN ZIXI OF IX; - OR, THE STORY OF THE MAGIC CLOAK. - - - - - Chapter I. - THE WEAVING OF THE MAGIC CLOAK. - - -The fairies assembled one moonlit night in a pretty clearing of the -ancient forest of Burzee. - -The clearing was in the form of a circle, and all around stood giant oak -and fir trees, while in the center the grass grew green and soft as -velvet. If any mortal had ever penetrated so far into the great forest, -and could have looked upon the fairy circle by daylight, he might -perhaps have seen a tiny path worn in the grass by the feet of the -dancing elves. For here, during the full of the moon, the famous fairy -band, ruled by good Queen Lulea, loved to dance and make merry while the -silvery rays flooded the clearing and caused their gauzy wings to -sparkle with every color of the rainbow. - -On this especial night, however, they were not dancing. For the queen -had seated herself upon a little green mound, and while her band -clustered about her she began to address the fairies in a tone of -discontent. - -"I am tired of dancing, my dears," said she. "Every evening since the -moon grew big and round we have come here to frisk about and laugh and -disport ourselves; and although those are good things to keep the heart -light, one may grow weary even of merrymaking. So I ask you to suggest -some new way to divert both me and yourselves during this night." - -"That is a hard task," answered one pretty sprite, opening and folding -her wings slowly--as a lady toys with her fan. "We have lived through so -many ages that we long ago exhausted everything that might be considered -a novelty, and of all our recreations nothing gives us such continued -pleasure as dancing." - -"But I do not care to dance to-night!" replied Lulea, with a little -frown. - -"We might create something, by virtue of our fairy powers," suggested -one who reclined at the feet of the queen. - -"Ah, that is just the idea!" exclaimed the dainty Lulea, with -brightening countenance. "Let us create something. But what?" - -"I have heard," remarked another member of the band, "of a thinking-cap -having been made by some fairies in America. And whatever mortal wore -this thinking-cap was able to conceive the most noble and beautiful -thoughts." - -"That was indeed a worthy creation," cried the little queen. "What -became of the cap?" - -"The man who received it was so afraid some one else would get it and be -able to think the same exquisite thoughts as himself that he hid it -safely away--so safely that he himself never could think afterward where -he had placed it." - -"How unfortunate! But we must not make another thinking-cap, lest it -meet a like fate. Cannot you suggest something, else?" - -"I have heard," said another, "of certain fairies who created a pair of -enchanted boots, which would always carry their mortal wearer away from -danger--and never into it." - -"What a great boon to those blundering mortals!" cried the queen. "And -whatever became of the boots?" - -"They came at last into the possession of a great general who did not -know their powers. So he wore them into battle one day, and immediately -ran away, followed by all his men, and the fight was won by the enemy." - -"But did not the general escape danger?" - -"Yes--at the expense of his reputation. So he retired to a farm and wore -out the boots tramping up and down a country road and trying to decide -why he had suddenly become such a coward." - -"The boots were worn by the wrong man, surely," said the queen; "and -that is why they proved a curse rather than a blessing. But we want no -enchanted boots. Think of something else." - -"Suppose we weave a magic cloak," proposed Espa, a sweet little fairy -who had not before spoken. - -"A cloak? Indeed, we might easily weave that," returned the queen. "But -what sort of magic powers must it possess?" - -"Let its wearer have any wish instantly fulfilled," said Espa, brightly. - -[Illustration: "'SUPPOSE WE WEAVE A MAGIC CLOAK.'"] - -But at this there arose quite a murmur of protest on all sides, which -the queen immediately silenced with a wave of her royal hand. - -"Our sister did not think of the probable consequences of what she -suggested," declared Lulea, smiling into the downcast face of little -Espa, who seemed to feel rebuked by the disapproval of the others. "An -instant's reflection would enable her to see that such power would give -the cloak's mortal wearer as many privileges as we ourselves possess. -And I suppose you intended the magic cloak for a mortal wearer?" she -inquired. - -"Yes," answered Espa, shyly; "that was my intention." - -"But the idea is good, nevertheless," continued the queen, "and I -propose we devote this evening to weaving the magic cloak. Only, its -magic shall give to its wearer the fulfilment of but one wish; and I am -quite sure that even that should prove a great boon to the helpless -mortals." - -"Suppose more than one person wears the cloak," one of the band said; -"which then shall have the one wish fulfilled?" - -The queen devoted a moment to thought, and then replied: - -"Each possessor of the magic cloak may have one wish granted, provided -the cloak is not stolen from its last wearer. In that case the magic -power will not be exercised on behalf of the thief." - -"But should there not be a limit to the number of the cloak's wearers?" -asked the fairy lying at the queen's feet. - -"I think not. If used properly our gift will prove of great value to -mortals. And if we find it is misused we can at any time take back the -cloak and revoke its magic power. So now, if we are all agreed upon this -novel amusement, let us set to work." - -At these words the fairies sprang up eagerly; and their queen, smiling -upon them, waved her wand toward the center of the clearing. At once a -beautiful fairy loom appeared in the space. It was not such a loom as -mortals use. It consisted of a large and a small ring of gold, supported -by a tall pole of jasper. The entire band danced around it thrice, the -fairies carrying in each hand a silver shuttle wound with glossy -filaments finer than the finest silk. And the threads on each shuttle -appeared a different hue from those of all the other shuttles. - -At a sign from the queen they one and all approached the golden loom and -fastened an end of thread in its warp. Next moment they were gleefully -dancing hither and thither, while the silver shuttles flew swiftly from -hand to hand and the gossamer-like web began to grow upon the loom. - -Presently the queen herself took part in the sport, and the thread she -wove into the fabric was the magical one which was destined to give the -cloak its wondrous power. - -Long and swiftly the fairy band worked beneath the old moon's rays, -while their feet tripped gracefully over the grass and their joyous -laughter tinkled like silver bells and awoke the echoes of the grim -forest surrounding them. And at last they paused and threw themselves -upon the green with little sighs of content. For the shuttles and loom -had vanished; the work was complete; and Queen Lulea stood upon the -mound holding in her hand the magic cloak. - -The garment was as beautiful as it was marvelous--each and every hue of -the rainbow glinted and sparkled from the soft folds; and while it was -light in weight as swan's-down, its strength was so great that the -fabric was well-nigh indestructible. - -The fairy band regarded it with great satisfaction, for every one had -assisted in its manufacture and could admire with pardonable pride its -glossy folds. - -"It is very lovely, indeed!" cried little Espa. "But to whom shall we -present it?" - -The question aroused a dozen suggestions, each fairy seeming to favor a -different mortal. Every member of this band, as you doubtless know, was -the unseen guardian of some man or woman or child in the great world -beyond the forest, and it was but natural that each should wish her own -ward have the magic cloak. - -While they thus disputed, another fairy joined them and pressed to the -side of the queen. - -"Welcome, Ereol," said Lulea. "You are late." - -The new-comer was very lovely in appearance, and with her fluffy golden -hair and clear blue eyes was marvelously fair to look upon. In a low, -grave voice she answered the queen: - -"Yes, your Majesty, I am late. But I could not help it. The old King of -Noland, whose guardian I have been since his birth, has passed away this -evening, and I could not bear to leave him until the end came." - -"So the old king is dead at last!" said the queen, thoughtfully. "He was -a good man, but woefully uninteresting; and he must have wearied you -greatly at times, my sweet Ereol." - -[Illustration: "'YES, YOUR MAJESTY, I AM LATE.'"] - -"All mortals are, I think, wearisome," returned the fairy, with a sigh. - -"And who is the new King of Noland?" asked Lulea. - -"There is none," answered Ereol. "The old king died without a single -relative to succeed to his throne, and his five high counselors were in -a great dilemma when I came away." - -"Well, my dear, you may rest and enjoy yourself for a period, in order -to regain your old lightsome spirits. By and by I will appoint you -guardian to some newly born babe, that your duties may be less arduous. -But I am sorry you were not with us to-night, for we have had rare -sport. See! we have woven a magic cloak." - -Ereol examined the garment with pleasure. - -"And who is to wear it?" she asked. - -Then again arose the good-natured dispute as to which mortal in all the -world should possess the magic cloak. Finally the queen, laughing at the -arguments of her band, said to them: - -"Come! Let us leave the decision to the Man in the Moon. He has been -watching us with a great deal of amusement, and once, I am sure, I -caught him winking at us in quite a roguish way." - -At this every head was turned toward the moon; and then a man's face, -full-bearded and wrinkled, but with a jolly look upon the rough -features, appeared sharply defined upon the moon's broad surface. - -"So I'm to decide another dispute, eh?" said he, in a clear voice. -"Well, my dears, what is it this time?" - -"We wish you to say what mortal shall wear the magic cloak which I and -the ladies of my court have woven," replied Queen Lulea. - -"Give it to the first unhappy person you meet," said the Man in the -Moon. "The happy mortals have no need of magic cloaks." And with this -advice the friendly face of the Man in the Moon faded away until only -the outlines remained visible against the silver disk. - -The queen clapped her hands delightedly. - -[Illustration: "'GIVE IT TO THE FIRST UNHAPPY PERSON YOU MEET.'"] - -"Our Man in the Moon is very wise," she declared; "and we shall follow -his suggestion. Go, Ereol, since you are free for a time, and carry the -magic cloak to Noland. And the first person you meet who is really -unhappy, be it man, woman, or child, shall receive from you the cloak as -a gift from our fairy band." - -Ereol bowed, and folded the cloak over her arm. - -"Come, my children," continued Lulea; "the moon is hiding behind the -tree-tops, and it is time for us to depart." - -[Illustration: "SAID THE MAN IN THE MOON."] - -A moment later the fairies had disappeared, and the clearing wherein -they had danced and woven the magic cloak lay shrouded in deepest gloom. - -[Illustration: JIKKI.] - - - - - Chapter II. - THE BOOK OF LAWS. - - -On this same night great confusion and excitement prevailed among the -five high counselors of the kingdom of Noland. The old king was dead and -there was none to succeed him as ruler of the country. He had outlived -every one of his relatives, and since the crown had been in this one -family for generations, it puzzled the high counselors to decide upon a -fitting successor. - -These five high counselors were very important men. It was said that -they ruled the kingdom while the king ruled them; which made it quite -easy for the king and rather difficult for the people. The chief -counselor was named Tullydub. He was old and very pompous, and had a -great respect for the laws of the land. The next in rank was Tollydob, -the lord high general of the king's army. The third was Tillydib, the -lord high purse-bearer. The fourth was Tallydab, the lord high steward. -And the fifth and last of the high counselors was Tellydeb, the lord -high executioner. - -These five had been careful not to tell the people when the old king had -become ill, for they feared being annoyed by many foolish questions. -They sat in a big room next the bed-chamber of the king, in the royal -palace of Nole,--which is the capital city of Noland,--and kept every -one out except the king's physician, who was half blind and wholly dumb -and could not gossip with outsiders had he wanted to. And while the high -counselors sat and waited for the king to recover or die, as he might -choose, Jikki waited upon them and brought them their meals. - -Jikki was the king's valet and principal servant. He was as old as any -of the five high counselors; but they were all fat, whereas Jikki was -wonderfully lean and thin; and the counselors were solemn and dignified, -whereas Jikki was terribly nervous and very talkative. - -"Beg pardon, my masters," he would say every five minutes, "but do you -think his Majesty will get well?" And then, before any of the high -counselors could collect themselves to answer, he continued: "Beg -pardon, but do you think his Majesty will die?" And the next moment he -would say: "Beg pardon, but do you think his Majesty is any better or -any worse?" - -And all this was so annoying to the high counselors that several times -one of them took up some object in the room with the intention of -hurling it at Jikki's head; but before he could throw it the old servant -had nervously turned away and left the room. - -Tellydeb, the lord high executioner, would often sigh: "I wish there -were some law that would permit me to chop off Jikki's head." But then -Tullydub, the chief counselor, would say gloomily; "There is no law but -the king's will, and he insists that Jikki be allowed to live." - -So they were forced to bear with Jikki as best they could; but after the -king breathed his last breath the old servant became more nervous and -annoying than ever. - -Hearing that the king was dead, Jikki made a rush for the door of the -bell-tower, but tripped over the foot of Tollydob and fell upon the -marble floor so violently that his bones rattled, and he picked himself -up half dazed by the fall. - -"Where are you going?" asked Tollydob. - -"To toll the bell for the king's death," answered Jikki. - -[Illustration: "'WHERE ARE YOU GOING?' ASKED TOLLYDOB."] - -"Well, remain here until we give you permission to go," commanded the -lord high general. - -"But the bell ought to be tolled!" said Jikki. - -"Be silent!" growled the lord high purse-bearer. "We know what ought to -be done and what ought not to be done." - -But this was not strictly true. In fact, the five high counselors did -not know what ought to be done under these strange circumstances. - -If they told the people the king was dead, and did not immediately -appoint his successor, then the whole population would lose faith in -them and fall to fighting and quarreling among themselves as to who -should become king; and that would never in the world do. - -No; it was evident that a new king must be chosen before they told the -people that the old king was dead. - -But whom should they choose for the new king? That was the important -question. - -While they talked of these matters, the ever-active Jikki kept rushing -in and saying: - -"Hadn't I better toll the bell?" - -"No!" they would shout in a chorus; and then Jikki would rush out again. - -So they sat and thought and counseled together during the whole long -night, and by morning they were no nearer a solution of the problem than -before. - -At daybreak Jikki stuck his head into the room and said: - -"Hadn't I better--" - -"No!" they all shouted in a breath. - -"Very well," returned Jikki; "I was only going to ask if I hadn't better -get you some breakfast." - -"Yes!" they cried, again in one breath. - -"And shall I toll the bell?" - -"No!" they screamed; and the lord high steward threw an inkstand that -hit the door several seconds after Jikki had closed it and disappeared. - -While they were at breakfast they again discussed their future action in -the choice of a king; and finally the chief counselor had a thought that -caused him to start so suddenly that he nearly choked. - -"The book!" he gasped, staring at his brother counselors in a rather -wild manner. - -"What book?" asked the lord high general. - -"The book of laws," answered the chief counselor. - -"I never knew there was such a thing," remarked the lord high -executioner, looking puzzled. "I always thought the king's will was the -law." - -"So it was! So it was when we had a king," answered Tullydub, excitedly. -"But this book of laws was written years ago, and was meant to be used -when the king was absent, or ill, or asleep." - -[Illustration: "'NO!' THEY ALL SHOUTED IN A BREATH."] - -For a moment there was silence. - -"Have you ever read the book?" then asked Tillydib. - -"No; but I will fetch it at once, and we shall see if there is not a law -to help us out of our difficulty." - -So the chief counselor brought the book--a huge old volume that had a -musty smell to it and was locked together with a silver padlock. Then -the key had to be found, which was no easy task; but finally the great -book of laws lay open upon the table, and all the five periwigs of the -five fat counselors were bent over it at once. - -Long and earnestly they searched the pages, but it was not until after -noon that Tullydub suddenly placed his broad thumb upon a passage and -shouted: - -"I have it! I have it!" - -"What is it? Read it! Read it aloud!" cried the others. - -[Illustration: "SO THE CHIEF COUNSELOR BROUGHT THE BOOK."] - -[Illustration: "SUDDENLY PLACING HIS BROAD THUMB ON A PASSAGE, HE -SHOUTED 'I HAVE IT! I HAVE IT!'"] - -Just then Jikki rushed into the room and asked: - -"Shall I toll the bell?" - -"No!" they yelled, glaring at him; so Jikki ran out, shaking his head -dolefully. - -Then Tullydub adjusted his spectacles and leaned over the book, reading -aloud the following words: - -"In case the king dies, and there is no one to succeed him, the chief -counselor of the kingdom shall go at sunrise to the eastward gate of the -city of Nole and count the persons who enter through such gate as soon -as it is opened by the guards. And the forty-seventh person that so -enters, be it man, woman, or child, rich or poor, humble or noble, shall -immediately be proclaimed king or queen, as the case may be, and shall -rule all the kingdom of Noland forever after, so long as he or she may -live. And if any one in all the kingdom of Nole shall refuse to obey the -slightest wish of the new ruler, such person shall at once be put to -death. This is the law." - -Then all the five high counselors heaved a deep sigh of relief and -repeated together the words: - -"This is the law." - -"But it's a strange law, nevertheless," remarked the lord high -purse-bearer. "I wish I knew who will be the forty-seventh person to -enter the east gate to-morrow at sunrise." - -"We must wait and see," answered the lord high general. "And I will have -my army assembled and marshaled at the gateway, that the new ruler of -Noland may be welcomed in a truly kingly manner, as well as to keep the -people in order when they hear the strange news." - -"Beg pardon!" exclaimed Jikki, looking in at the doorway, "but shall I -toll the bell?" - -"No, you numskull!" retorted Tullydub, angrily. "If the bell is tolled -the people will be told, and they must not know that the old king is -dead until the forty-seventh person enters the east gateway to-morrow -morning!" - - - - - Chapter III. - THE GIFT OF THE MAGIC CLOAK. - - -Nearly two days' journey from the city of Nole, yet still within the -borders of the great kingdom of Noland, was a little village lying at -the edge of a broad river. It consisted of a cluster of houses of the -humblest description, for the people of this village were all poor and -lived in simple fashion. Yet one house appeared to be somewhat better -than the others, for it stood on the river-bank and had been built by -the ferryman whose business it was to carry all travelers across the -river. And, as many traveled that way, the ferryman was able in time to -erect a very comfortable cottage, and to buy good furniture for it, and -to clothe warmly and neatly his two children. - -One of these children was a little girl named Margaret, who was called -"Meg" by the villagers and "Fluff" by the ferryman her father, because -her hair was so soft and fluffy. - -Her brother, who was two years younger, was named Timothy; but Margaret -had always called him "Bud," because she could not say "brother" more -plainly when first she began to talk; so nearly every one who knew -Timothy called him Bud, as little Meg did. - -These children had lost their mother when very young, and the big -ferryman had tried to be both mother and father to them, and had reared -them very gently and lovingly. They were good children, and were liked -by every one in the village. - -But one day a terrible misfortune befell them. The ferryman tried to -cross the river for a passenger one very stormy night; but he never -reached the other shore. When the storm subsided and morning came they -found his body lying on the river-bank, and the two children were left -alone in the world. - -The news was carried by travelers to the city of Nole, where the -ferryman's only sister lived; and a few days afterward the woman came to -the village and took charge of her orphaned niece and nephew. - -She was not a bad-hearted woman, this Aunt Rivette; but she had worked -hard all her life, and had a stern face and a stern voice. She thought -the only way to make children behave was to box their ears every now and -then; so poor Meg, who had been well-nigh heart-broken at her dear -father's loss, had still more occasion for tears after Aunt Rivette came -to the village. - -As for Bud, he was so impudent and ill-mannered to the old lady that she -felt obliged to switch him; and afterward the boy became surly and -silent, and neither wept nor answered his aunt a single word. It hurt -Margaret dreadfully to see her little brother whipped, and she soon -became so unhappy at the sorrowful circumstances in which she and her -brother found themselves that she sobbed from morning till night and -knew no comfort. - -Aunt Rivette, who was a laundress in the city of Nole, decided she would -take Meg and Bud back home with her. - -"The boy can carry water for my tubs, and the girl can help me with the -ironing," she said. - -So she sold all the heavier articles of furniture that the cottage -contained, as well as the cottage itself; and all the remainder of her -dead brother's belongings she loaded upon the back of the little donkey -she had ridden on her journey from Nole. It made such a pile of packages -that the load seemed bigger than the donkey himself; but he was a strong -little animal, and made no complaint of his burden. - -All this being accomplished, they set out one morning for Nole, Aunt -Rivette leading the donkey by the bridle with one hand and little Bud -with the other, while Margaret followed behind, weeping anew at this sad -parting with her old home and all she had so long loved. - -It was a hard journey. The old woman soon became cross and fretful, and -scolded the little ones at almost every step. When Bud stumbled, as he -often did, for he was unused to walking very far, Aunt Rivette would box -his ears or shake him violently by the arm or tell him he was "a -good-for-nothing little beggar." And Bud would turn upon her with a -revengeful look in his big eyes, but say not a word. The woman paid no -attention to Meg, who continued to follow the donkey with tearful eyes -and drooping head. - -[Illustration: "IT WAS A HARD JOURNEY."] - -The first night they obtained shelter at a farm-house. But in the -morning it was found that the boy's feet were so swollen and sore from -the long walk of the day before that he could not stand upon them. So -Aunt Rivette, scolding fretfully at his weakness, perched Bud among the -bundles atop the donkey's back, and in this way they journeyed the -second day, the woman walking ahead and leading the donkey, and Margaret -following behind. - -The laundress had hoped to reach the city of Nole at the close of this -day; but the overburdened donkey would not walk very fast, so nightfall -found them still a two-hours' journey from the city gates, and they were -forced to stop at a small inn. - -But this inn was already overflowing with travelers, and the landlord -could give them no beds, nor even a room. - -"You can sleep in the stable if you like," said he. "There is plenty of -hay to lie down upon." - -So they were obliged to content themselves with this poor accommodation. - -The old woman aroused them at the first streaks of daybreak the next -morning, and while she fastened the packages to the donkey's back -Margaret stood in the stable yard and shivered in the cold morning air. - -The little girl felt that she had never been more unhappy than at that -moment, and when she thought of her kind father and the happy home she -had once known, her sobs broke out afresh, and she leaned against the -stable door and wept as if her little heart would break. - -[Illustration: "OVER THE YOUTH'S ARM LAY FOLDED THE MAGIC CLOAK."] - -Suddenly some one touched her arm, and she looked up to see a tall and -handsome youth standing before her. It was none other than Ereol the -fairy, who had assumed this form for her appearance among mortals; and -over the youth's arm lay folded the magic cloak that had been woven the -evening before in the fairy circle of Burzee. - -"Are you very unhappy, my dear?" asked Ereol, in kindly tones. - -"I am the most unhappy person in all the world!" replied the girl, -beginning to sob afresh. - -"Then," said Ereol, "I will present you with this magic cloak, which has -been woven by the fairies. And while you wear it you may have your first -wish granted; and if you give it freely to any other mortal, that person -may also have one wish granted. So use the cloak wisely, and guard it as -a great treasure." - -Saying this the fairy messenger spread the folds of the cloak and threw -the brilliant-hued garment over the shoulders of the girl. - -[Illustration: "'WHAT! PUNISH ME, YOU RASCALLY FELLOW! WE'LL SEE ABOUT -THAT.'"] - -Just then Aunt Rivette led the donkey from the stable, and seeing the -beautiful cloak which the child wore, she stopped short and demanded: - -"Where did you get that?" - -"This stranger gave it to me," answered Meg, pointing to the youth. - -"Take it off! Take it off this minute and give it me--or I will whip you -soundly!" cried the woman. - -"Stop!" said Ereol, sternly. "The cloak belongs to this child alone, and -if you dare take it from her I will punish you severely." - -"What! Punish me! Punish me, you rascally fellow! We'll see about that." - -"We will, indeed," returned Ereol, more calmly. "The cloak is a gift -from the fairies; and you dare not anger them, for your punishment would -be swift and terrible." - -Now no one feared to provoke the mysterious fairies more than Aunt -Rivette; but she suspected the youth was not telling her the truth, so -she rushed upon Ereol and struck at him with her upraised cane. But, to -her amazement, the form of the youth vanished quickly into air, and -then, indeed, she knew it was a fairy that had spoken to her. - -"You may keep your cloak," she said to Margaret, with a little shiver of -fear. "I would not touch it for the world!" - -The girl was very proud of her glittering garment, and when Bud was -perched upon the donkey's back and the old woman began trudging along -the road to the city, Meg followed after with much lighter steps than -before. - -Presently the sun rose over the horizon, and its splendid rays shone -upon the cloak and made it glisten gorgeously. - -"Ah, me!" sighed the little girl, half aloud. "I wish I could be happy -again!" - -Then her childish heart gave a bound of delight, and she laughed aloud -and brushed from her eyes the last tear she was destined to shed for -many a day. For, though she spoke thoughtlessly, the magic cloak quickly -granted to its first wearer the fulfilment of her wish. - -Aunt Rivette turned upon her in surprise. - -"What's the matter with you?" she asked suspiciously, for she had not -heard the girl laugh since her father's death. - -[Illustration: "'AH, ME!' SIGHED THE LITTLE GIRL, HALF ALOUD."] - -"Why, the sun is shining," answered Meg, laughing again. "And the air is -sweet and fresh, and the trees are green and beautiful, and the whole -world is very pleasant and delightful." And then she danced lightly -along the dusty road and broke into a verse of a pretty song she had -learned at her father's knee. - -The old woman scowled and trudged on again; Bud looked down at his merry -sister and grinned from pure sympathy with her high spirits; and the -donkey stopped and turned his head to look solemnly at the laughing girl -behind him. - -"Come along!" cried the laundress, jerking at the bridle; "every one is -passing us upon the road, and we must hurry to get home before noon." - -It was true. A good many travelers, some on horseback and some on foot, -had passed them by since the sun rose; and although the east gate of the -city of Nole was now in sight, they were obliged to take their places in -the long line that sought entrance at the gate. - - - - - Chapter IV. - KING BUD OF NOLAND. - - -The five high counselors of the kingdom of Noland were both eager and -anxious upon this important morning. Long before sunrise Tollydob, the -lord high general, had assembled his army at the east gate of the city; -and the soldiers stood in two long lines beside the entrance, looking -very impressive in their uniforms. And all the people, noting this -unusual display, gathered around at the gate to see what was going to -happen. - -Of course no one knew what was going to happen; not even the chief -counselor nor his brother counselors. They could only obey the law and -abide by the results. - -Finally the sun arose and the east gate of the city was thrown open. -There were a few people waiting outside, and they promptly entered. - -"One, two, three, four, five, six!" counted the chief counselor, in a -loud voice. - -The people were much surprised at hearing this, and began to question -one another with perplexed looks. Even the soldiers were mystified. - -[Illustration: "A RAGGED, LIMPING PEDDLER ENTERED THE GATE."] - -"Seven, eight, nine!" continued the chief counselor, still counting -those who came in. - -A breathless hush fell upon the assemblage. - -Something very important and mysterious was going on; that was evident. -But what? - -They could only wait and find out. - -"Ten, eleven!" counted Tullydub, and then heaved a deep sigh. For a -famous nobleman had just entered the gate, and the chief counselor could -not help wishing he had been number forty-seven. - -So the counting went on, and the people became more and more interested -and excited. - -When the number had reached thirty-one a strange thing happened. A loud -"boom!" sounded through the stillness, and then another, and another. -Some one was tolling the great bell in the palace bell-tower, and people -began saying to one another in awed whispers that the old king must be -dead. - -The five high counselors, filled with furious anger but absolutely -helpless, as they could not leave the gate, lifted up their five chubby -fists and shook them violently in the direction of the bell-tower. - -Poor Jikki, finding himself left alone in the palace, could no longer -resist the temptation to toll the bell; and it continued to peal out its -dull, solemn tones while the chief counselor stood by the gate and -shouted: - -"Thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four!" - -Only the mystery of this action could have kept the people quiet when -they learned from the bell that their old king was dead. - -But now they began to guess that the scene at the east gate promised -more of interest than anything they might learn at the palace; so they -stood very quiet, and Jikki's disobedience of orders did no great harm -to the plans of the five high counselors. - -When Tullydub had counted up to forty the excitement redoubled, for -every one could see big drops of perspiration standing upon the chief -counselor's brow, and all the other high counselors, who stood just -behind him, were trembling violently with nervousness. - -A ragged, limping peddler entered the gate. - -"Forty-five!" shouted Tullydub. - -Then came Aunt Rivette, dragging at the bridle of the donkey. - -"Forty-six!" screamed Tullydub. - -And now Bud rode through the gate, perched among the bundles on the -donkey's back and looking composedly upon the throng of anxious faces -that greeted him. - -[Illustration: "'FORTY-SEVEN!' CRIED THE CHIEF COUNSELOR. 'LONG LIVE THE -NEW KING OF NOLAND!'"] - -"_Forty-seven!_" cried the chief counselor; and then in his loudest -voice he continued: - -"Long live the new King of Noland!" - -All the high counselors prostrated themselves in the dusty road before -the donkey. The old woman was thrust back in the crowd by a soldier, -where she stood staring in amazement, and Margaret, clothed in her -beautiful cloak, stepped to the donkey's side and looked first at her -brother and then at the group of periwigged men, who bobbed their heads -in the dust before him and shouted: - -"Long live the king!" - -Then, while the crowd still wondered, the lord high counselor arose and -took from a soldier a golden crown set with brilliants, a jeweled -scepter, and a robe of ermine. Advancing to Bud, he placed the crown -upon the boy's head and the scepter in his hand, while over his -shoulders he threw the ermine robe. - -The crown fell over Bud's ears, but he pushed it back upon his head, so -it would stay there; and as the kingly robe spread over all the bundles -on the donkey's back and quite covered them, the boy really presented a -very imposing appearance. - -The people quickly rose to the spirit of the occasion. What mattered it -if the old king was dead, now that a new king was already before them? -They broke into a sudden cheer, and, joyously waving their hats and -bonnets above their heads, joined eagerly in the cry: - -"Long live the King of Noland!" - -Aunt Rivette was fairly stupefied. Such a thing was too wonderful to be -believed. A man in the crowd snatched the bonnet from the old woman's -head, and said to her brusquely: - -"Why don't you greet the new king? Are you a traitor to your country?" - -So she also waved her bonnet and screamed: "Long live the king!" But she -hardly knew what she was doing or why she did it. - -Meantime the high counselors had risen from their knees and now stood -around the donkey. - -"May it please your Serene Majesty to condescend to tell us who this -young lady is?" asked Tullydub, bowing respectfully. - -"That's my sister Fluff," said Bud, who was enjoying his new position -very much. All the counselors, at this, bowed low to Margaret. - -[Illustration: "SO SHE ALSO WAVED HER BONNET AND SCREAMED: 'LONG LIVE -THE KING!'"] - -"A horse for the Princess Fluff!" cried the lord high general; and the -next moment she was mounted upon a handsome white palfrey, where, with -her fluffy golden hair and smiling face and the magnificent cloak -flowing from her shoulders, she looked every inch a princess. The people -cheered her, too; for it was long since any girl or woman had occupied -the palace of the King of Noland, and she was so pretty and sweet that -every one loved her immediately. - -[Illustration: "'MAY IT PLEASE YOUR SERENE MAJESTY TO TELL US WHO THIS -YOUNG LADY IS?' ASKED TULLYDUB, RESPECTFULLY."] - -And now the king's chariot drove up, with its six prancing steeds, and -Bud was lifted from the back of the donkey and placed in the high seat -of the chariot. - -Again the people shouted joyful greetings; the band struck up a gay -march tune, and then the royal procession started for the palace. - -First came Tollydob and the officers; then the king's chariot, -surrounded by soldiers; then the four high counselors upon black horses, -riding two on each side of Princess Fluff; and, finally, the band of -musicians and the remainder of the royal army. - -It was an imposing sight, and the people followed after with cheers and -rejoicings, while the lord high purse-bearer tossed silver coins from -his pouch for any one to catch who could. - -A message had been sent to warn Jikki that the new king was coming, so -he stopped tolling the death knell, and instead rang out a glorious -chime of welcome. - -As for old Rivette finding herself and the donkey alike deserted, she -once more seized the bridle and led the patient beast to her humble -dwelling; and it was just as she reached her door that King Bud of -Noland, amid the cheers and shouts of thousands, entered for the first -time the royal palace of Nole. - -[Illustration: "'I WANT SOME NEW CLOTHES, AND SO DOES MY SISTER,' BUD -ANNOUNCED, AS BOLDLY AS POSSIBLE."] - - - - - Chapter V. - PRINCESS FLUFF. - - -Now when the new king had entered the palace with his sister, the chief -counselor stood upon a golden balcony with the great book in his hand, -and read aloud, to all the people who were gathered below, the law in -regard to choosing a new king, and the severe penalty in case any -refused to obey his slightest wish. And the people were glad enough to -have a change of rulers, and pleased that so young a king had been given -them. So they accepted both the law and the new king cheerfully, and -soon dispersed to their homes to talk over the wonderful events of the -day. - -Bud and Meg were ushered into beautifully furnished rooms on the second -floor of the palace, and old Jikki, finding that he had a new master to -serve, flew about in his usual nervous manner, and brought the children -the most delicious breakfast they had ever eaten in their lives. - -Bud had been so surprised at his reception at the gate and the sudden -change in his condition that as yet he had not been able to collect his -thoughts. His principal idea was that he was in a dream, and he kept -waiting until he should wake up. But the breakfast was very real and -entirely satisfying, and he began to wonder if he could be dreaming, -after all. - -The old servant, when he carried away the dishes, bowed low to Bud and -said: "Beg pardon, your Majesty! But the lord high counselor desires to -know the king's will." - -Bud stared at him a moment thoughtfully. - -"Tell him I want to be left alone to talk with my sister Fluff," he -replied. - -Jikki again bowed low and withdrew, closing the door behind him, and -then the children looked at each other solemnly, until Meg burst into a -merry laugh. - -"Oh, Bud!" she cried, "think of it! I'm the royal Princess Fluff, and -you're the King of all Noland! Isn't it funny!" And then she danced -about the room in great delight. - -Bud answered her seriously. - -"What does it all mean, Fluff?" he said. "We're only poor children, you -know; so I can't really be a king. And I wouldn't be surprised if Aunt -Rivette came in any minute and boxed my ears." - -"Nonsense!" laughed Margaret. "Didn't you hear what that fat, periwigged -man said about the law? The old king is dead, and some one else had to -be king, you know; and the forty-seventh person who entered the east -gate was you, Bud, and so by law you are the king of all this great -country. Don't you see?" - -Bud shook his head and looked at his sister. - -"No, I don't see," he said. "But if you say it's all right, Fluff, why, -it must be all right." - -"Of course it's all right," declared the girl, throwing off her pretty -cloak and placing it on a chair. "You're the rightful king, and can do -whatever you please; and I'm the rightful princess, because I'm your -sister; so I can do whatever _I_ please. Don't you see, Bud?" - -"But, look here, Fluff," returned her brother, "if you're a princess, -why do you wear that old gray dress and those patched-up shoes? Father -used to tell us that princesses always wore the loveliest dresses." - -Meg looked at herself and sighed. - -"I really ought to have some new dresses, Bud. And I suppose if you -order them they will be ready in no time. And you must have some new -clothes, too, for your jacket is ragged and soiled." - -"Do you really think it's true, Fluff?" he asked anxiously. - -"Of course it's true. Look at your kingly robe, and your golden crown, -and that stick with all those jewels in it!"--meaning the scepter. -"They're true enough, aren't they?" - -Bud nodded. - -"Call in that old man," he said. "I'll order something, and see if he -obeys me. If he does, then I'll believe I'm really a king." - -"But now listen, Bud," said Meg, gravely; "don't you let these folks see -you're afraid, or that you're not sure whether you're a king or not. -Order them around and make them afraid of _you_. That's what the kings -do in all the stories I ever read." - -"I will," replied Bud. "I'll order them around. So you call in that old -donkey with the silver buttons all over him." - -"Here's a bell-rope," said Meg; "I'll pull it." - -Instantly Jikki entered and bowed low to each of the children. - -"What's your name?" asked Bud. - -"Jikki, your gracious Majesty." - -"Who are you?" - -"Your Majesty's valet, if you please," answered Jikki. - -"Oh!" said Bud. He didn't know what a valet was, but he wasn't going to -tell Jikki so. - -"I want some new clothes, and so does my sister," Bud announced, as -boldly as possible. - -"Certainly, your Majesty. I'll send the lord high steward here at once." - -With this he bowed and rushed away, and presently Tallydab, the lord -high steward, entered the room and with a low bow presented himself -respectfully before the children. - -"I beg your Majesty to command me," said Tallydab, gravely. - -Bud was a little awed by his appearance, but he resolved to be brave. - -"We want some new clothes," he said. - -"They are already ordered, your Majesty, and will be here presently." - -"Oh!" said Bud, and stopped short. - -"I have ordered twenty suits for your Majesty and forty gowns for the -princess," continued Tallydab; "and I hope these will content your -Majesty and the princess until you have time to select a larger -assortment." - -"Oh!" said Bud, greatly amazed. - -"I have also selected seven maidens, the most noble in all the land, to -wait upon the princess. They are even now awaiting her Highness in her -own apartments." - -Meg clapped her hands delightedly. - -"I'll go to them at once," she cried. - -"Has your Majesty any further commands?" asked Tallydab. "If not your -five high counselors would like to confer with you in regard to your new -duties and responsibilities." - -"Send 'em in," said Bud, promptly; and while Margaret went to meet her -new maids the king held his first conference with his high counselors. - -[Illustration: "'I HAVE ORDERED TWENTY SUITS FOR YOUR MAJESTY AND FORTY -GOWNS FOR THE PRINCESS.'"] - -In answer to Tallydab's summons the other four periwigs, pompous and -solemn, filed into the room and stood in a row before Bud, who looked -upon them with a sensation of awe. - -"Your Majesty," began the venerable Tullydub, in a grave voice, "we are -here to instruct you, with your gracious consent, in your new and -important duties." - -Bud shifted uneasily in his chair. It all seemed so unreal and -absurd--this kingly title and polite deference bestowed upon a poor boy -by five dignified and periwigged men--that it was hard for Bud to curb -his suspicion that all was not right. - -"See here, all of you," said he, suddenly, "is this thing a joke? tell -me, is it a joke?" - -"A joke?" echoed all of the five counselors, in several degrees of -shocked and horrified tones; and Tellydeb, the lord high executioner, -added reproachfully: - -"Could we, by any chance, have the temerity to joke with your mighty and -glorious Majesty?" - -"That's just it," answered the boy. "I am not a mighty and glorious -Majesty. I'm just Bud, the ferryman's son, and you know it." - -"You are Bud, the ferryman's son, to be sure," agreed the chief -counselor, bowing courteously; "but by the decrees of fate and the just -and unalterable laws of the land you are now become absolute ruler of -the great kingdom of Noland; therefore all that dwell therein are your -loyal and obedient servants." - -[Illustration: "'A JOKE?' ECHOED ALL OF THE FIVE COUNSELORS, IN SEVERAL -DEGREES OF SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED TONES."] - -Bud thought this over. - -"Are you sure there's no mistake?" he asked, with hesitation. - -"There _can_ be no mistake," returned old Tullydub, firmly; "for we, the -five high counselors of the kingdom, have ourselves interpreted and -carried out the laws of the land, and the people, your subjects, have -approved our action." - -"Then," said Bud, "I suppose I'll have to be king whether I want to or -not." - -"Your Majesty speaks but the truth," returned the chief counselor, with -a sigh. "With or without your consent, you are the king. It is the law." -And all the others chanted in a chorus: - -"It is the law." - -Bud felt much relieved. He had no notion whatever of refusing to be a -king. If there was no mistake, and he was really the powerful monarch of -Noland, then there ought to be no end of fun and freedom for him during -the rest of his life. To be his own master; to have plenty of money; to -live in a palace and order people around as he pleased--all this seemed -to the poor and friendless boy of yesterday to be quite the most -delightful fate that could possibly overtake one. - -So lost did he become in thoughts of the marvelous existence opening -before him that he paid scant attention to the droning speeches of the -five aged counselors, who were endeavoring to acquaint him with the -condition of affairs in his new kingdom, and to instruct him in his many -and difficult duties as its future ruler. - -For a full hour he sat quiet and motionless, and they thought he was -listening to these dreary affairs of state; but suddenly he jumped up -and astonished the dignitaries by exclaiming: - -"See here; you just fix up things to suit yourselves. I'm going to find -Fluff." And with no heed to protests, the new king ran from the room and -slammed the door behind him. - -[Illustration: "A MAN CAME IN LEADING A BOY BY THE ARM AND HOLDING A -SWITCH IN HIS OTHER HAND."] - - - - - Chapter VI. - BUD DISPENSES JUSTICE. - - -The next day the funeral of the old king took place, and the new king -rode in the grand procession in a fine chariot, clothed in black velvet -embroidered with silver. Not knowing how to act in his new position, Bud -sat still and did nothing at all, which was just what was expected of -him. - -But when they returned from the funeral he was ushered into the great -throne-room of the palace and seated on the golden throne; and then the -chief counselor informed him that he must listen to the grievances of -his people and receive the homage of the noblemen of Noland. - -Fluff sat on a stool beside the king, and the five high counselors stood -back of him in a circle; and then the doors were thrown open and all the -noblemen of the country crowded in. One by one they kissed first the -king's hand and then the princess's hand, and vowed they would always -serve them faithfully. - -Bud did not like this ceremony. He whispered to Fluff that it made him -tired. - -"I want to go upstairs and play," he said to the lord high steward. "I -don't see why I can't." - -"Very soon your Majesty may go. Just now it is your duty to hear the -grievances of your people," answered Tallydab, gently. - -"What's the matter with 'em?" asked Bud, crossly. "Why don't they keep -out of trouble?" - -"I do not know, your Majesty; but there are always disputes among the -people." - -"But that isn't the king's fault, is it?" said Bud. - -"No, your Majesty; but it's the king's place to settle these disputes, -for he has the supreme power." - -"Well, tell 'em to hurry up and get it over with," said the boy, -restlessly. - -Then a venerable old man came in leading a boy by the arm and holding a -switch in his other hand. - -"Your Majesty," began the man, having first humbly bowed to the floor -before the king, "my son, whom I have brought here with me, insists upon -running away from home, and I wish you would tell me what to do with -him." - -"Why do you run away?" Bud asked the boy. - -"Because he whips me," was the answer. - -Bud turned to the man. - -"Why do you whip the boy?" he inquired. - -"Because he runs away," said the man. - -For a minute Bud looked puzzled. - -"Well, if any one whipped me, I'd run away, too," he said at last. "And -if the boy isn't whipped or abused he ought to stay at home and be good. -But it's none of my business, anyhow." - -"Oh, your Majesty!" cried the chief counselor, "it really must be your -business. You're the king, you know; and everybody's business is the -king's." - -"That isn't fair," said Bud, sulkily. "I've got my own business to -attend to, and I want to go upstairs and play." - -But now Princess Fluff leaned toward the young king and whispered -something in his ear which made his face brighten. - -"See here!" exclaimed Bud, "the first time this man whips the boy again, -or the first time the boy runs away, I order my lord high executioner to -give them both a good switching. Now let them go home and try to behave -themselves." - -[Illustration: "NEXT CAME TWO OLD WOMEN, AND BETWEEN THEM THEY LED A -COW."] - -Every one applauded his decision, and Bud also thought with satisfaction -that he had hit upon a good way out of the difficulty. - -Next came two old women, one very fat and the other very thin; and -between them they led a cow, the fat woman having a rope around one horn -and the thin woman a rope around the other horn. Each woman claimed she -owned the cow, and they quarreled so loudly and so long that the lord -high executioner had to tie a bandage over their mouths. When peace was -thus restored the high counselor said: - -"Now, your Majesty, please decide which of these two women owns the -cow." - -"I can't," said Bud, helplessly. - -"Oh, your Majesty, but you must!" cried all the five high counselors. - -Then Meg whispered to the king again, and the boy nodded. The children -had always lived in a little village where there were plenty of cows, -and the girl thought she knew a way to decide which of the claimants -owned this animal. - -"Send one of the women away," said Bud. So they led the lean woman to a -little room near by and locked her in. - -"Bring a pail and a milking-stool," ordered the king. - -When they were brought, Bud turned to the fat woman and ordered the -bandage taken from her mouth. - -"The cow's mine! It's my cow! I own it!" she screamed, the moment she -could speak. - -"Hold!" said the king. "If the cow belongs to you, let me see you milk -her." - -"Certainly, your Majesty, certainly!" she cried; and seizing the pail -and the stool, she ran up to the left side of the cow, placed the stool, -and sat down upon it. But before she could touch the cow the animal -suddenly gave a wild kick that sent the startled woman in a heap upon -the floor, with her head stuck fast in the milk-pail. Then the cow moved -forward a few steps and looked blandly around. - -Two of the guards picked the woman up and pulled the pail from her head. - -"What's the matter?" asked Bud. - -"She's frightened, of course," whimpered the woman, "and I'll be black -and blue by to-morrow morning, your Majesty. Any cow would kick in such -a place as this." - -"Put this woman in the room and fetch the other woman here," commanded -the king. - -So the lean woman was brought out and ordered to milk the cow. - -[Illustration: "THE ANIMAL SUDDENLY GAVE A WILD KICK THAT SENT THE -STARTLED WOMAN IN A HEAP UPON THE FLOOR, WITH HER HEAD STUCK FAST IN THE -MILK-PAIL."] - -She took the stool in one hand and the pail in the other, and, -approaching the cow softly on the _right_ side, patted the animal gently -and said to it: "So, Boss! So-o-o-o, Bossie, my darlin'! Good Bossie! -Nice Bossie!" - -The cow turned her head to look at the lean woman, and made no objection -when she sat down and began milking. - -In a moment the king said: - -"The cow is yours! Take her and go home!" - -Then all the courtiers and people--and even the five high -counselors--applauded the king enthusiastically; and the chief counselor -lifted up his hands and said: - -"Another Solomon has come to rule us!" - -And the people applauded again, till Bud looked very proud and quite red -in the face with satisfaction. - -"Tell me," he said to the woman, who was about to lead the cow away, -"tell me, where did you get such a nice faithful Bossie as that?" - -"Must I tell you the truth?" asked the woman. - -"Of course," said Bud. - -"Then, your Majesty," she returned, "I stole her from that fat woman you -have locked up in that room. But no one can take the cow from me now, -for the king has given her to me." - -At this a sudden hush fell on the room, and Bud looked redder than ever. - -"Then how did it happen that you could milk the cow and she couldn't?" -demanded the king, angrily. - -"Why, she doesn't understand cows, and I do," answered the woman. "Good -day, your Majesty. Much obliged, I'm sure!" - -And she walked away with the cow, leaving the king and Princess Fluff -and all the people much embarrassed. - -"Have we any cows in the royal stables?" asked Bud, turning to Tullydub. - -"Certainly, your Majesty; there are several," answered the chief -counselor. - -"Then," said Bud, "give one of them to the fat woman and send her home. -I've done all the judging I am going to do to-day, and now I'll take my -sister upstairs to play." - -"Hold on! Hold on!" cried a shrill voice. "I demand justice! Justice of -the king! Justice of the law! Justice to the king's aunt." - -Bud looked down the room and saw Aunt Rivette struggling with some of -the guards. Then she broke away from them and rushed to the throne, -crying again: - -"Justice, your Majesty!" - -"What's the matter with you?" asked Bud. - -"Matter? Everything's the matter with me. Aren't you the new king?" - -"Yes," said Bud. "That's what I am." - -"Am I not your aunt? Am I not your aunt?" - -"Yes," said Bud, again. - -"Well, why am I left to live in a hut and dress in rags? Doesn't the law -say that every blood relation of the king shall live in a royal palace?" - -"Does it?" asked Bud, turning to Tullydub. - -"The law says so, your Majesty." - -"And must I have that old crosspatch around me all the time?" wailed the -new king. - -"Crosspatch yourself!" screamed Aunt Rivette, shaking her fist at Bud. -"I'll teach you to crosspatch me when I get you alone!" - -Bud shuddered. Then he turned again to Tullydub. - -"The king can do what he likes, can't he?" the boy asked. - -"Certainly, your Majesty." - -"Then let the lord high executioner step forward!" - -[Illustration: "'THEN LET THE LORD HIGH EXECUTIONER STEP FORWARD!'"] - -"Oh, Bud! What are you going to do?" said Fluff, seizing him tightly by -the arm. - -"You let me alone!" answered Bud. "I'm not going to be a king for -nothing. And Aunt Rivette whipped me once--sixteen hard switches! I -counted 'em." - -The executioner was now bowing before him. - -"Get a switch," commanded the king. - -The executioner brought a long, slender birch bough. - -"Now," said Bud, "you give Aunt Rivette sixteen good switches." - -"Oh, don't! Don't, Bud!" pleaded Meg. - -Aunt Rivette fell on her knees, pale and trembling. In agony she raised -her hands. - -"I'll never do it again! Let me off, your Majesty!" she screamed. "Let -me off this once! I'll never do it again! Never! Never!" - -"All right," said Bud, with a cheery smile. "I'll let you off this time. -But if you don't behave, or if you interfere with me or Fluff, I'll have -the lord high executioner take charge of you. Just remember I'm the -king, and then we'll get along all right. Now you may go upstairs if you -wish to and pick out a room on the top story. Fluff and I are going to -play." - -With this he laid his crown carefully on the seat of the throne and -threw off his ermine robe. - -"Come on, Fluff! We've had enough business for to-day," he said, and -dragged the laughing princess from the room, while Aunt Rivette meekly -followed the lord high steward up the stairs to a comfortable apartment -just underneath the roof. - -She was very well satisfied at last; and very soon she sent for the lord -high purse-bearer and demanded money with which to buy some fine clothes -for herself. - -This was given her willingly, for the law provided for the comfort of -every relative of the king, and knowing this, Aunt Rivette fully -intended to be the most comfortable woman in the kingdom of Noland. - - - - - Chapter VII. - THE WINGS OF AUNT RIVETTE. - - -Bud and Meg had plenty to occupy them in looking over and admiring their -new possessions. First they went to the princess's rooms, where Fluff -ordered her seven maids to spread out all the beautiful gowns she had -received. And forty of them made quite an imposing show, I assure you. -They were all dainty and sweet and of rich material, suitable for all -occasions, and of all colors and shades. Of course there were none with -trains, for Margaret, although a princess, was only a little girl; but -the gowns were gay with bright ribbons and jeweled buttons and clasps; -and each one had its hat and hosiery and slippers to match. - -After admiring the dresses for a time, they looked at Bud's new -clothes--twenty suits of velvets, brocades, and finely woven cloths. -Some had diamonds and precious gems sewn on them for ornaments, while -others were plain; but the poorest suit there was finer than the boy had -ever dreamed of possessing. - -There were also many articles of apparel to go with these suits, such as -shoes with diamond buckles, silken stockings, neck laces, and fine -linen; and there was a beautiful little sword, with a gold scabbard and -a jeweled hilt, that the little king could wear on state occasions. - -However, when the children had examined the gowns and suits to their -satisfaction, they began looking for other amusement. - -"Do you know, Fluff," said the boy, "there isn't a single toy or -plaything in this whole palace?" - -"I suppose the old king didn't care for playthings," replied Fluff, -thoughtfully. - -Just then there was a knock at the door, and Aunt Rivette came hobbling -into the room. Her wrinkled old face was full of eagerness, and in her -hands she clasped the purse of golden coins the lord high purse-bearer -had given her. - -"See what I've got!" she cried, holding out the purse. "And I'm going to -buy the finest clothes in all the kingdom! And ride in the king's -carriage! And have a man to wait upon me! And make Mammy Skib and -Mistress Kappleson and all the other neighbors wild with jealousy!" - -[Illustration: "AFTER ADMIRING THE DRESSES FOR A TIME, THEY LOOKED AT -BUD'S NEW CLOTHES."] - -"I don't care," said Bud. - -"Why, you owe everything to me!" cried Aunt Rivette. "If I hadn't -brought you to Nole on the donkey's back, you wouldn't have been the -forty-seventh person to enter the gate." - -"That's true," said Meg. - -But Bud was angry. - -"I know it's true," he said; "but look here, you mustn't bother us. Just -keep out of our way, please, and let me alone, and then I won't care how -many new dresses you buy." - -"I'm going to spend every piece of this gold!" she exclaimed, clasping -the purse with her wrinkled hands. "But I don't like to go through the -streets in this poor dress. Won't you lend me your cloak, Meg, until I -get back?" - -"Of course I will," returned the girl; and going to the closet, she -brought out the magic cloak the fairy had given her and threw it over -Aunt Rivette's shoulders. For she was sorry for the old woman, and this -was the prettiest cloak she had. - -[Illustration: "ALMOST BEFORE SHE KNEW IT, AUNT RIVETTE HAD DESCENDED TO -THE ROOF OF THE ROYAL STABLES."] - -So old Rivette, feeling very proud and anxious to spend her money, left -the palace and walked as fast as her tottering legs would carry her down -the street in the direction of the shops. "I'll buy a yellow silk," she -mumbled to herself, half aloud, "and a white velvet, and a purple -brocade, and a sky-blue bonnet with crimson plumes! And won't the -neighbors stare then? Oh, dear! If I could only walk faster! And the -shops are so far! I wish I could fly!" - -Now she was wearing the magic cloak when she expressed this wish, and no -sooner had she spoken than two great feathery wings appeared, fastened -to her shoulders. - -The old woman stopped short, turned her head, and saw the wings; and -then she gave a scream and a jump and began waving her arms frantically. - -The wings flopped at the same time, raising her slowly from the ground, -and she began to soar gracefully above the heads of the astonished -people, who thronged the streets below. - -"Stop! Help! Murder!" shrieked Rivette, kicking her feet in great -agitation, and at the same time flopping nervously her new wings. "Save -me, some one! Save me!" - -"Why don't you save yourself?" asked a man below. "Stop flying, if you -want to reach the earth again!" - -This struck old Rivette as a sensible suggestion. She was quite a -distance in the air by this time; but she tried to hold her wings steady -and not flop them, and the result was that she began to float slowly -downward. Then, with horror, she saw she was sinking directly upon the -branches of a prickly-pear tree; so she screamed and began flying again, -and the swift movement of her wings sent her high into the air. - -So great was her terror that she nearly fainted; but she shut her eyes -so that she might not see how high up she was, and held her wings rigid -and began gracefully to float downward again. - -By and by she opened her eyes and found one of her sleeves was just -missing the sharp point of a lightning-rod on a tower of the palace. So -she began struggling and flopping anew, and, almost before she knew it, -Aunt Rivette had descended to the roof of the royal stables. Here she -sat down and began to weep and wail, while a great crowd gathered below -and watched her. - -[Illustration: "'HELP! GET A LADDER!' WAILED THE OLD WOMAN."] - -"Get a ladder! _Please_ get a ladder!" begged old Rivette. "If you -don't, I shall fall and break my neck." - -By this time Bud and Fluff had come out to see what caused the -excitement; and, to their amazement they found their old aunt perched -high up on the stable roof, with two great wings growing out from her -back. - -For a moment they could not understand what had happened. Then Margaret -cried: - -"Oh, Bud, I let her wear the magic cloak! She must have made a wish!" - -"Help! Help! Get a ladder!" wailed the old woman, catching sight of her -nephew and niece. - -"Well, you _are_ a bird, Aunt Rivette!" shouted Bud, gleefully, for he -was in a teasing mood. "You don't need a ladder! I don't see why you -can't fly down the same way you flew up." And all the people shouted: -"Yes, yes! The king is right! Fly down!" - -Just then Rivette's feet began to slip on the sloping roof; so she made -a wild struggle to save herself, and the result was that she fluttered -her wings in just exactly the right way to sink down gradually to the -ground. - -"You'll be all right as soon as you know how to use your wings," said -Bud, with a laugh. "But where did you get 'em, anyhow?" - -"I don't know," said Aunt Rivette, much relieved to be on earth again, -and rather pleased to have attracted so much attention. "Are the wings -pretty?" - -"They are perfectly lovely!" cried Fluff, clapping her hands in glee. -"Why, Aunt Rivette, I do believe you must be the only person in all the -world who can fly!" - -[Illustration: "'WHY, AUNT RIVETTE, I DO BELIEVE YOU MUST BE THE ONLY -PERSON IN ALL THE WORLD WHO CAN FLY!'"] - -"But I think you look like an overgrown buzzard," said Bud. - -Now it happened that all this praise, and the wondering looks of the -people, did a great deal to reconcile Rivette to her new wings. Indeed, -she began to feel a certain pride and distinction in them; and, finding -she had through all the excitement retained her grasp on the purse of -gold, she now wrapped the magic cloak around her and walked away to the -shops, followed by a crowd of men, women, and children. - - - - - Chapter VIII. - THE ROYAL RECEPTION. - - -As for the king and Princess Fluff, they returned to the palace and -dressed themselves in some of their prettiest garments, telling Jikki to -have two ponies saddled and ready for them to ride upon. - -"We really _must_ have some toys," said Meg, with decision; "and now -that we are rich, there is no reason why we can't buy what we want." - -"That's true," answered Bud. "The old king hadn't anything to play with. -Poor old man! I wonder what he did to amuse himself." - -They mounted their ponies, and, followed by the chief counselor and the -lord high purse-bearer in one of the state carriages, and a guard of -soldiers for escort, they rode down the streets of the city on a -pleasure-jaunt, amid the shouts of the loyal populace. - -By and by Bud saw a toy-shop in one of the streets, and he and Fluff -slipped down from their ponies and went inside to examine the toys. It -was a well-stocked shop, and there were rows upon rows of beautiful -dolls on the shelves, which attracted Margaret's attention at once. - -"Oh, Bud," she exclaimed, "I must have one of these dollies!" - -"Take your choice," said her brother, calmly, although his own heart was -beating with delight at the sight of all the toys arranged before him. - -"I don't know which to choose," sighed the little princess, looking from -one doll to another with longing and indecision. - -"We'll take 'em all," declared Bud. - -"All! What--all these rows of dollies?" she gasped. - -"Why not?" asked the king. Then he turned to the men who kept the shop -and said: - -"Call in that old fellow who carries the money." - -When the lord high purse-bearer appeared, Bud said to him: - -"Pay the man for all these dolls; and for this--and this--and this--and -this!" and he began picking out the prettiest toys in all the shop, in -the most reckless way you can imagine. - -[Illustration: "'WE'LL TAKE 'EM ALL,' DECLARED BUD."] - -The soldiers loaded the carriage down with Meg's dolls, and a big cart -was filled with Bud's toys. Then the purse-bearer paid the bill, -although he sighed deeply several times while counting out the money. -But the new king paid no attention to old Tillydib; and when the -treasures were all secured the children mounted their ponies and rode -joyfully back to the palace, followed in a procession by the carriage -filled with dolls, and the cart loaded with toys, while Tullydub and -Tillydib, being unable to ride in the carriage, trotted along at the -rear on foot. - -Bud had the toys and dolls all carried upstairs into a big room, and -then he ordered everybody to keep out while he and Fluff arranged their -playthings around the room and upon the tables and chairs, besides -littering the floor so that they could hardly find a clear place large -enough for some of their romping games. - -"After all," he said to his sister, "it's a good thing to be a king!" - -"Or even a princess," added Meg, busily dressing and arranging her -dolls. - -They made Jikki bring their dinner to them in the "play-room," as Bud -called it; but neither of the children could spare much time to eat, -their treasures being all so new and delightful. - -Soon after dusk, while Jikki was lighting the candles, the chief -counselor came to the door to say that the king must be ready to attend -the royal reception in five minutes. - -"I won't," said Bud. "I just won't." - -"But you _must_, your Majesty!" declared old Tullydub. - -"Am I not the king?" demanded Bud, looking up from where he was -arranging an army of wooden soldiers. - -"Certainly, your Majesty," was the reply. - -"And isn't the king's will the law?" continued Bud. - -"Certainly, your Majesty!" - -"Well, if that is so, just understand that I won't come. Go away and let -me alone!" - -"But the people expect your Majesty to attend the royal reception," -protested old Tullydub, greatly astonished. "It is the usual custom, you -know; and they would be greatly disappointed if your Majesty did not -appear." - -"I don't care," said Bud. "You get out of here and let me alone!" - -"But, your Majesty--" - -The king threw a toy cannon at his chief counselor, and the old man -ducked to escape it, and then quickly closed the door. - -"Bud," said the princess, softly, "you were just saying it's great fun -to be a king." - -"So it is," he answered promptly. - -[Illustration: "THE KING THREW A TOY CANNON AT HIS CHIEF COUNSELOR."] - -"But father used to tell us," continued the girl, trying a red hat on a -brown-haired doll, "that people in this world always have to pay for any -good thing they get." - -"What do you mean?" said Bud, with surprise. - -"I mean if you're going to be the king, and wear fine clothes, and eat -lovely dinners, and live in a palace, and have countless servants, and -all the playthings you want, and your own way in everything and with -everybody--then you ought to be willing to pay for all these pleasures." - -"How? But how _can_ I pay for them?" demanded Bud, staring at her. - -"By attending the royal receptions, and doing all the disagreeable -things the king is expected to do," she answered. - -Bud thought about it for a minute. Then he got up, walked over to his -sister, and kissed her. - -"I b'lieve you're right, Fluff," he said, with a sigh. "I'll go to that -reception to-night, and take it as I would take a dose of medicine." - -"Of course you will!" returned Fluff, looking up at him brightly; "and -I'll go with you! The dolls can wait til to-morrow. Have Jikki brush -your hair, and I'll get my maids to dress me!" - -Old Tullydub was wondering how he might best explain the king's absence -to the throng of courtiers gathered to attend the royal reception, when, -to his surprise and relief, his Majesty entered the room, accompanied by -the Princess Fluff. The king wore a velvet suit trimmed with gold lace, -and at his side hung the beautiful jeweled sword. Meg was dressed in a -soft white silken gown, and looked as sweet and fair as a lily. - -The courtiers and their ladies, who were all wearing their most handsome -and becoming apparel, received their little king with great respect, and -several of the wealthiest and most noble among them came up to Bud to -converse with him. - -But the king did not know what to say to these great personages, and so -the royal reception began to be a very stupid affair. - -Fluff saw that all the people were standing in stiff rows and looking at -one another uneasily, so she went to Bud and whispered to him. - -"Is there a band of musicians in the palace?" the king inquired of -Tellydeb, who stood near. - -"Yes, your Majesty." - -"Send for them, then," commanded Bud. - -Presently the musicians appeared, and the king ordered them to play a -waltz. But the chief counselor rushed up and exclaimed: - -"Oh, your Majesty! This is against all rule and custom!" - -"Silence!" said Bud, angrily. "_I'll_ make the rules and customs in this -kingdom hereafter. We're going to have a dance." - -"But it's so dreadful--so unconventional, your Majesty! It's so--what -shall I call it?" - -"Here! I've had enough of this," declared Bud. "You go and stand in that -corner, with your face to the wall, till I tell you to sit down," he -added, remembering a time when his father, the ferryman, had inflicted a -like punishment upon him. - -Somewhat to his surprise, Tullydub at once obeyed the command, and then -Bud made his first speech to the people. - -"We're going to have a dance," he said; "so pitch in and have a good -time. If there's anything you want, ask for it. You're all welcome to -stay as long as you please and go home when you get ready." - -This seemed to please the company, for every one applauded the king's -speech. Then the musicians began to play, and the people were soon -dancing and enjoying themselves greatly. - -Princess Fluff had a good many partners that evening, but Bud did not -care to dance--he preferred to look on; and, after a time, he brought -old Tullydub out of his corner, and made the chief counselor promise to -be good and not annoy him again. - -"But it is my duty to counsel the king," protested the old man, -solemnly. - -"When I want your advice I'll ask for it," said Bud. - -While Tullydub stood beside the throne, looking somewhat sulky and -disagreeable, the door opened and Aunt Rivette entered the -reception-room. She was clothed in a handsome gown of bright-green -velvet, trimmed with red and yellow flowers, and the wings stuck out -from the folds at her back in a way that was truly wonderful. - -Aunt Rivette seemed in an amiable mood. She smiled and curtsied to all -the people, who stopped dancing to stare at her, and she even fluttered -her wings once or twice to show that she was proud of being unlike all -the others present. - -[Illustration: "ONE SCREAMED 'MURDER!' AND THE OTHER 'HELP!'"] - -Bud had to laugh at her, she looked so funny; and then a mischievous -thought came to him, and he commanded old Tullydub to dance with her. - -"But I don't dance, your Majesty!" exclaimed the horrified chief -counselor. - -"Try it; I'm sure you can dance," returned Bud. "If you don't know how, -it's time you learned." - -So the poor man was forced to place his arm about Aunt Rivette's waist -and to whirl her around in a waltz. The old woman knew as little about -dancing as did Tullydub, and they were exceedingly awkward, bumping into -every one they came near. Presently Aunt Rivette's feet slipped, and she -would have tumbled upon the floor with the chief counselor had she not -begun to flutter her wings wildly. - -So, instead of falling, she rose gradually into the air, carrying -Tullydub with her; for they clung to each other in terror, and one -screamed "Murder!" and the other "Help!" in their loudest voices. - -Bud laughed until the tears stood in his eyes; but Aunt Rivette, after -bumping both her own head and that of the chief counselor against the -ceiling several times, finally managed to control the action of her -wings and to descend to the floor again. - -As soon as he was released, old Tullydub fled from the room; and Aunt -Rivette, vowing she would dance no more, seated herself beside Bud and -watched the revel until nearly midnight, when the couriers and their -ladies dispersed to their own homes declaring that they had never -enjoyed a more delightful evening. - -[Illustration: "JIKKI HAD TO DESCEND THE STAIRS CAUTIOUSLY."] - - - - - Chapter IX. - JIKKI HAS A WISH GRANTED. - - -Next morning Aunt Rivette summoned Jikki to her room, and said: - -"Take these shoes and clean and polish them; and carry down this tray of -breakfast dishes; and send this hat to the milliner to have the feathers -curled; and return this cloak to the Princess Fluff, with my -compliments, and say I'm much obliged for the loan of it." - -Poor Jikki hardly knew how to manage so many orders. He took the shoes -in his left hand, and the tray of dishes he balanced upon the other -upraised palm. But the hat and cloak were too many for him. So Aunt -Rivette, calling him "a stupid idiot,"--probably because he had no more -hands,--set the plumed hat upon Jikki's head and spread the cloak over -his shoulders, and ordered him to make haste away. - -Jikki was glad enough to go, for the fluttering of Aunt Rivette's wings -made him nervous; but he had to descend the stairs cautiously, for the -hat was tipped nearly over his eyes, and if he stumbled he would be sure -to spill the tray of dishes. - -He reached the first landing of the broad stairs in safety, but at the -second landing the hat joggled forward so that he could see nothing at -all, and one of the shoes dropped from his hand. - -"Dear me!" sighed the old man; "I wonder what I shall do now? If I pick -up the shoe I shall drop the dishes; and I can't set down this tray -because I'm blinded by this terrible hat! Dear--dear! If I'm to be at -the beck and call of that old woman, and serve the new king at the same -time, I shall have my hands full. My hands, in fact, are full now. I -really wish I had half a dozen servants to wait on _me_!" - -Jikki knew nothing at all about the magic power of the cloak that fell -from his shoulders; so his astonishment was profound when some one -seized the shoe from his left hand and some one else removed the tray -from his right hand, and still another person snatched the plumed hat -from his head. - -But then he saw, bowing and smirking before him, six young men, who -looked as much alike as peas in the same pod, and all of whom wore very -neat and handsome liveries of wine-color, with silver buttons on their -coats. - -Jikki blinked and stared at these people, and rubbed his eyes to make -sure he was awake. - -"Who are you?" he managed to ask. - -"We are your half a dozen servants, sir," answered the young men, -speaking all together and bowing again. - -Jikki gasped and raised his hands with sudden amazement as he gazed in -wonder upon the row of six smart servants. - -"But--what--are you doing here?" he stammered. - -"We are here to wait upon you, sir, as is our duty," they answered -respectfully. - -Jikki rubbed his left ear, as was his custom when perplexed; and then he -thought it all over. And the more he thought the more perplexed he -became. - -"I don't understand!" he finally said, in a weak voice. - -[Illustration: "'YOU WISHED FOR US, AND HERE WE ARE,' DECLARED THE -SIX."] - -"You wished for us, and here we are," declared the six, once more bowing -low before him. - -"I know," said Jikki. "But I've often wished for many other things--and -never got a single one of the wishes before!" - -The young men did not attempt to explain this curious fact. They stood -in a straight row before their master, as if awaiting his orders. One -held the shoe Jikki had dropped, another its mate, still another the -plumed hat, and a fourth the tray of dishes. - -"You see," remarked Jikki, shaking his head sadly at the six, "I'm only -a servant myself." - -"You are our master, sir!" announced the young men, their voices blended -into one. - -"I wish," said Jikki, solemnly, "you were all back where you came from!" -And then he paused to see if his wish also would be fulfilled. But no; -the magic cloak conferred the fulfilment of but one wish upon its -wearer, and the half a dozen servants remained standing rigidly before -him. - -Jikki arose with a sigh. - -"Come downstairs to my private room," he said, "and we'll talk the -matter over." - -So they descended the grand stairway to the main hall of the grand -palace, Jikki going first and his servants following at a respectful -distance. Just off the hall Jikki had a pleasant room where he could sit -when not employed, and into this he led the six. - -After all, he considered, it would not be a bad thing to have half a -dozen servants; they would save his old legs from many a tiresome -errand. But just as they reached the hall a new thought struck him and -he turned suddenly upon his followers: - -"See here!" he exclaimed. "How much wages do you fellows expect?" - -"We expect no wages at all, sir," they answered. - -"What! nothing at all!" Jikki was so startled that he scarcely had -strength remaining to stagger into his private room and sink into a -chair. - -"No wages! Six servants, and no wages to pay!" he muttered. "Why, it's -wonderful--marvelous--astounding!" - -Then he thought to himself: "I'll try 'em, and see if they'll really -work." And aloud he asked: - -"How can I tell you apart--one from another?" - -Each servant raised his right arm and pointed to a silver badge upon his -left breast; and then Jikki discovered that they were all numbered, from -"one" up to "six." - -"Ah! very good!" said Jikki. "Now, number six, take this shoe into the -boot-room, and clean and polish it." - -Number six bowed and glided from the room as swiftly and silently as if -he were obeying a command of the King of Noland. - -"Number five," continued Jikki, "take this tray to the kitchen." Number -five obeyed instantly, and Jikki chuckled with delight. - -"Number two, take this to the milliner in Royal Street, and have the -feathers curled." - -Number two bowed and departed almost before the words had left Jikki's -mouth; and then the king's valet regarded the remaining three in some -perplexity. - -"Half a dozen servants is almost too many," he thought. "It will keep me -busy to keep them busy. I should have wished for only one--or two at the -most." - -Just then he remembered something. - -"Number four," said he, "go after number two and tell the milliner that -the hat belongs to Madam Rivette, the king's aunt." - -And a few moments later, when the remaining two servants, standing -upright before him, had begun to make him nervous, Jikki cried out: - -"Number three, take this other shoe down to the boot-room and tell -number six to clean and polish it also." - -This left but one of the six unoccupied, and Jikki was wondering what to -do with him when a bell rang. - -"That's the king's bell," said Jikki. - -"I am not the king's servant; I am here only to wait upon you," said -number one, without moving to answer the bell. - -"Then I must go myself," sighed the valet, and rushed away to obey the -king's summons. - -Scarcely had he disappeared when Tollydob, the lord high general, -entered the room and said in a gruff voice: - -"Where is Jikki? Where's that rascal Jikki?" - -Number one, standing stiffly at one end of the room, made no reply. - -"Answer me, you scoundrel!" roared the old general. "Where's Jikki?" - -Still number one stood silent, and this so enraged old Tollydob that he -raised his cane and aimed a furious blow at the young man. The cane -seemed to pass directly through the fellow, and it struck the wall -behind so forcibly that it split into two parts. - -This amazed Tollydob. He stared a moment at the silent servant, and then -turned his back upon him and sat down in Jikki's chair. Here his eyes -fell upon the magic cloak, which the king's valet had thrown down. - -Tollydob, attracted by the gorgeous coloring and soft texture of the -garment, picked up the cloak and threw it over his shoulders; and then -he walked to a mirror and began admiring his reflection. - -While thus engaged, Jikki returned, and the valet was so startled at -seeing the lord high general that he never noticed the cloak at all. - -"His Majesty has asked to see your Highness," said Jikki; "and I was -about to go in search of you." - -"I'll go to the king at once," answered Tollydob, and as he walked away -Jikki suddenly noticed that he was wearing the cloak. "Oho!" thought the -valet, "he has gone off with the Princess Fluff's pretty cloak; but when -he returns from the king's chamber I'll get it again and send number one -to carry it to its rightful owner." - - - - - Chapter X. - THE COUNSELORS WEAR THE MAGIC CLOAK. - - -When Tollydob, still wearing the magic cloak, had bowed before the king, -Bud asked: - -"How many men are there in the royal army, general?" - -"Seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, may it please your -gracious Majesty," returned Tollydob--"that is, without counting -myself." - -"And do they obey your orders promptly?" inquired Bud, who felt a little -doubt on this point. - -"Yes, indeed!" answered the general, proudly. "They are terribly afraid -of my anger." - -"And yet you're a very small man to command so large an army," said the -king. - -The lord high general flushed with shame; for, although he was both old -and fat, he was so short of stature that he stood but a trifle taller -than Bud himself. And, like all short men, he was very sensitive about -his height. - -"I'm a terrible fighter, your Majesty," declared Tollydob, earnestly; -"and when I'm on horseback my small size is little noticed. -Nevertheless," he added, with a sigh, "it is a good thing to be tall. I -wish I were ten feet high." - -No sooner were the words spoken than Bud gave a cry of astonishment; for -the general's head shot suddenly upward until his gorgeous hat struck -the ceiling and was jammed down tightly over the startled man's eyes and -nose. - -The room was just ten feet high, and Tollydob was now ten feet tall; but -for a time the old general could not think what had happened to him, and -Bud, observing for the first time that Tollydob wore the magic cloak, -began to shriek with laughter at the comical result of the old man's -wish. - -Hearing the king laugh, the general tore the hat from his head and -looked at himself in mingled terror and admiration. - -From being a very small man he had suddenly become a giant, and the -change was so great that Tollydob might well be amazed. - -[Illustration: "'I WISH I WERE TEN FEET HIGH.'"] - -"What has happened, your Majesty?" he asked in a trembling voice. - -"Why, don't you see, you were wearing my sister's magic cloak," said -Bud, still laughing at the big man's woeful face; "and it grants to -every wearer the fulfillment of one wish." - -"Only one?" inquired poor Tollydob. "I'd like to be a little smaller, I -confess." - -"It can't be helped now," said Bud. "You wished to be ten feet tall, and -there you are! And there you'll have to stay, Tollydob, whether you like -it or not. But I'm very proud of you. You must be the greatest general -in all the world, you know!" - -Tollydob brightened up at this, and tried to sit down in a chair: but it -crushed to pieces under his weight; so he sighed and remained standing. -Then he threw the magic cloak upon the floor, with a little shudder at -its fairy powers, and said: - -"If I'd only known, I might have become just six feet tall instead of -ten!" - -"Never mind," said Bud, consolingly. "If we ever have a war, you will -strike terror into the ranks of the enemy, and every one in Noland will -admire you immensely. Hereafter you will be not only the lord high -general, but the lord _very_ high general." - -So Tollydob went away to show himself to the chief counselor; and he had -to stoop very low to pass through the doorway. - -When Jikki saw the gigantic man coming out of the king's chamber, he -gave a scream and fled in terror; and, strange to say, this effect was -very agreeable to the lord high general, who loved to make people fear -him. - -Bud ran to tell Fluff of the curious thing that had happened to his -general; and so it was that when the lord high executioner entered the -palace there was no one around to receive him. He made his way into the -king's chamber, and there he found the magic cloak lying upon the floor. - -"I've seen the Princess Fluff wearing this," thought the lord high -executioner; "so it must belong to her. I'll take it to her rooms, for -it is far too pretty to be lying around in this careless way, and Jikki -ought to be scolded for allowing it." - -So Tellydeb picked up the cloak and laid it over his arm; then he -admired the bright hues that ran through the fabric, and presently his -curiosity got the better of him; he decided to try it on and see how he -would look in it. - -While thus employed the sound of a girl's sweet laughter fell upon -Tellydeb's ears, seeming to come from a far distance. - -"The princess must be in the royal gardens," he said to himself. "I'll -go there and find her." - -So the lord high executioner walked through the great hall, still -wearing the cloak, and finally came to the back of the palace and passed -a doorway leading into the gardens. All was quiet here, save for the -song of the birds as they fluttered among the trees; but at the other -end of the garden Tellydeb caught a glimpse of a white gown, which he -suspected might be that of the little princess. - -He walked along the paths slowly, enjoying the scent of the flowers and -the peacefulness of the scene; for the lord high executioner was a -gentle-natured man and delighted in beautiful sights. - -After a time he reached a fruit-orchard, and saw hanging far up in a big -tree a fine red apple. Tellydeb paused and looked at this longingly. - -"I wish I could reach that apple!" he said, with a sigh, as he extended -his arm upward. - -Instantly the arm stretched toward the apple, which was at least forty -feet away from the lord high executioner; and while the astonished man -eyed his elongated arm in surprise, the hand clutched the apple, plucked -it, and drew it back to him; and there he stood--the apple in his hand, -and his arm apparently the same as it had been before he accomplished -the wonderful feat. - -[Illustration: "'I WISH I COULD REACH THAT APPLE!' HE SAID, WITH A SIGH, -AS HE EXTENDED HIS ARM UPWARD."] - -For a moment the counselor was overcome with fear. The cloak dropped -unnoticed from his shoulders and fell upon the graveled walk, while -Tellydeb sank upon a bench and shivered. - -"It--it was like magic!" he murmured. "I but reached out my hand--so--it -went nearly to the top of the tree, and--" - -Here he gave a cry of wonder, for again his arm stretched the distance -and touched the topmost branches of the tree. He drew it back hastily, -and turned to see if any one had observed him. But this part of the -garden was deserted, so the old man eagerly tested his new -accomplishment. - -He plucked a rose from a bush a dozen yards to the right, and having -smelled its odor he placed it in a vase that stood twenty feet to his -left. Then he noted a fountain far across a hedge, and reaching the -distance easily, dipped his hand in the splashing water. It was all very -amazing, this sudden power to reach a great distance, and the lord high -executioner was so pleased with the faculty that when he discovered old -Jikki standing in the palace doorway, he laughingly fetched him a box on -the ear that sent the valet scampering away to his room in amazed -terror. - -Said Tellydeb to himself: "Now I'll go home and show my wife what a -surprising gift I have acquired." - -So he left the garden; and not long afterward old Tallydab, the lord -high steward, came walking down the path, followed by his little dog -Ruffles. I am not certain whether it was because his coat was so shaggy -or his temper so uncertain that Tallydab's dog was named Ruffles; but -the name fitted well both the looks and the disposition of the tiny -animal. Nevertheless, the lord high steward was very fond of his dog, -which followed him everywhere except to the king's council-chamber; and -often the old man would tell Ruffles his troubles and worries, and talk -to the dog just as one would to a person. - -To-day, as they came slowly down the garden-walk, Tallydab noticed a -splendid cloak lying upon the path. - -"How very beautiful!" he exclaimed, as he stooped to pick it up. "I have -never seen anything like this since the Princess Fluff first rode into -Nole beside her brother the king. Isn't it a lovely cloak, Ruffles?" - -The dog gave a subdued yelp and wagged his stubby tail. - -"How do I look in it, Ruffles?" continued the lord high steward, -wrapping the folds of the magic cloak about him; "how do I look in such -gorgeous apparel?" - -The dog stopped wagging its tail and looked up at its master earnestly. - -"How do I look?" again said Tallydab. "I declare, I wish you could -talk!" - -"You look perfectly ridiculous," replied the dog, in a rather harsh -voice. - -The lord high steward jumped nearly three feet in the air, so startled -was he by Ruffles's reply. Then he bent down, a hand on each knee, and -regarded the dog curiously. - -"I thought, at first, you had spoken!" said he. - -"What caused you to change your mind?" asked Ruffles, peevishly. "I -_did_ speak--I _am_ speaking. Can't you believe it?" - -The lord high steward drew a deep sigh of conviction. - -[Illustration: "'YOU LOOK PERFECTLY RIDICULOUS!' REPLIED THE DOG."] - -"I believe it!" he made answer. "I have always declared you were a -wonderful dog, and now you prove I am right. Why, you are the only dog I -ever heard of who could talk!" - -"Except in fairy tales," said Ruffles, calmly. "Don't forget the fairy -tales." - -"I don't forget," replied Tallydab. "But this isn't a fairy tale, -Ruffles. It's real life in the kingdom of Noland." - -"To be sure," answered Ruffles. "But see here, my dear master: now that -I am, at last, able to talk, please allow me to ask you for something -decent to eat. I'd like a good meal for once, just to see what it is -like." - -"A good meal!" exclaimed the steward. "Why, my friend, don't I give you -a big bone every day?" - -"You do," said the dog; "and I nearly break my teeth on it, trying to -crack it to get a little marrow. Whatever induces people to give their -dogs bones instead of meat?" - -"Why, I thought you liked bones!" protested Tallydab, sitting on the -bench and looking at his dog in astonishment. - -"Well, I don't. I prefer something to eat--something good and wholesome, -such as you eat yourself," growled Ruffles. - -The lord high steward gave a laugh. - -[Illustration: "'WHY, I THOUGHT YOU LIKED BONES!' PROTESTED TALLYDAB, -SITTING ON THE BENCH AND LOOKING AT HIS DOG IN ASTONISHMENT."] - -"Why," said he, "don't you remember that old Mother Hubbard?" - -"Ah! that _was_ a fairy tale," interrupted Ruffles, impatiently. "And -there wasn't even a bone in her cupboard, after all. Don't mention -Mother Hubbard to me, if you want to retain my friendship." - -"And that reminds me," resumed the steward with a scowl, "that a few -minutes ago you said I looked ridiculous in this lovely cloak." - -"You do!" said Ruffles, with a sniff. "It is a girl's cloak, and not fit -for a wrinkled old man like you." - -"I believe you are right," answered Tallydab, with a sigh; and he -removed the cloak from his shoulders and hung it over the back of the -garden seat. "In regard to the meat that you so long for," he added, "if -you will follow me to the royal kitchen I will see that you have all you -desire." - -"Spoken like a good friend!" exclaimed the dog. "Let us go at once." - -So they passed down the garden to the kitchen door, and the magic cloak, -which had wrought such wonderful things that day, still remained -neglectfully cast aside. - -It was growing dusk when old Tillydib, the lord high purse-bearer, stole -into the garden and sat upon the bench to smoke his pipe in peace. All -the afternoon he had been worried by people with bills for this thing or -that, and the royal purse was very light indeed when Tillydib had at -last managed to escape to the garden. - -"If this keeps up," he reflected, "there will be no money left; and then -I'm sure I don't know what will become of us all!" - -The air was chilly. The old counselor shivered a little, and noting the -cloak that lay over the back of the seat, drew it about his shoulders. - -"It will be five months," he muttered half aloud, "before we can tax the -people for more money; and before five months are up the king and his -counselors may all starve to death--even in this splendid palace! -Heigh-ho! I wish the royal purse would always remain full, no matter how -much money I drew from it!" - -The big purse, which had lain lightly on his knee, now slid off and -pulled heavily upon the golden chain which the old man wore around his -neck to fasten the purse to him securely. - -Aroused from his anxious thoughts, Tillydib lifted the purse to his lap -again, and was astonished to feel its weight. He opened the clasp and -saw that the huge sack was actually running over with gold pieces. - -[Illustration: "'I WISH THE ROYAL PURSE WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN FULL, NO -MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY I DREW FROM IT!'"] - -"Now, where on earth did all this wealth come from?" he exclaimed, -shaking his head in a puzzled way. "I'll go at once and pay some of the -creditors who are waiting for me." - -So he ran to the royal treasury, which was a front room in the palace, -and began paying every one who presented an account. He expected -presently to empty the purse; but no matter how heavily he drew upon the -contents, it remained ever as full as in the beginning. - -"It must be," thought the old man, when the last bill had been paid, -"that my idle wish has in some mysterious way been granted." - -But he did not know he owed his good fortune to the magic cloak, which -he still wore. - -As he was leaving the room, he met the king and Princess Fluff, who were -just come from dinner; and the girl exclaimed: - -"Why, there is my cloak! Where did you get it, Tillydib?" - -"I found it in the garden," answered the lord high purse-bearer; "but -take it, if it is yours. And here is something to repay you for the loan -of it;" and he poured into her hands a heap of glittering gold. - -"Oh, thank you!" cried Fluff; and taking the precious cloak she dropped -the gold into it and carried it to her room. - -"I'll never lend it again unless it is really necessary," she said to -herself. "It was very careless of Aunt Rivette to leave my fairy cloak -in the garden." - -And then after carefully folding it and wrapping it up she locked it in -a drawer, and hid the key where no one but herself could find it. - -[Illustration: "THIS WAS THE MOMENT QUAVO HAD EAGERLY AWAITED."] - - - - - Chapter XI. - THE WITCH-QUEEN. - - -It is not very far from the kingdom of Noland to the kingdom of Ix. If -you followed the steps of Quavo the minstrel, you would climb the sides -of a steep mountain-range, and go down on the other side, and cross a -broad and swift river, and pick your way through a dark forest. You -would then have reached the land of Ix and would find an easy path into -the big city. - -But even before one came to the city he would see the high marble towers -of Queen Zixi's magnificent palace, and pause to wonder at its beauty. - -Quavo the minstrel had been playing his harp in the city of Nole, and -his eyes were sharp; so he had seen many things to gossip and sing -about, and therefore never doubted he would be warmly welcomed by Queen -Zixi. - -He reached the marble palace about dusk, one evening, and was bidden to -the feast which was about to be served. - -A long table ran down the length of the lofty hall built in the center -of the palace; and this table was covered with gold and silver platters -bearing many kinds of meats and fruits and vegetables, while tall, -ornamented stands contained sweets and delicacies to tickle the palate. - -At the head of the table, on a jeweled throne, sat Queen Zixi herself, a -vision of radiant beauty and charming grace. - -Her hair was yellow as spun gold, and her wondrous eyes raven black in -hue. Her skin was fair as a lily, save where her cheek was faintly -tinted with a flush of rose-color. - -Dainty and lovely, indeed, was the Queen of Ix in appearance; yet none -of her lords or attendants cast more than a passing glance upon her -beauty. For they were used to seeing her thus. - -There were graybeards at her table this evening who could remember the -queen's rare beauty since they were boys; ay, and who had been told by -their fathers and grandfathers of Queen Zixi's loveliness when they also -were mere children. In fact, no one in Ix had ever heard of the time -when the land was not ruled by this same queen, or when she was not in -appearance as young and fair as she was to-day. Which easily proves she -was not an ordinary person at all. - -And I may as well tell you here that Queen Zixi, despite the fact that -she looked to be no more than sixteen, was in reality six hundred and -eighty-three years of age, and had prolonged her life in this -extraordinary way by means of the arts of witchcraft. - -I do not mean by this that she was an evil person. She had always ruled -her kingdom wisely and liberally, and the people of Ix made no manner of -complaint against their queen. If there were a war, she led her armies -in person, clad in golden mail and helmet; and in years of peace she -taught them to sow and reap grain, and to fashion many useful articles -of metal, and to build strong and substantial houses. Nor were her taxes -ever more than the people could bear. - -Yet, for all this, Zixi was more feared than loved; for every one -remembered she was a witch, and also knew she was hundreds of years old. -So, no matter how amiable their queen might be, she was always treated -with extreme respect, and folks weighed well their words when they -conversed with her. - -[Illustration: "'STOP!' CRIED THE QUEEN, WITH SUDDEN EXCITEMENT."] - -Next the queen, on both sides of the table, sat her most favored nobles -and their ladies; farther down were the rich merchants and officers of -the army; and at the lower end were servants and members of the -household. For this was the custom in the land of Ix. - -Quavo the harpist sat near the lower end; and, when all had been -comfortably fed, the queen called upon him for a song. This was the -moment Quavo had eagerly awaited. He took his harp, seated himself in a -niche of the wall, and, according to the manner of ancient minstrels, he -sang of the things he had seen in other lands, thus serving his hearers -with the news of the day as well as pleasing them with his music. This -is the way he began: - - "Of Noland now a tale I'll sing, - Where reigns a strangely youthful king-- - A boy, who has by chance alone - Been called to sit upon a throne. - His sister shares his luck, and she - The fairies' friend is said to be; - For they did mystic arts invoke - And weave for her a magic cloak - Which grants its wearer--thus I'm told-- - Gifts more precious far than gold. - - "She's but to wish, and her desire - Quite instantly she will acquire; - And when she lends it to her friends, - The favor unto them extends. - - "For one who wears the cloak can fly - Like any eagle in the sky. - And one did wish, by sudden freak, - His dog be granted power to speak; - And now the beast can talk as well - As I, and also read and spell. - And--" - -"Stop!" cried the queen, with sudden excitement. "Do you lie, minstrel, -or are you speaking the truth?" - -Secretly glad that his news was received thus eagerly, Quavo continued -to twang the harp as he replied in verse: - - "Now may I die at break of day, - If false is any word I say." - -"And what is this cloak like--and who owns it?" demanded the queen, -impetuously. - -Sang the minstrel: - - "The cloak belongs to Princess Fluff; - 'Tis woven of some secret stuff - Which makes it gleam with splendor bright - That fills beholders with delight." - -Thereafter the beautiful Zixi remained lost in thought, her dainty chin -resting within the hollow of her hand and her eyes dreamily fixed upon -the minstrel. - -[Illustration: "SHE MADE A SOLEMN VOW THAT SHE WOULD SECURE THE MAGIC -CLOAK WITHIN A YEAR."] - -And Quavo, judging that his news had brought him into rare favor, told -more and more wonderful tales of the magic cloak, some of which were -true, while others were mere inventions of his own; for newsmongers, as -every one knows, were ever unable to stick to facts since the world -began. - -All the courtiers and officers and servants listened with wide eyes and -parted lips to the song, marveling greatly at what they had heard. And -when it was finally ended, and the evening far spent, Queen Zixi threw a -golden chain to the minstrel as a reward and left the hall, attended by -her maidens. - -Throughout the night which followed, she tossed sleeplessly upon her -bed, thinking of the magic cloak and longing to possess it. And when the -morning sun rose over the horizon, she made a solemn vow that she would -secure the magic cloak within a year, even if it cost her the half of -her kingdom. - -Now the reason for this rash vow, showing Zixi's intense desire to -possess the cloak, was very peculiar. Although she had been an adept at -witchcraft for more than six hundred years, and was able to retain her -health and remain in appearance young and beautiful, there was one thing -her art was unable to deceive, and that one thing was a mirror. - -[Illustration: "QUEEN ZIXI LEFT THE HALL ATTENDED BY HER MAIDENS."] - -To mortal eyes Zixi was charming and attractive; yet her reflection in a -mirror showed to her an ugly old hag, bald of head, wrinkled, with -toothless gums and withered, sunken cheeks. - -For this reason the queen had no mirror of any sort about the palace. -Even from her own dressing-room the mirror had been banished, and she -depended upon her maids and hair-dressers to make her look as lovely as -possible. She knew she was beautiful in appearance to others; her maids -declared it continually, and in all eyes she truly read admiration. - -But Zixi wanted to admire herself; and that was impossible so long as -the cold mirrors showed her reflection to be the old hag others would -also have seen had not her arts of witchcraft deceived them. - -Everything else a woman and a queen might desire Zixi was able to obtain -by her arts. Yet the one thing she could _not_ have made her very -unhappy. - -As I have already said, she was not a bad queen. She used her knowledge -of sorcery to please her own fancy or to benefit her kingdom, but never -to injure any one else. So she may be forgiven for wanting to see a -beautiful girl reflected in a mirror, instead of a haggard old woman in -her six hundred and eighty-fourth year. - -Zixi had given up all hope of ever accomplishing her object until she -heard of the magic cloak. The powers of witches are somewhat limited; -but she knew that the powers of fairies are boundless. So if the magic -cloak could grant any human wish, as Quavo's song had told her was the -case, she would manage to secure it and would at once wish for a -reflection in the mirror of the same features all others beheld--and -then she would become happy and content. - - - - - Chapter XII. - ZIXI DISGUISES HERSELF. - - -Now, as might be expected, Queen Zixi lost no time in endeavoring to -secure the magic cloak. The people of Ix were not on friendly terms with -the people of Noland; so she could not visit Princess Fluff openly; and -she knew it was useless to try to borrow so priceless a treasure as a -cloak which had been the gift of the fairies. But one way remained to -her--to steal the precious robe. - -So she began her preparations by telling her people she would be absent -from Ix for a month, and then she retired to her own room and mixed, by -the rules of witchcraft, a black mess in a silver kettle, and boiled it -until it was as thick as molasses. Of this inky mixture she swallowed -two teaspoonfuls every hour for six hours, muttering an incantation each -time. At the end of the six hours her golden hair had become brown and -her black eyes had become blue; and this was quite sufficient to -disguise the pretty queen so that no one would recognize her. Then she -took off her richly embroidered queenly robes, and hung them up in a -closet, putting on a simple gingham dress, a white apron, and a plain -hat such as common people of her country wore. - -[Illustration: "OF THIS INKY MIXTURE SHE SWALLOWED TWO TEASPOONFULS -EVERY HOUR FOR SIX HOURS."] - -When these preparations had been made, Zixi slipped out the back door of -the palace and walked through the city to the forest; and, although she -met many people, no one suspected that she was the queen. - -It was rough walking in the forest; but she got through at last, and -reached the bank of the river. Here a fisherman was found, who consented -to ferry her across in his boat; and afterward Zixi climbed the high -mountain and came down the other side into the kingdom of Noland. - -She rented a neat little cottage just at the north gateway of the city -of Nole, and by the next morning there was a sign over the doorway which -announced: - - MISS TRUST'S - ACADEMY OF WITCHERY - FOR YOUNG LADIES. - -Then Zixi had printed on green paper a lot of handbills which read as -follows: - - Miss Trust, - - A pupil of the celebrated Professor Hatrack of Hooktown-on-the-Creek, - is now located at Woodbine Villa (North Gateway of Nole), and is - prepared to teach the young ladies of this city the _Arts of - Witchcraft_ according to the most modern and approved methods. Terms - moderate. References required. - -These handbills she hired a little boy to carry to all the aristocratic -houses in Nole, and to leave one on each door-step. Several were left on -the different door-steps of the palace, and one of these came to the -notice of Princess Fluff. - -"How funny!" she exclaimed on reading it. "I'll go, and take all my -eight maids with me. It will be no end of fun to learn to be a witch." - -Many other people in Nole applied for instruction in "Miss Trust's -Academy," but Zixi told them all she had no vacancies. When, however, -Fluff and her maids arrived, she welcomed them with the utmost -cordiality, and consented to give them their first lesson at once. - -When she had seated them in her parlor, Zixi said: - - "If you wish to be a witch, - You must speak an incantation: - You must with deliberation - Say: 'The when of why is which!'" - -"What does that mean?" asked Fluff. - -"No one knows," answered Zixi; "and therefore it is a fine incantation. -Now, all the class will please repeat after me the following words: - - "Erig-a-ma-role, erig-a-ma-ree; - Jig-ger-nut, jog-ger-nit, que-jig-ger-ee. - Sim-mer-kin, sam-mer-kin, sem-mer-ga-roo; - Zil-li-pop, zel-li-pop, lol-li-pop-loo!" - -They tried to do this, but their tongues stumbled constantly over the -syllables, and one of the maids began to laugh. - -"Stop laughing, please!" cried Zixi, rapping her ruler on the table. -"This is no laughing matter, I assure you, young ladies. The science of -witchcraft is a solemn and serious study, and I cannot teach it you -unless you behave." - -"But what's it all about?" asked Fluff. - -"I'll explain what it's about to-morrow," said Zixi, with dignity. "Now, -here are two important incantations which you must learn by heart before -you come to to-morrow's lesson. If you can speak them correctly and -rapidly, and above all very distinctly, I will then allow you to perform -a wonderful witchery." - -She handed them each a slip of paper on which were written the -incantations, as follows: - - Incantation No. 1. - (To be spoken only in the presence of a black cat.) - - This is that, and that is this; - Bliss is blest, and blest is bliss. - Who is that, and what is who; - Shed is shod, and shud is shoe! - - Incantation No. 2. - (To be spoken when the clock strikes twelve.) - - What is which, and which is what; - Pat is pet, and pit is pat; - Hid is hide, and hod is hid; - Did is deed, and done is did! - -"Now, there is one thing more," continued Zixi; "and this is very -important. You must each wear the handsomest and most splendid cloak you -can secure when you come to me to-morrow morning." - -This request made Princess Fluff thoughtful all the way home, for she at -once remembered her magic cloak, and wondered if the strange Miss Trust -knew she possessed it. - -She asked Bud about it that night, and the young king said: - -"I'm afraid this witch-woman is some one trying to get hold of your -magic cloak. I would advise you not to wear it when she is around, or, -more than likely, she may steal it." - -[Illustration: "'NOW, THERE IS ONE THING MORE,' CONTINUED ZIXI, 'AND -THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.'"] - -So Fluff did not wear her magic cloak the next day, but selected in its -place a pretty blue cape edged with gold. When she and her maids reached -the cottage, Zixi cried out angrily: - -"That is not your handsomest cloak. Go home at once and get the other -one!" - -"I won't," said Fluff, shortly. - -"You must! You must!" insisted the witch-woman. "I can teach you nothing -unless you wear the other cloak." - -"How did you know I had another cloak?" asked the princess, -suspiciously. - -"By witchcraft, perhaps," said Zixi, mildly. "If you want to be a witch -you must wear it." - -"I don't want to be a witch," declared Fluff. "Come, girls, come; let's -go home at once." - -"Wait--wait!" implored Zixi, eagerly. "If you'll get the cloak I will -teach you the most wonderful things in the world! I will make you the -most powerful witch that ever lived!" - -"I don't believe you," replied Fluff; and then she marched back to the -palace with all her maids. - -But Zixi knew her plot had failed; so she locked up the cottage and went -back again to Ix, climbing the mountain and crossing the river and -threading the forest with angry thoughts and harsh words. - -[Illustration: "'THAT IS NOT YOUR HANDSOMEST CLOAK. GO HOME AT ONCE AND -GET THE OTHER ONE!'"] - -Yet the queen was more determined than ever to secure the magic cloak. -As soon as she had reëntered her palace and by more incantations had -again transformed her hair to yellow and her eyes to black and dressed -herself in her royal robes, she summoned her generals and counselors and -told them to make ready to war upon the kingdom of Noland. - - - - - Chapter XIII. - TULLYDUB RESCUES THE KINGDOM. - - -All soldiers love to fight; so when the army of Ix learned that they -were to go to war, they rejoiced exceedingly over the news. - -They polished up their swords and battle-axes, and sewed all the missing -buttons on their uniforms, and mended their socks, and had their hair -cut, and were ready to march as soon as the queen was ready to have them -start. - -King Bud of Noland had an army of seven thousand seven hundred and -seventy-seven men, besides a general ten feet high; but the Queen of Ix -had an army more than twice as big, and she decided to lead it in -person, so that when she had conquered the city of Nole she herself -could seize the precious magic cloak which she so greatly coveted. - -[Illustration: "QUEEN ZIXI RODE OUT AT THE HEAD OF HER ARMY, CLAD IN A -SUIT OF MAIL."] - -Therefore Queen Zixi rode out at the head of her army, clad in a suit of -mail, with a glittering helmet upon her head that was surmounted by a -flowing white plume. And all the soldiers cheered their queen and had no -doubt at all that she would win a glorious victory. - -Quavo the minstrel, who wandered constantly about, was on his way to -Noland again; and while Queen Zixi's army was cutting a path through the -forest and making a bridge to cross the river, he came speedily by a -little-known path to the city of Nole, where he told Tullydub, the lord -high counselor, what was threatening his king. - -So, trembling with terror, Tullydub hastened to the palace and called a -meeting of the five high counselors in the king's antechamber. - -When all were assembled, together with Bud and Fluff, the old man told -his news and cried: - -"We shall all be slaughtered and our kingdom sacked and destroyed, for -the army of Ix is twice as big as our own--yes, twice as big!" - -"Oh, pooh! What of that?" said Tollydob, scornfully; "have they a -general as tall as I am?" - -"Certainly not," said the chief counselor. "Who ever saw a man as tall -as you are?" - -"Then I'll fight and conquer them!" declared Tollydob, rising and -walking about the room, so that all might see where his head just grazed -the ceiling. - -"But you can't, general; you can't fight an army by yourself!" -remonstrated Tullydub, excitedly. "And being so big, you are a better -mark for their arrows and axes." - -At this the general sat down rather suddenly and grew pale. - -"Perhaps we can buy them off," remarked the lord high purse-bearer, -jingling the purse that now never became empty. - -"No, I'm afraid not," sighed Tullydub. "Quavo the minstrel said they -were bent upon conquest, and were resolved upon a battle." - -"And their queen is a witch," added Tallydab, nervously. "We must not -forget that." - -"A witch!" exclaimed Princess Fluff, with sudden interest. "What does -she look like?" - -But all shook their heads at the question, and Tullydub explained: - -"None of us has ever seen her, for we have never been friendly with the -people of Ix. But from all reports, Queen Zixi is both young and -beautiful." - -[Illustration: "THE GENERAL SAT DOWN SUDDENLY AND GREW PALE."] - -"Maybe it's the one who wanted to teach me witchcraft in order to steal -my magic cloak!" said Fluff, with sudden excitement. "And when she found -she couldn't steal it, she went back after her army." - -"What magic cloak do you refer to?" asked Tullydub. - -"Why, the one the fairies gave me," replied Fluff. - -"Is it of gorgeous colors with golden threads running through it?" asked -the lord high general, now thoroughly interested. - -"Yes," said the princess, "the very same." - -"And what peculiar powers does it possess?" - -"Why, it grants its wearer the fulfillment of one wish," she answered. - -All the high counselors regarded her earnestly. - -"Then that was the cloak I wore when I wished to be ten feet high!" said -Tollydob. - -"And I wore it when I wished I could reach the apple," said Tellydeb. - -"And I wore it when I wished that my dog Ruffles could speak," said -Tallydab. - -"And I wore it when I wished the royal purse would always remain full," -said Tillydib. - -"I did not know that," remarked Fluff, thoughtfully. "But I'll never -forget that I lent it to Aunt Rivette, and that was the time she wished -she could fly!" - -"Why, it's wonderful!" cried old Tullydub. "Has it granted you, also, a -wish?" - -"Yes," said Fluff, brightly. "And I've been happy ever since." - -"And has your brother, the king, had a wish?" Tullydub inquired eagerly. - -"No," said Bud. "I can still have mine." - -"Then why doesn't your Majesty wear the cloak and wish that your army -shall conquer the Queen of Ix's?" asked the lord high counselor. - -"I'm saving my wish," answered Bud, "and it won't be that, either." - -"But unless something is done we shall all be destroyed," protested -Tullydub. - -"Then wear the cloak yourself," said Bud. "You haven't had a wish yet." - -"Good!" cried the four other counselors; and the lord high general -added: "That will surely save us from any further worry." - -"I'll fetch the cloak at once," said Fluff, and she ran quickly from the -room to get it. - -"Supposing," Tullydub remarked hesitatingly, "the magic power shouldn't -work?" - -"Oh, but it will!" answered the general. - -"I'm sure it will," said the steward. - -"I know it will," declared the purse-bearer. - -"It cannot fail," affirmed the executioner; "remember what it has -already done for us!" - -Then Fluff arrived with the cloak; and, after considering carefully how -he would speak his wish, the lord high counselor drew the cloak over his -shoulders and said solemnly: - -"I wish that we shall be able to defeat our enemies, and drive them all -from the kingdom of Noland." - -[Illustration: "THE LORD HIGH COUNSELOR DREW THE CLOAK OVER HIS -SHOULDERS."] - -"Didn't you make two wishes instead of one?" asked the princess, -anxiously. - -"Never mind," said the general; "if we defeat them it will be easy -enough to drive them from our kingdom." - -The lord high counselor removed the cloak and carefully refolded it. - -"If it grants my wish," said he, thoughtfully, "it will indeed be lucky -for our country that the Princess Fluff came to live in the palace of -the king." - - -The queen formed her men into a line of battle facing the army of Nole, -and they were so numerous in comparison with their enemies that even the -more timorous soldiers gained confidence, and stood up straight and -threw out their chests as if to show how brave they were. - -Then Queen Zixi, clad in her flashing mail and mounted upon her -magnificent white charger, rode slowly along the ranks, her white plume -nodding gracefully with the motion of the horse. - -And when she reached the center of the line she halted, and addressed -her army in a voice that sounded clear as the tones of a bell and -reached to every listening ear. - -"Soldiers of the land of Ix," she began, "we are about to engage in a -great battle for conquest and glory. Before you lies the rich city of -Nole, and when you have defeated yonder army and gained the gates you -may divide among yourselves all the plunder of gold and silver and -jewels and precious stones that the place contains." - -Hearing this, a great shout of joy arose from the soldiers, which Zixi -quickly silenced with a wave of her white hand. - -"For myself," she continued, "I desire nothing more than a cloak that is -owned by the Princess Fluff. All else shall be given to my brave army." - -"But--supposed we do not win the battle?" asked one of her generals, -anxiously. "What then do we gain?" - -"Nothing but disgrace," answered the queen, haughtily. "But how can we -fail to win when I myself lead the assault? Queen Zixi of Ix has fought -a hundred battles and never yet met with defeat!" - -There was more cheering at this, for Zixi's words were quite true. -Nevertheless, her soldiers did not like the look of that silent army of -Nole standing so steadfastly before the gates and facing the invaders -with calm determination. - -Zixi herself was somewhat disturbed at this sight, for she could not -guess what powers the magic cloak had given to the Nolanders. But in a -loud and undaunted voice she shouted the command to advance; and while -trumpets blared and drums rolled, the great army of Ix awoke to action -and marched steadily upon the men of Nole. - -Bud, who could not bear to remain shut up in his palace while all this -excitement was occurring outside the city gates, had slipped away from -Fluff and joined his gigantic general, Tollydob. He was, of course, -unused to war, and when he beheld the vast array of Zixi's army he grew -fearful that the magic cloak might not be able to save his city from -conquest. - -Yet the five high counselors, who were all present, seemed not to worry -the least bit. - -"They're very pretty soldiers to look at," remarked old Tollydob, -complacently. "I'm really sorry to defeat them, they march so -beautifully." - -"But do not let your kind-hearted admiration for the enemy interfere -with our plans," said the lord high executioner, who was standing by -with his hands in his pockets. - -"Oh, I won't!" answered the big general, with a laugh which was -succeeded by a frown. "Yet I can never resist admiring a fine soldier, -whether he fights for or against me. For instance, just look at that -handsome officer riding beside Queen Zixi--her chief general, I think. -Isn't he sweet? He looks just like an apple, he is so round and wears -such a tight-fitting red jacket. Can't you pick him for me, friend -Tellydeb?" - -[Illustration: "THE LORD HIGH EXECUTIONER SUDDENLY STRETCHED OUT HIS -LONG ARM, AND REACHED THE FAR-AWAY GENERAL OF IX, AND PULLED HIM FROM -HIS HORSE."] - -"I'll try." And the lord high executioner suddenly stretched out his -long arm, and reached the far-away general of Ix, and pulled him from -the back of his horse. - -Then, amid the terrified cries that came from the opposing army, -Tellydeb dragged his victim swiftly over the ground until he was seized -by the men of Nole and firmly bound with cords. - -"Thank you, my friend," said the general, again laughing and then -frowning. "Now get for me that pretty queen, if you please." - -Once more the long arm of the lord high executioner shot out toward the -army of Ix. But Zixi's keen eyes saw it coming, and instantly she -disappeared, her magical arts giving her power to become invisible. - -Tellydeb, puzzled to find the queen gone, seized another officer instead -of her and dragged him quickly over the intervening space to his own -side, where he was bound by the Nolanders and placed beside his -fellow-captive. - -Another cry of horror came from the army of Ix, and with one accord the -soldiers stopped short in their advance. Queen Zixi, appearing again in -their midst, called upon her wavering soldiers to charge quickly upon -the foe. - -But the men, bewildered and terrified, were deaf to her appeals. They -fled swiftly back, over the brow of the hill, and concealed themselves -in the wooded valley until the sun set. And it was far into the night -before Queen Zixi succeeded in restoring her line of battle. - - - - - Chapter XIV. - THE ROUT OF THE ARMY OF IX. - - -The next day was a busy one in the city of Nole. The ten-foot lord high -general marched his seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven men -out of the city gates and formed them in line of battle on the brow of a -hill. Then he asked Aunt Rivette to fly over the top of the mountain and -see where the enemy was located. - -The old woman gladly undertook the mission. She had by this time become -an expert flier, and, being proud to resemble a bird, she dressed -herself in flowing robes of as many colors as a poll-parrot could boast. -When she mounted into the air, streamers of green and yellow silk -floated behind her in quite a beautiful and interesting fashion, and she -was admired by all beholders. - -Aunt Rivette flew high above the mountain-top, and there she saw the -great army of Queen Zixi climbing up the slope on the other side. The -army also saw her, and stopped short in amazement at seeing a woman fly -like a bird. They had before this thought their queen sure of victory, -because she was a witch and possessed many wonderful arts; but now they -saw that the people of Noland could also do wonderful things, and it -speedily disheartened them. - -Zixi ordered them to shoot a thousand arrows at Aunt Rivette, but -quickly countermanded the order, as the old woman was too high to be -injured, and the arrows would have been wasted. - -When the army of Ix had climbed the mountain and was marching down again -toward Nole, the lord high steward sent his dog Ruffles to them to make -more mischief. Ruffles trotted soberly among the soldiers of Ix, and -once in a while he would pause and say in a loud voice: - -"The army of Noland will conquer you." - -Then all the soldiers would look around to see who had spoken these -fearful words, but could see nothing but a little dog; and Ruffles would -pretend to be scratching his nose with his left hind foot, and would -look so innocent that they never for a moment suspected he could speak. - -[Illustration: "AND RUFFLES WOULD PRETEND TO BE SCRATCHING HIS NOSE WITH -HIS LEFT HIND FOOT."] - -"We are surrounded by invisible foes!" cried the soldiers; and they -would have fled even then had not Queen Zixi called them cowards and -stubbornly declared that they only fancied they had heard the voices -speak. Some of them believed her, and some did not; but they decided to -remain and fight, since they had come so far to do so. - -Then they formed in line of battle again and marched boldly toward the -army of Noland. - -While they were still a good way off, and the generals were riding in -front of their soldiers, the lord high executioner suddenly stretched -out his long arm and pulled another general of Ix from his horse, as he -had done the day before, dragging him swiftly over the ground between -the opposing armies until he was seized by the men of Nole and tightly -bound with cords. - -The soldiers of Ix uttered murmurs of horror at this sight, and stopped -again. - -Immediately the long arm shot out, and pulled another general from their -ranks, and made him prisoner. - -Queen Zixi raved and stormed with anger; but the lord high executioner, -who was enjoying himself immensely, continued to grab officer after -officer and make them prisoners: and so far there had been no sign of -battle; not an arrow had been fired nor an ax swung. - -Then, to complete the amazement of the enemy, the gigantic ten-foot -general of the army of Nole stepped in front of his men and waved around -his head a flashing sword six feet in length, while he shouted in a -voice like a roar of thunder, that made the army of Ix tremble: - -"Forward, soldiers of Noland--forward! Destroy the enemy, and let none -escape!" - -[Illustration: "THE GIGANTIC TEN-FOOT GENERAL OF THE ARMY OF NOLE -STEPPED IN FRONT OF HIS MEN."] - -[Illustration: "BUD WAS SO AMUSED AT THE SIGHT OF THE FLYING FOE THAT HE -ROLLED ON THE GROUND IN LAUGHTER."] - -It was more than the army of Ix could bear. Filled with terror, the -soldiers threw down their arms and fled in a great panic, racing over -the mountain-top and down the other side and then scattering in every -direction, each man for himself and as if he feared the entire army of -Noland was at his heels. - -But it wasn't. Not a soldier of Nole had moved in pursuit. Every one was -delighted at the easy victory, and King Bud was so amused at the sight -of the flying foe that he rolled on the ground in laughter, and even the -fierce-looking General Tollydob grinned in sympathy. - -Then, with bands playing and banners flying, the entire army marched -back into the city, and the war between Noland and Ix was over. - -[Illustration: "'WHY DO YOU WAIL SO LOUDLY?' SHE ASKED."] - - - - - Chapter XV. - THE THEFT OF THE MAGIC CLOAK. - - -When the soldiers of Queen Zixi ran away, they fled in so many different -directions that the bewildered queen could not keep track of them. Her -horse, taking fright, dashed up the mountain-side and tossed Zixi into a -lilac-bush, after which he ran off and left her. - -One would think such a chain of misfortunes could not fail to daunt the -bravest. But Zixi had lived too many years to allow such trifles as -defeat and flight to ruin her nerves; so she calmly disentangled herself -from the lilac-bush and looked around to see where she was. - -It was very quiet and peaceful on this part of the mountain-side. Her -glittering army had disappeared to the last man. - -In the far distance she could see the spires and turreted palaces of the -city of Nole, and behind her was a thick grove of lilac-trees bearing -flowers in full bloom. - -This lilac-grove gave Zixi an idea. She pushed aside some of the -branches and entered the cool, shadowy avenues between the trees. - -The air was heavy with the scent of the violet flowers, and tiny -humming-birds were darting here and there to thrust their long bills -into the blossoms and draw out the honey for food. Butterflies there -were, too, and a few chipmunks perched high among the branches. But Zixi -walked on through the trees in deep thought, and presently she had laid -new plans. - -For since the magic cloak was so hard to get she wanted it more than -ever. - -By and by she gathered some bits of the lilac-bark, and dug some roots -from the ground. Next she caught six spotted butterflies, from the wings -of which she brushed off all the round, purple spots. Then she wandered -on until she came upon a little spring of water bubbling from the -ground, and filling a cup-shaped leaf of the tatti-plant from the -spring, she mixed her bark and roots and butterfly spots in the liquid -and boiled it carefully over a fire of twigs; for tatti-leaves will not -burn so long as there is water inside them. - -When her magical compound was ready, Zixi muttered an incantation and -drank it in a single draught. - -A few moments later the witch-queen had disappeared, and in her place -stood the likeness of a pretty young girl dressed in a simple white gown -with pink ribbons at the shoulders and a pink sash around her waist. Her -light-brown hair was gathered into two long braids that hung down her -back, and she had two big blue eyes that looked very innocent and sweet. -Besides these changes, both the nose and the mouth of the girl differed -in shape from those of Zixi; so that no one would have seen the -slightest resemblance between the two people, or between Miss Trust and -the girl who stood in the lilac-grove. - -The transformed witch-queen gave a sweet, rippling laugh, and glanced at -her reflection in the still waters of the spring. And then the girlish -face frowned, for the image glaring up at her was that of a wrinkled, -toothless old hag. - -"I really must have that cloak," sighed the girl; and then she turned -and walked out of the lilac-grove and down the mountain-side toward the -city of Nole. - -The Princess Fluff was playing tennis with her maids in a courtyard of -the royal palace, when Jikki came to say that a girl wished to speak -with her Highness. - -"Send her here," said Fluff. - -So the witch-queen came to her, in the guise of the fair young girl; and -bowing in a humble manner before the princess, she said: "Please, your -Highness, may I be one of your maids?" - -"Why, I have eight already!" answered Fluff, laughing. - -"But my father and mother are both dead; and I have come all the way -from my castle to beg you to let me wait upon you," said the girl, -looking at the little princess with a pleading expression in her blue -eyes. - -"Who are you?" asked Fluff. - -"I am daughter of the Lord Hurrydole, and my name is Adlena," replied -the girl, which was not altogether a falsehood, because one of her -ancestors had borne the name Hurrydole, and Adlena was one of her own -names. - -"Then, Adlena," said Fluff, brightly, "you shall certainly be one of my -maids; for there is plenty of room in the palace, and the more girls I -have around me the happier I shall be." - -So Queen Zixi, under the name of Adlena, became an inmate of the king's -palace; and it was not many days before she learned where the magic -cloak was kept. For the princess gave her a key to a drawer and told her -to get from it a blue silk scarf she wished to wear, and directly under -the scarf lay the fairy garment. - -Adlena would have seized it at that moment had she dared; but Fluff was -in the same room, so she only said: "Please, princess, may I look at -that pretty cloak?" - -"Of course," answered Fluff; "but handle it carefully, for it was given -me by the fairies." - -So Adlena unfolded the cloak and looked at it very carefully, noting -exactly the manner in which it was woven. Then she folded it again, -arranged it in the drawer, and turned the key, which the princess -immediately attached to a chain which she always wore around her neck. - -That night, when the witch-queen was safely locked in her own room and -could not be disturbed, she called about her a great many of those -invisible imps that serve the most skilful witches, commanding them to -weave for her a cloak in the exact likeness of the one given Princess -Fluff by the fairies. - -Of course the imps had never seen the magic cloak; but Zixi described it -to them accurately, and before morning they had woven a garment so -closely resembling the original that the imitation was likely to deceive -any one. - -Only one thing was missing, and that was the golden thread woven by -Queen Lulea herself, and which gave the cloak its magic powers. - -Of course the imps of Zixi could not get this golden thread, nor could -they give any magical properties to the garment they had made at the -witch's command; but they managed to give the cloak all of the many -brilliant colors of the original, and Zixi was quite satisfied. - -The next day Adlena wore this cloak while she walked in the garden. Very -soon Princess Fluff saw her and ran after the girl, crying indignantly: -"See here! What do you mean by wearing my cloak? Take it off instantly!" - -[Illustration: "'WHICH IS MINE?' SHE FINALLY ASKED, IN A STARTLED -VOICE."] - -"It isn't your cloak. It is one of my own," replied the girl, calmly. - -"Nonsense! There can't be two such cloaks in the world," retorted Fluff. - -"But there are," persisted Adlena. "How could I get the one in your -drawer when the key is around your own neck?" - -"I'm not sure I don't know," admitted the princess, beginning to be -puzzled. "But come with me into my rooms. If my fairy cloak is indeed in -the drawer, then I will believe you." - -So they went to the drawer, and of course found the magic cloak, as the -cunning Zixi had planned. Fluff pulled it out and held the two up -together to compare them; and they seemed to be exactly alike. - -"I think yours is a little the longer," said Adlena, and threw it over -the shoulders of the princess. "No, I think mine is the longer," she -continued; and removing the magic cloak, put her own upon Fluff. They -seemed to be about the same length, but Adlena kept putting first one -and then the other upon the princess, until they were completely mixed, -and the child could not have told one from the other. - -"Which is mine?" she finally asked, in a startled voice. - -"This, of course," answered Adlena, folding up the imitation cloak which -the imps had made, and putting it away in the drawer. - -Fluff never suspected the trick, so Zixi carried away the magic cloak -she had thus cleverly stolen; and she was so delighted with the success -of her stratagem that she could have screamed aloud for pure joy. - -As soon as she was alone and unobserved, the witch-queen slipped out of -the palace, and, carrying the magic cloak in a bundle under her arm, ran -down the streets of Nole and out through the gate in the wall and away -toward the mountain where the lilac-grove lay. - -"At last!" she kept saying to herself. "At last I shall see my own -beautiful reflection in a mirror, instead of that horrid old hag!" - -When she was safe in the grove she succeeded, by means of her -witchcraft, in transforming the girl Adlena back into the beautiful -woman known throughout the kingdom of Ix as Queen Zixi. And then she -lost no time in throwing the magic cloak over her shoulders. - -"I wish," she cried in a loud voice, "that my reflection in every mirror -will hereafter show the same face and form as that in which I appear to -exist in the sight of all mortals!" - -Then she threw off the cloak and ran to the crystal spring, saying: -"Now, indeed, I shall at last see the lovely Queen Zixi!" - -But as she bent over the spring, she gave a sudden shriek of -disappointed rage; for glaring up at her from the glassy surface of the -water was the same fearful hag she had always seen as the reflection of -her likeness! - -The magic cloak would grant no wish to a person who had stolen it. - -Zixi, more wretched than she had ever been before in her life, threw -herself down upon her face in the lilac-grove and wept for more than an -hour, which is an exceedingly long time for tears to run from one's -eyes. And when she finally arose, two tiny brooks flowed from the spot -and wound through the lilac-trees--one to the right and one to the left. - -Then, leaving the magic cloak--to possess which she had struggled so -hard and sinfully--lying unheeded upon the ground, the disappointed -witch-queen walked slowly away, and finally reached the bank of the -great river. - -[Illustration: "SHE THREW OFF THE CLOAK AND RAN TO THE CRYSTAL SPRING."] - -Here she found a rugged old alligator who lay upon the bank, weeping -with such bitterness that the sight reminded Zixi of her own recent -outburst of sorrow. - -"Why do you weep, friend?" she asked, for her experience as a witch had -long since taught her the language of the beasts and birds and reptiles. - -"Because I cannot climb a tree," answered the alligator. - -"But why do you wish to climb a tree?" she questioned, surprised. - -"Because I can't," returned the alligator, squeezing two more tears from -his eyes. - -"But that is very foolish!" exclaimed the witch-queen, scornfully. - -"Oh, I don't know," said the alligator. "It doesn't strike me that it's -much more foolish than the fancies some other people have." - -"Perhaps not," replied Zixi, more gently, and walked away in deep -thought. - -While she followed the river-bank, to find a ferry across, the dusk -fell, and presently a gray owl came out of a hollow in a tall tree and -sat upon a limb, wailing dismally. - -Zixi stopped and looked at the bird. - -"Why do you wail so loudly?" she asked. - -[Illustration: "'BECAUSE I CANNOT CLIMB A TREE,' ANSWERED THE -ALLIGATOR."] - -"Because I cannot swim in the river like a fish," answered the owl, and -it screeched so sadly that it made the queen shiver. - -"Why do you wish to swim?" she inquired. - -"Because I can't," said the owl, and buried its head under its wing with -a groan. - -"But that is absurd!" cried Zixi, with impatience. - -The owl had an ear out, and heard her. So it withdrew its head long -enough to retort: - -"I don't think it's any more absurd than the longings of some other -folks." - -"Perhaps you are right," said the queen, and hung her head as she walked -on. - -By and by she found a ferryman with a boat, and he agreed to row her -across the river. In one end of the boat crouched a little girl, the -ferryman's daughter, and she sobbed continually, so that the sound of -the child's grief finally attracted Zixi's attention. - -"Why do you sob?" questioned the queen. - -"Because I want to be a man," replied the child, trying to stifle her -sobs. - -"Why do you want to be a man?" asked Zixi, curiously. - -"Because I'm a little girl," was the reply. - -This made Zixi angry. - -"You're a little fool!" she exclaimed loudly. - -"There are other fools in the world," said the child, and renewed her -sobs. - -[Illustration: "'WHY DO YOU SOB?' QUESTIONED THE QUEEN."] - -Zixi did not reply, but she thought to herself: - -"We are all alike--the alligator, the owl, the girl, and the powerful -Queen of Ix. We long for what we cannot have, yet desire it not so much -because it would benefit us, as because it is beyond our reach. If I -call the others fools, I must also call myself a fool for wishing to see -the reflection of a beautiful girl in my mirror when I know it is -impossible. So hereafter I shall strive to be contented with my lot." - -This was a wise resolution, and the witch-queen abided by it for many -years. She was not very bad, this Zixi; for it must be admitted that few -have the courage to acknowledge their faults and strive to correct them, -as she did. - - - - - Chapter XVI. - THE PLAIN ABOVE THE CLOUDS. - - -I have already mentioned how high the mountains were between Noland and -the land of Ix; but at the north of the city of Nole were mountains much -higher--so high, indeed, that they seemed to pierce the clouds, and it -was said the moon often stopped on the highest peak to rest. It was not -one single slope up from the lowlands; but first there was a high -mountain, with a level plain at the top; and then another high mountain, -rising from the level and capped with a second plain; and then another -mountain, and so on; which made them somewhat resemble a pair of stairs. -So that the people of Nole, who looked upon the North Mountains with -much pride, used to point them out as "The Giant's Stairway," forgetting -that no giant was ever big enough to use such an immense flight of -stairs. - -Many people had climbed the first mountain, and upon the plain at its -top flocks of sheep were fed; and two or three people boasted they had -climbed the second steep; but beyond that the mountains were all unknown -to the dwellers in the valley of Noland. As a matter of fact, no one -lived upon them; they were inhabited only by a few small animals and an -occasional vulture or eagle which nested in some rugged crag. - -But at the top of all was an enormous plain that lay far above the -clouds, and here the Roly-Rogues dwelt in great numbers. - -I must describe these Roly-Rogues to you, for they were unlike any other -people in all the world. Their bodies were as round as a ball--if you -can imagine a ball fully four feet in thickness at the middle. And their -muscles were as tough and elastic as india-rubber. They had heads and -arms resembling our own, and very short legs; and all these they could -withdraw into their ball-like bodies whenever they wished, very much as -a turtle withdraws its legs and head into its shell. - -The Roly-Rogues lived all by themselves in their country among the -clouds, and there were thousands and thousands of them. They were -quarrelsome by nature, but could seldom hurt one another; because, if -they fought, they would withdraw their arms and legs and heads into -their bodies, and roll themselves at one another with much fierceness. -But when they collided they would bounce apart again, and little harm -was done. - -In spite of their savage dispositions the Roly-Rogues had as yet done no -harm to any one but themselves, as they lived so high above the world -that other people knew nothing of their existence. Nor did they -themselves know, because of the clouds that floated between, of the -valleys which lay below them. - -But, as ill luck would have it, a few days after King Bud's army had -defeated the army of Ix, one of the Roly-Rogues, while fighting with -another, rolled too near the edge of the plain whereon they dwelt, and -bounded down the mountain-side that faced Noland. Wind had scattered the -clouds, so his fellows immediately rolled themselves to the edge and -watched the luckless Roly-Rogue fly down the mountain, bounce across the -plain, and thence speed down the next mountain. By and by he became a -dot to their eyes, and then a mere speck; but as the clouds had just -rolled away for a few moments the Roly-Rogues could see, by straining -their eyes, the city of Nole lying in the valley far below. - -It seemed, from that distance, merely a toy city, but they knew it must -be a big place to show so far away; and since they had no cities of -their own, they became curious to visit the one they had just -discovered. - -The ruler of the Roly-Rogues, who was more quarrelsome than any of the -rest, had a talk with his chief men about visiting the unknown city. - -"We can roll down the mountain just as our brother did," he argued. - -"But how in the world could we ever get back again?" said one of the -chiefs, sticking his head up to look with astonishment at the ruler. - -"We don't want to get back," said the other, excitedly. "Some one has -built many houses and palaces at the foot of the mountains, and we can -live in those, if they are big enough and if there are enough of them." - -[Illustration: "ALL THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ROLY-ROGUES THAT WERE -IN EXISTENCE ASSEMBLED UPON THE EDGE OF THEIR PLAIN, AND, AT THE WORD OF -THEIR RULER, HURLED THEMSELVES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH TERRIBLE CRIES AND -WENT BOUNDING AWAY TOWARD THE PEACEFUL CITY OF NOLE."] - -"Perhaps the people won't let us," suggested another chief, who was not -in favor of the expedition. - -"We will fight them and destroy them," retorted the ruler, scowling at -the chief as if he would make him ashamed of his cowardice. - -"Then we must all go together," said a third chief; "for, if only a few -go, we may find ourselves many times outnumbered and at last be -overcome." - -"Every Roly-Rogue in the country shall go!" declared the ruler, who -brooked no opposition when once he had made up his mind to a thing. - -On the plain grew a grove of big thorn-trees, bearing thorns as long and -sharp as swords; so the ruler commanded each of his people to cut two of -the thorns, one for each hand, with which to attack whatever foes they -might meet when they reached the unknown valley. - -Then, on a certain day, all the hundreds and thousands of Roly-Rogues -that were in existence assembled upon the edge of their plain, and, at -the word of their ruler, hurled themselves down the mountain with -terrible cries and went bounding away toward the peaceful city of Nole. - - - - - Chapter XVII. - THE DESCENT OF THE ROLY-ROGUES. - - -King Bud and Princess Fluff were leading very happy and peaceful lives -in their beautiful palace. All wars and dangers seemed at an end, and -there was nothing to disturb their content. - -All the gold that was needed the royal purse-bearer was able to supply -from his overflowing purse. The gigantic General Tollydob became famous -throughout the world, and no nation dared attack the army of Noland. The -talking dog of old Tallydab made every one wonder, and people came many -miles to see Ruffles and hear him speak. It was said that all this good -fortune had been brought to Noland by the pretty Princess Fluff, who was -a favorite of the fairies; and the people loved her on this account as -well as for her bright and sunny disposition. - -[Illustration: "THE GREAT BALL STRUCK THE FIELD NEAR THEM."] - -King Bud caused his subjects some little anxiety, to be sure; for they -never could tell what he was liable to do next, except that he was sure -to do something unexpected. But much is forgiven a king; and if Bud made -some pompous old nobleman stand on his head, to amuse a mob of people, -he would give him a good dinner afterward and fill his purse with gold -to make up for the indignity. Fluff often reproved her brother for such -pranks, but Bud's soul was flooded with mischief, and it was hard for -him to resist letting a little of the surplus escape now and then. - -After all, the people were fairly content and prosperous, and no one was -at all prepared for the disasters soon to overtake them. - -One day, while King Bud was playing at ball with some of his courtiers -on a field outside the city gates, the first warning of trouble reached -him. Bud had batted a ball high into the air, and while looking upward -for it to descend he saw another ball bound from the plain at the top of -the North Mountains, fly into the air, and then sink gradually toward -him. As it approached, it grew bigger and bigger, until it assumed -mammoth proportions; and then, while the courtiers screamed in terror, -the great ball struck the field near them, bounced high into the air, -and came down directly upon the sharp point of one of the palace towers, -where it stuck fast with a yell that sounded almost human. - -For some moments Bud and his companions were motionless through surprise -and fear; then they rushed into the city and stood among the crowd of -people which had congregated at the foot of the tower to stare at the -big ball impaled upon its point. Once in a while, two arms, two short -legs, and a head would dart out from the ball and wiggle frantically, -and then the yell would be repeated and the head and limbs withdrawn -swiftly into the ball. - -It was all so curious that the people were justified in staring at it in -amazement; for certainly no one had ever seen or heard of a Roly-Rogue -before, or even known such a creature existed. - -Finally, as no one else could reach the steeple-top, Aunt Rivette flew -into the air and circled slowly around the ball. When next its head was -thrust out, she called: - -"Are you a mud-turtle or a man?" - -"I'll show you which, if I get hold of you," answered the Roly-Rogue, -fiercely. - -"Where did you come from?" asked Aunt Rivette, taking care the wiggling -arms did not grab her. - -[Illustration: "'WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?' ASKED AUNT RIVETTE."] - -"That is none of your business," said the RolyRogue. "But I didn't -intend to come, that you may depend upon." - -"Are you hurt?" she inquired, seeing that the struggles of the creature -made him spin around upon the steeple-point like a windmill. - -"No, I'm not hurt at all," declared the Roly-Rogue; "but I'd like to -know how to get down." - -"What would you do if we helped you to get free?" asked Aunt Rivette. - -"I'd fight every one of those idiots who are laughing at me down there!" -said the creature, its eyes flashing wickedly. - -"Then you'd best stay where you are," returned old Rivette, who flew -back to earth again to tell Bud what the Roly-Rogue had said. - -"I believe that is the best place for him," said Bud; "so we'll let him -stay where he is. He's not very ornamental, I must say, but he's very -safe up there on top of the steeple." - -"We might have him gilded," proposed the old woman, "and then he'd look -better." - -"I'll think it over," said the king, and he went away to finish his ball -game. - -The people talked and wondered about the queer creature on the steeple, -but no one could say where it came from or what it was; they were -naturally much puzzled. - -The next day was bright with sunshine; so, early in the forenoon, Bud -and Fluff had the royal cook fill their baskets with good things to eat, -and set out to picnic on the bank of the river that separated Noland -from the kingdom of Ix. They rode ponies, to reach the river sooner than -by walking; and their only companions were Tallydab, the lord high -steward, and his talking dog, Ruffles. - -It was after this picnic party had passed over the mountain, and were -securely hidden from any one in the city of Nole, that the ruler of the -Roly-Rogues and his thousands of followers hurled themselves down from -their land above the clouds and began bounding toward the plain below. - -The people first heard a roar that sounded like distant thunder; and -when they looked toward the North Mountains they saw the air black with -tiny bouncing balls that seemed to drop from the drifting clouds which -always had obscured the highest peak. - -But, although appearing small when first seen, these balls grew rapidly -larger as they came nearer; and then, with sharp reports like -pistol-shots, they began dropping upon the plain by dozens and hundreds -and then thousands. - -As soon as they touched the ground they bounded upward again, like -rubber balls the children throw upon the floor; but each bound was less -violent than the one preceding it, until finally within the streets of -the city and upon all the fields surrounding it lay the thousands of -Roly-Rogues that had fallen from the mountain-peak. - -At first they lay still, as if stunned by their swift journey and -collision with the hard earth; but after a few seconds they recovered, -thrust out their heads and limbs, and scrambled upon their flat feet. - -Then the savage Roly-Rogues uttered hoarse shouts of joy, for they were -safely arrived at the city they had seen from afar, and the audacious -adventure was a success. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE CONQUEST OF NOLAND. - - -It would be impossible to describe the amazement of the people of Nole -when the Roly-Rogues came upon them. - -Not only was the descent wholly unexpected, but the appearance of the -invaders was queer enough to strike terror to the stoutest heart. - -Their round bodies were supported by short, strong legs having broad, -flattened feet to keep them steady. Their arms were short, and the -fingers of their hands, while not long, were very powerful. - -But the heads were the most startling portions of these strange -creatures. They were flat and thick on the top, with leathery rolls -around their necks; so that, when the head was drawn in, its upper part -rounded out the surface of the ball. In this peculiar head the -Roly-Rogue had two big eyes as shiny as porcelain, a small stubby nose, -and a huge mouth. Their strange leather-like clothing fitted their -bodies closely and was of different colors--green, yellow, red, and -brown. - -Taken altogether, the Roly-Rogues were not pretty to look at; and -although their big eyes gave them a startled or astonished expression, -nothing seemed ever to startle or astonish them in the least. - -When they arrived in the valley of Nole, after their wonderful journey -down the mountains, they scrambled to their feet, extended their long -arms with the thorns clasped tight in their talon-like fingers, and -rushed in a furious crowd and with loud cries upon the terror-stricken -people. - -The soldiers of Tollydob's brave army had not even time to seize their -weapons; for such a foe, coming upon them through the air, had never -been dreamed of. - -And the men of Nole, who might have resisted the enemy, were too much -frightened to do more than tremble violently and gasp with open mouths. -As for the women and children, they fled screaming into the houses and -bolted or locked the doors, which was doubtless the wisest thing they -could have done. - -[Illustration: "AS FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, THEY FLED SCREAMING INTO -THE HOUSES."] - -General Tollydob was asleep when the calamity of this invasion occurred; -but hearing the shouts, he ran out of his mansion and met several of the -Roly-Rogues face to face. Without hesitation the brave general rushed -upon them; but two of the creatures promptly rolled themselves against -him from opposite directions, so that the ten-foot giant was crushed -between them until there was not a particle of breath left in his body. -No sooner did these release him than two other Roly-Rogues rolled toward -him; but Tollydob was not to be caught twice, so he gave a mighty jump -and jumped right over their heads, with the result that the balls -crashed against each other. - -This made the two Roly-Rogues so angry that they began to fight each -other savagely, and the general started to run away. But other foes -rolled after him, knocked him down, and stuck their thorns into him -until he yelled for mercy and promised to become their slave. - -Tullydub, the chief counselor, watched all this from his window, and it -frightened him so greatly that he crawled under his bed and hid, hoping -the creatures would not find him. But their big round eyes were sharp at -discovering things; so the Roly-Rogues had not been in Tullydub's room -two minutes before he was dragged from beneath his bed, and prodded with -thorns until he promised obedience to the conquerors. - -The lord high purse-bearer, at the first alarm, dug a hole in the garden -of the royal palace and buried his purse so no one could find it but -himself. But he might have saved himself this trouble, for the -Roly-Rogues knew nothing of money or its uses, being accustomed to -seizing whatever they desired without a thought of rendering payment for -it. - -Having buried his purse, old Tillydib gave himself up to the invaders as -their prisoner; and this saved him the indignity of being conquered. - -[Illustration: "OTHER FOES ROLLED AFTER HIM AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN."] - -The lord high executioner may really be credited with making the only -serious fight of the day; for when the Roly-Rogues came upon him, -Tellydeb seized his ax, and, before the enemy could come near, he -reached out his long arm and cleverly sliced the heads off several of -their round bodies. - -The others paused for a moment, being unused to such warfare and not -understanding how an arm could reach so far. - -But, seeing their heads were in danger, about a hundred of the creatures -formed themselves into balls and rolled upon the executioner in a -straight line, hoping to crush him. - -They could not see what happened after they began to roll, their heads -being withdrawn; but Tellydeb watched them speed toward him, and, -stepping aside, he aimed a strong blow with his ax at the body of the -first Roly-Rogue that passed him. Instead of cutting the rubber-like -body, the ax bounced back and flew from Tellydeb's hand into the air, -falling farther away than the long arm of the executioner could reach. -Therefore he was left helpless, and was wise enough to surrender without -further resistance. - -Finding no one else to resist them, the Roly-Rogues contented themselves -with bounding against the terrorized people, great and humble alike, and -knocking them over, laughing boisterously at the figures sprawling in -the mud of the streets. - -And then they would prick the bodies of the men with their sharp thorns, -making them spring to their feet again with shrieks of fear, only to be -bowled over again the next minute. - -But the monsters soon grew weary of this amusement, for they were -anxious to explore the city they had so successfully invaded. They -flocked into the palace and public buildings, and gazed eagerly at the -many beautiful and, to them, novel things that were found. The mirrors -delighted them, and they fought one another for the privilege of -standing before the glasses to admire the reflection of their horrid -bodies. - -They could not sit in the chairs, for the round bodies would not fit -them; neither could the Roly-Rogues understand the use of beds. For when -they rested or slept the creatures merely withdrew their limbs and -heads, rolled over upon their backs, and slept soundly--no matter where -they might be. - -The shops were all entered and robbed of their wares, the Roly-Rogues -wantonly destroying all that they could not use. They were like -ostriches in eating anything that looked attractive to them; one of the -monsters swallowed several pretty glass beads, and some of the more -inquisitive of them invaded the grocery-shops and satisfied their -curiosity by tasting of nearly everything in sight. It was funny to see -their wry faces when they sampled the salt and vinegar. - -[Illustration: "STEPPING ASIDE, TELLYDEB AIMED A STRONG BLOW WITH HIS AX -AT THE BODY OF THE FIRST ROLY-ROUGE."] - -Presently the entire city was under the dominion of the Roly-Rogues, who -forced the unhappy people to wait upon them and amuse them; and if any -hesitated to obey their commands, the monsters would bump against them, -pull their hair, and make them suffer most miserably. - -Aunt Rivette was in her room at the top of the palace when the -Roly-Rogues invaded the city of Nole. At first she was as much -frightened as the others; but she soon remembered she could escape the -creatures by flying; so she quietly watched them from the windows. By -and by, as they explored the palace, they came to Aunt Rivette's room -and broke in the door; but the old woman calmly stepped out of her -window upon a little iron balcony, spread her great wings, and flew away -before the Roly-Rogues could catch her. - -Then she soared calmly through the air, and having remembered that Bud -and Fluff had gone to the river on a picnic, she flew swiftly in that -direction and before long came to where the children and old Tallydab -were eating their luncheon, while the dog Ruffles, who was in good -spirits, sang a comic song to amuse them. - -They were much surprised to see Aunt Rivette flying toward them; but -when she alighted and told Bud that his kingdom had been conquered by -the Roly-Rogues and all his people enslaved, the little party was so -astonished that they stared at one another in speechless amazement. - -"Oh, Bud, what shall we do?" finally asked Fluff, in distress. - -"Don't know," said Bud, struggling to swallow a large piece of sandwich -that in his excitement had stuck fast in his throat. - -"One thing is certain," remarked Aunt Rivette, helping herself to a -slice of cake, "our happy lives are now ruined forever. We should be -foolish to remain here; and the sooner we escape to some other country -where the Roly-Rogues cannot find us, the safer we shall be." - -"But why run away?" asked Bud. "Can't something else be done? Here, -Tallydab, you're one of my counselors. What do you say about this -affair?" - -Now the lord high steward was a deliberate old fellow, and before he -replied he dusted the crumbs from his lap, filled and lighted his long -pipe, and smoked several whiffs in a thoughtful manner. - -"It strikes me," said he at last, "that by means of the Princess Fluff's -magic cloak we can either destroy or scatter these rascally invaders and -restore the kingdom to peace and prosperity." - -[Illustration: "'BUT WHERE'S THE CLOAK?' ASKED THE DOG."] - -"Sure enough!" replied Bud. "Why didn't we think of that before?" - -"You will have to make the wish, Bud," said Fluff, "for all the rest of -us have wished, and you have not made yours yet." - -"All right," answered the king. "If I must, I must. But I'm sorry I have -to do it now, for I was saving my wish for something else." - -"But where's the cloak?" asked the dog, rudely breaking into the -conversation. "You can't wish without the cloak." - -"The cloak is locked up in a drawer in my room at the palace," said -Fluff. - -"And our enemies have possession of the palace," continued Tallydab, -gloomily. "Was there ever such ill luck!" - -"Never mind," said Aunt Rivette, "I'll fly back and get it--that is, if -the Roly-Rogues haven't already broken open the drawer and discovered -the cloak." - -"Please go at once, then!" exclaimed Fluff. "Here is the key," and she -unfastened it from the chain at her neck and handed it to her aunt. "But -be careful, whatever you do, that those horrible creatures do not catch -you." - -"I'm not afraid," said Aunt Rivette, confidently. And taking the key, -the old lady at once flew away in the direction of the city of Nole, -promising to return very soon. - - - - - Chapter XIX. - THE BRAVERY OF AUNT RIVETTE. - - -The Roly-Rogues were so busy rioting that they did not look into the air -and discover Aunt Rivette flying over the city. So she alighted, all -unobserved, upon a balcony of the palace, just outside the chamber of -the Princess Fluff, and succeeded in entering the room. - -The creatures had ransacked this apartment, as they had every other part -of the royal palace, and Fluff's pretty dresses and ornaments were -strewn about in dreadful confusion. But the drawer in which rested the -magic cloak was still locked, and in a few moments the old woman had the -precious garment in her hands. - -It was, as we know, the imitation cloak Queen Zixi had made and -exchanged for the real one; but so closely did it resemble the fairy -cloak that Aunt Rivette had no idea she was carrying a useless garment -back to her little niece and nephew. On the contrary, she thought to -herself: "Now we can quickly dispose of these monstrous rogues and drive -them back to their own country." - -Hearing some one moving about in the next room, she ran to the window -and soon was flying away with the cloak to the place where she had left -Bud and Fluff. - -"Good!" cried the lord high steward, when he saw the cloak. "Now we have -nothing more to fear. Put on your cloak, your Majesty, and make the -wish." - -Bud threw the cloak over his shoulders. - -"What shall I wish?" he asked. - -"Let me see," answered Tallydab. "What we want is to get rid of these -invaders. Wish them all in the kingdom of Ix." - -"Oh, no!" cried Fluff; "it would be wicked to injure Queen Zixi and her -people. Let us wish the Roly-Rogues back where they came from." - -"That would be folly!" said the dog Ruffles, with an accent of scorn. -"For they could easily return again to our city of Nole, having once -learned the way there." - -"That is true," agreed Aunt Rivette. "The safest thing to do is to wish -them all dead." - -"But it would be an awful job to bury so many great balls," objected -Bud. "It would keep all our people busy for a month, at least." - -"Why not wish them dead and buried?" asked Ruffles. "Then they would be -out of the way for good and all." - -"A capital idea!" responded Tallydab. - -"But I haven't seen these curious creatures yet," said Bud; "and if I -now wish them all dead and buried, I shall never get a glimpse of one of -them. So let's walk boldly into the city, and when they appear to -interfere with us I'll make the wish and the Roly-Rogues will instantly -disappear." - -So the entire party returned to the city of Nole; Bud and Fluff riding -their ponies, Aunt Rivette fluttering along beside them, and the lord -high steward walking behind with his dog. - -The Roly-Rogues were so much surprised to see this little party boldly -entering the streets of the city, and showing no particle of fear of -them, that they at first made no offer to molest them. - -Even when Bud roared with laughter at their queer appearance, and called -them "mud-turtles" and "foot-balls," they did not resent the insults; -for they had never heard of either a turtle or a foot-ball before. - -[Illustration: "HE MADE OLD TULLYDUB, THE LORD COUNSELOR, ROCK HIM -GENTLY AS HE LAY UPON HIS BACK."] - -When the party had reached the palace and the children had dismounted, -Bud laughed yet louder; for the gigantic General Tollydob came to the -kitchen door, wearing an apron while he polished a big dish-pan, the -Roly-Rogues having made him a scullion. - -[Illustration: "JIKKI WAS SCRATCHING THE BACK OF ANOTHER ROLY-ROGUE."] - -The ruler of the Roly-Rogues was suffering from a toothache, so he had -rolled himself into a ball and made old Tullydub, the lord high -counselor, rock him gently as he lay upon his back, just as one would -rock a baby's cradle. - -[Illustration: "THE LORD HIGH PURSE-BEARER WAS WAVING A FAN."] - -Jikki was scratching the back of another Roly-Rogue with a sharp -garden-rake, while Jikki's six servants stood in a solemn row at his -back. They would do anything for Jikki, but they would not lift a finger -to serve any one else; so the old valet had to do the scratching -unaided. - -These six young men had proved a great puzzle to the Roly-Rogues, for -they found it impossible to touch them or injure them in any way; so, -after several vain attempts to conquer them, they decided to leave -Jikki's servants alone. - -The lord high purse-bearer was waving a fan to keep the flies off two of -the slumbering monsters; and the lord high executioner was feeding -another Roly-Rogue with soup from a great ladle, the creature finding -much amusement in being fed in this manner. - -King Bud, feeling sure of making all his enemies disappear with a wish, -found rare sport in watching his periwigged counselors thus serving -their captors; so he laughed and made fun of them until the Roly-Rogue -ruler stuck his head out and commanded the boy to run away. - -"Why, you ugly rascal, I'm the King of Noland," replied Bud; "so you'd -better show me proper respect." - -With that he picked up a good-sized pebble and threw it at the ruler. It -struck him just over his aching tooth, and with a roar of anger the -Roly-Rogue bounded toward Bud and his party. - -The assault was so sudden that they had much ado to scramble out of the -way; and as soon as Bud could escape the rush of the huge ball, he -turned squarely around and shouted: - -"I wish every one of the Roly-Rogues dead and buried!" - -[Illustration: "THE LORD HIGH EXECUTIONER WAS FEEDING ANOTHER ROLY-ROGUE -WITH SOUP FROM A GREAT LADLE."] - -Hearing this and seeing that the king wore the magic cloak, all the high -counselors at once raised a joyful shout, and Fluff and Bud gazed upon -the Roly-Rogues expectantly, thinking that of course they would -disappear. - -But Zixi's cloak had no magic powers whatever; and now dozens of the -Roly-Rogues, aroused to anger, bounded toward Bud's little party. - -[Illustration: "THE LORD HIGH STEWARD AND HIS DOG WENT DOWN BEFORE THE -RUSH."] - -I am sure the result would have been terrible had not Aunt Rivette -suddenly come to the children's rescue. She threw one lean arm around -Bud and the other around Fluff, and then, quickly fluttering her wings, -she flew with them to the roof of the palace, which they reached in -safety. - -The lord high steward and his dog went down before the rush, and the -next moment old Tallydab was crying loudly for mercy, while Ruffles -limped away to a safe spot beneath a bench under an apple-tree, howling -at every step and shouting angry epithets at the Roly-Rogues. - -"I wonder what's the matter with the cloak," gasped Bud. "The old -thing's a fraud; it didn't work." - -"Something went wrong, that's certain," replied Fluff. "You're sure you -hadn't wished before, aren't you?" - -"Yes, I'm sure," said Bud. - -"Perhaps," said Aunt Rivette, "the fairies have no power over these -horrible creatures." - -"That must be it, of course," said the princess. "But what shall we do -now? Our country is entirely conquered by these monsters; so it isn't a -safe place for us to stay in." - -"I believe I can carry you anywhere you'd like to go," said Aunt -Rivette. "You're not so very heavy." - -[Illustration: "'I'LL SOON CARRY YOU OVER THE MOUNTAIN AND THE RIVER -INTO THE KINGDOM OF IX.'"] - -"Suppose we go to Queen Zixi, and ask her to protect us?" the princess -suggested. - -"That's all right, if she doesn't bear us a grudge. You know we knocked -out her whole army," remarked Bud. - -"Quavo the minstrel says she is very beautiful, and kind to her people," -said the girl. - -"Well, there's no one else we can trust," Bud answered gloomily; "so we -may as well try Zixi. But if you drop either of us on the way, Aunt -Rivette, I'll have to call in the lord high executioner." - -"Never fear," replied the old woman. "If I drop you, you'll never know -what has happened. So each one of you put an arm around my neck, and -cling tight, and I'll soon carry you over the mountain and the river -into the kingdom of Ix." - - - - - Chapter XX. - IN THE PALACE OF THE WITCH-QUEEN. - - -Bud and Fluff were surprised at the magnificence of the city of Ix. The -witch-queen had reigned there so many centuries that she found plenty of -time to carry out her ideas; and the gardens, shrubbery, and buildings -were beautifully planned and cared for. - -The splendid palace of the queen was in the center of a delightful park, -with white marble walks leading up to the front door. - -Aunt Rivette landed the children at the entrance to this royal park, and -they walked slowly toward the palace, admiring the gleaming white -statues, the fountains and flowers, as they went. - -It was beginning to grow dusk, and the lights were gleaming in the -palace window when they reached it. Dozens of liveried servants were -standing near the entrance, and some of these escorted the strangers -with much courtesy to a reception room. There a gray-haired master of -ceremonies met them and asked in what way he might serve them. - -This politeness almost took Bud's breath away, for he had considered -Queen Zixi in the light of an enemy rather than a friend; but he decided -not to sail under false colors, so he drew himself up in royal fashion -and answered: - -"I am King Bud of Noland, and this is my sister, Princess Fluff, and my -Aunt Rivette. My kingdom has been conquered by a horde of monsters, and -I have come to the Queen of Ix to ask her assistance." - -The master of ceremonies bowed low and said: - -"I'm sure Queen Zixi will be glad to assist your Majesty. Permit me to -escort you to rooms, that you may prepare for an interview with her as -soon a she can receive you." - -So they were led to luxurious chambers, and were supplied with perfumed -baths and clean raiment, which proved very refreshing after their -tedious journey through the air. - -It was now evening; and when they were ushered into the queen's -reception-room the palace was brilliantly lighted. - -Zixi, since her great disappointment in the lilac-grove, had decided -that her longing to behold a beautiful reflection in her mirror was both -impossible and foolish; so she had driven the desire from her heart and -devoted herself to ruling her kingdom wisely, as she had ruled before -the idea of stealing the magic cloak had taken possession of her. And -when her mind was in normal condition the witch-queen was very sweet and -agreeable in disposition. - -So Queen Zixi greeted Bud and his sister and aunt with great kindness, -kissing Fluff affectionately upon her cheek and giving her own hand to -Bud to kiss. - -It is not strange that the children considered her the most beautiful -person they had ever beheld; and to them she was as gentle as beautiful, -listening with much interest to their tale of the invasion of the -Roly-Rogues, and promising to assist them by every means in her power. - -This made Bud somewhat ashamed of his past enmity; so he said bluntly: -"I am sorry we defeated your army and made them run." - -[Illustration: "QUEEN ZIXI GREETED BUD AND HIS SISTER AND AUNT WITH -GREAT KINDNESS."] - -"Why, that was the only thing you could do, when I had invaded your -dominion," answered Zixi. "I admit that you were in the right, and that -I deserved my defeat." - -"But why did you try to conquer us?" asked Fluff. - -"Because I wanted to secure the magic cloak, of which I had heard so -much," returned the queen, frankly. - -"Oh!" said the girl. - -"But, of course, you understand that if I had known the magic cloak -could not grant any more wishes, I would not have been so eager to -secure it," continued Zixi. - -"No," said Bud; "the old thing won't work any more; and we nearly got -captured by the Roly-Rogues before we found it out." - -"Oh, have you the cloak again?" asked Zixi, with a look of astonishment. - -"Yes, indeed," returned the princess; "it was locked up in my drawer, -and Aunt Rivette managed to get it for me before the Roly-Rogues could -find it." - -"Locked in your drawer?" repeated the witch-queen, musingly. "Then, I am -sorry to say, you have not the fairy cloak at all, but the imitation -one." - -"What do you mean?" asked Fluff, greatly surprised. - -"Why, I must make a confession," said Zixi, with a laugh. "I tried many -ways to steal your magic cloak. First, I came to Nole as 'Miss Trust.' -Do you remember?" - -"Oh, yes!" cried Fluff; "and I mistrusted you from the first." - -"And then I sent my army to capture the cloak. But, when both of these -plans failed, I disguised myself as the girl Adlena." - -"Adlena!" exclaimed the princess. "Why, I've often wondered what became -of my maid Adlena, and why she left me so suddenly and mysteriously." - -"Well, she exchanged an imitation cloak for the one the fairies had -given you," said Zixi, with a smile. "And then she ran away with the -precious garment, leaving in your drawer a cloak that resembled the -magic garment but had no magical charms." - -"How dreadful!" said Fluff. - -"But it did me no good," went on the queen, sadly; "for when I made a -wish the cloak could not grant it." - -"Because it was stolen!" cried the girl, eagerly. "The fairy who gave it -to me said that if the cloak was stolen it would never grant a wish to -the thief." - -"Oh," said Zixi, astonished, "I did not know that." - -"Of course not," Fluff replied, with a rather triumphant smile. "But if -you had only come to me and told me frankly that you wanted to use the -cloak, I would gladly have lent it to you, and then you could have had -your wish." - -"Well, well!" said Zixi, much provoked with herself. "To think I have -been so wicked all for nothing, when I might have succeeded without the -least trouble had I frankly asked for what I wanted!" - -"But--see here!" said Bud, beginning to understand the tangle of events; -"I must have worn the imitation cloak when I made my wish, and that was -the reason that my wish didn't come true." - -"To be sure," rejoined Fluff. "And so it is nothing but the imitation -cloak we have brought here." - -"No wonder it would not destroy and bury the Roly-Rogues!" declared the -boy, sulkily. "But if this is the imitation, where, then, is the real -magic cloak?" - -"Why, I believe I left it in the lilac-grove," replied Zixi. - -"Then we must find it at once," said Bud; "for only by its aid can we -get rid of those Roly-Rogues." - -"And afterward I will gladly lend it to you also; I promise now to lend -it to you," said Fluff, turning to the queen; "and your wish will be -fulfilled, after all--whatever it may be." - -[Illustration: "'BECAUSE IT WAS STOLEN!' CRIED THE GIRL, EAGERLY."] - -This expression of kindness and good will brought great joy to Zixi, and -she seized the generous child in her arms and kissed her with real -gratitude. - -"We will start for the lilac-grove to-morrow morning," she exclaimed -delightedly; "and before night both King Bud and I will have our wishes -fulfilled!" - -Then the witch-queen led them to her royal banquet-hall, where a most -delightful dinner was served. And all the courtiers and officers of Zixi -bowed low, first before the King of Noland and then before his sweet -little sister, and promised them the friendship of the entire kingdom of -Ix. - -Quavo the wandering minstrel chanced to be present that evening, and he -sang a complimentary song about King Bud; and a wonderful song about the -"Flying Lady," meaning Aunt Rivette; and a beautiful song about the -lovely Princess Fluff. - -So every one was happy and contented, as they all looked forward to the -morrow to regain the magic cloak, and by its means to bring an end to -all their worries. - -[Illustration: "'NO, INDEED,' ANSWERED THE GRAY OWL. 'I BELIEVE I AM -SAFER IN A TREE.'"] - - - - - Chapter XXI. - THE SEARCH FOR THE MAGIC CLOAK. - - -The sun had scarcely risen next morning when our friends left the city -of Ix in search of the magic cloak. All were mounted on strong horses, -with a dozen soldiers riding behind to protect them from harm, while the -royal steward of the witch-queen followed with two donkeys laden with -hampers of provisions from which to feed the travelers on their way. - -It was a long journey to the wide river, but they finally reached it, -and engaged the ferryman to take them across. The ferryman did not like -to visit the other shore, which was in the kingdom of Noland; for -several of the Roly-Rogues had already been seen upon the mountain-top. -But the guard of soldiers reassured the man; so he rowed his big boat -across with the entire party, and set them safely on the shore. The -ferryman's little daughter was in the boat, but she was not sobbing -to-day. On the contrary, her face was all smiles. - -"Do you not still wish to be a man?" asked Zixi, patting the child's -head. - -"No, indeed!" answered the little maid. "For I have discovered all men -must work very hard to support their wives and children, and to buy them -food and raiment. So I have changed my mind about becoming a man, -especially as that would be impossible." - -It was not far from the ferry to the grove of lilacs, and as they rode -along Zixi saw the gray owl sitting contentedly in a tree and pruning -its feathers. - -"Are you no longer wailing because you cannot swim in the river?" asked -the witch-queen, speaking in the owl language. - -"No, indeed," answered the gray owl. "For, as I watched a fish swimming -in the water, a man caught it on a sharp hook, and the fish was killed. -I believe I'm safer in a tree." - -"I believe so, too," said Zixi, and rode along more thoughtfully; for -she remembered her own desire, and wondered if it would also prove -foolish. - -Just as they left the river-bank she noticed the old alligator sunning -himself happily upon the bank. - -[Illustration: "'OF COURSE,' ANSWERED THE ALLIGATOR, OPENING ONE EYE TO -OBSERVE HIS QUESTIONER."] - -"Have you ceased weeping because you cannot climb a tree?" asked the -witch-queen. - -"Of course," answered the alligator, opening one eye to observe his -questioner. "For a boy climbed a tree near me yesterday and fell out of -it and broke his leg. It is quite foolish to climb trees. I'm sure I am -safer in the water." - -Zixi made no reply, but she agreed with the alligator, who called after -her sleepily: - -"Isn't it fortunate we cannot have everything we are stupid enough to -wish for?" - -Shortly afterward they left the river-bank and approached the -lilac-grove, the witch-queen riding first through the trees to show the -place where she had dropped the magic cloak. She knew it was near the -little spring where she had gazed at her reflection in the water; but, -although they searched over every inch of ground, they could discover no -trace of the lost cloak. - -"It is really too bad!" exclaimed Zixi, with vexation. "Some one must -have come through the grove and taken the cloak away." - -"But we must find it," said Bud, earnestly; "for otherwise I shall not -be able to rescue my people from the Roly-Rogues." - -"Let us inquire of every one we meet if they have seen the cloak," -suggested Princess Fluff. "In that way we may discover who has taken -it." - -So they made a camp on the edge of the grove, and for two days they -stopped and questioned all who passed that way. But none had ever seen -or heard of a cloak like that described. - -[Illustration: "'WE HAVE LOST A BEAUTIFUL CLOAK IN THE LILAC-GROVE,' -SAID QUEEN ZIXI TO THE SHEPHERD."] - -Finally an old shepherd came along, hobbling painfully after a flock of -five sheep; for he suffered much from rheumatism. - -"We have lost a beautiful cloak in the lilac-grove," said Zixi to the -shepherd. - -"When did you lose it?" asked the old man, pausing to lean upon his -stick. - -"Several days ago," returned the queen. "It was bright as the rainbow, -and woven with threads finer than--" - -"I know, I know!" interrupted the shepherd, "for I myself found it lying -upon the ground beneath the lilac-trees." - -"Hurrah!" cried Bud, gleefully; "at last we have found it!" And all the -others were fully as delighted as he was. - -"But where have you put the cloak?" inquired Zixi. - -"Why, I gave it to Dame Dingle, who lives under the hill yonder," -replied the man, pointing far away over the fields; "and she gave me in -exchange some medicine for my rheumatism, which has made the pain -considerably worse. So to-day I threw the bottle into the river." - -They did not pause to listen further to the shepherd's talk, for all -were now intent on reaching the cottage of Dame Dingle. - -So the soldiers saddled the horses, and in a few minutes they were -galloping away toward the hill. It was a long ride, over rough ground; -but finally they came near the hill and saw a tiny, tumbledown cottage -just at its foot. - -Hastily dismounting, Bud, Fluff, and the queen rushed into the cottage, -where a wrinkled old woman was bent nearly double over a crazy-quilt -upon which she was sewing patches. - -"Where is the cloak?" cried the three, in a breath. - -The woman did not raise her head, but counted her stitches in a slow, -monotonous tone. - -"Sixteen--seventeen--eighteen--" - -"Where is the magic cloak?" demanded Zixi, stamping her foot -impatiently. - -"Nineteen--" said Dame Dingle, slowly. "There! I've broken my needle!" - -"Answer us at once!" commanded Bud, sternly. "Where is the magic cloak?" - -The woman paid no attention to him whatever. She carefully selected a -new needle, threaded it after several attempts, and began anew to stitch -the patch. - -"Twenty!" she mumbled in a low voice; "twenty-one--" - -But now Zixi snatched the work from her hands and exclaimed; - -"If you do not answer at once I will give you a good beating!" - -"That is all right," said the dame, looking up at them through her -spectacles; "the patches take twenty-one stitches on each side, and if I -lose my count I get mixed up. But it's all right now. What do you want?" - -"The cloak the old shepherd gave you," replied the queen, sharply. - -"The pretty cloak with the bright colors?" asked the dame, calmly. - -"Yes! Yes!" answered the three, excitedly. - -"Why, that very patch I was sewing was cut from that cloak," said Dame -Dingle. "Isn't it lovely? And it brightens the rest of the crazy-quilt -beautifully." - -"Do you mean that you have cut up my magic cloak?" asked Fluff, in -amazement, while the others were too horrified to speak. - -"Certainly," said the woman. "The cloak was too fine for me to wear, and -I needed something bright in my crazy-quilt. So I cut up half of the -cloak and made patches of it." - -The witch-queen gave a gasp, and sat down suddenly upon a rickety bench. -Princess Fluff walked to the door and stood looking out, that the others -might not see the tears of disappointment in her eyes. Bud alone stood -scowling in front of the old dame, and presently he said to her, in a -harsh tone: - -"You ought to be smothered with your own crazy-quilt for daring to cut -up the fairy cloak!" - -"The fairy cloak!" echoed Dame Dingle. "What do you mean?" - -"That cloak was a gift to my sister from the fairies," said Bud; "and it -had a magic charm. Aren't you afraid the fairies will punish you for -what you have done?" - -[Illustration: "'WHERE IS THE CLOAK?' CRIED THE THREE, IN A BREATH."] - -Dame Dingle was greatly disturbed. - -"How could I know it?" she asked, anxiously; "how could I know it was a -magic cloak that old Edi gave to me?" - -"Well, it was; and woven by the fairies themselves," retorted the boy. -"And a whole nation is in danger because you have wickedly cut it up." - -Dame Dingle tried to cry, to show that she was sorry and so escape -punishment. She put her apron over her face, and rocked herself back and -forth, and made an attempt to squeeze a tear out of her eyes. - -Suddenly Zixi jumped up. - -"Why, it isn't so bad, after all!" she exclaimed. "We can sew the cloak -together again." - -"Of course!" said Fluff, coming from the doorway. "Why didn't we think -of that at once?" - -"Where is the rest of the cloak?" demanded Zixi. - -Dame Dingle went to a chest and drew forth the half of the cloak that -had not been cut up. There was no doubt about its being the magic cloak. -The golden thread Queen Lulea had woven could be seen plainly in the -web, and the brilliant colors were as fresh and lovely as ever. But the -flowing skirt of the cloak had been ruthlessly hacked by Dame Dingle's -shears, and presented a sorry plight. - -"Get us the patches you have cut!" commanded Zixi; and without a word -the dame drew from her basket five small squares and then ripped from -the crazy-quilt the one she had just sewn on. - -"But this isn't enough," said Fluff, when she had spread the cloak upon -the floor and matched the pieces. "Where is the rest of the cloak?" - -"Why,--why--" stammered Dame Dingle, with hesitation, "I gave them -away." - -"Gave them away! Who got them?" said Bud. - -"Why,--some friends of mine were here from the village last evening, and -we traded patches, so each of us would have a variety for our -crazy-quilts." - -"Well?" - -"And I gave each of them one of the patches from the pretty cloak." - -"Well, you _are_ a ninny!" declared Bud, scornfully. - -"Yes, your Majesty; I believe I am," answered Dame Dingle, meekly. - -"We must go to the village and gather up those pieces," said Zixi. "Can -you tell us the names of your friends?" she asked the woman. - -"Of course," responded Dame Dingle; "they were Nancy Nink, Betsy Barx, -Sally Sog, Molly Mitt, and Lucy Lum." - -"Before we go to the village let us make Dame Dingle sew these portions -of the cloak together," suggested Fluff. - -The dame was glad enough to do this, and she threaded her needle at -once. So deft and fine was her needlework that she mended the cloak most -beautifully, so that from a short distance away no one could discover -that the cloak had been darned. But a great square was still missing -from the front, and our friends were now eager to hasten to the village. - -"This will cause us some delay," said the witch-queen, more cheerfully; -"but the cloak will soon be complete again, and then we can have our -wishes." - -Fluff took the precious cloak over her arm, and then they all mounted -their horses and rode away toward the village, which Dame Dingle pointed -out from her doorway. Zixi was sorry for the old creature, who had been -more foolish than wicked; and the witch-queen left a bright gold piece -in the woman's hand when she bade her good-by, which was worth more to -Dame Dingle than three pretty cloaks. - -The ground was boggy and uneven, so they were forced to ride slowly to -the little village; but they arrived there at last, and began hunting -for the old women who had received pieces of the magic cloak. They were -easily found, and all seemed willing enough to give up their patches -when the importance of the matter was explained to them. - -At the witch-queen's suggestion, each woman fitted her patch to the -cloak and sewed it on very neatly; but Lucy Lum, the last of the five, -said to them: - -"This is only half of the patch Dame Dingle gave me. The other part I -gave to the miller's wife down in the valley where the river bends. But -I am sure she will be glad to let you have it. See--it only requires -that small piece to complete the cloak and make it as good as new." - -It was true--the magic cloak, except for a small square at the bottom, -was now complete; and such skillful needlewomen were these crazy-quilt -makers that it was difficult to tell where it had been cut and afterward -mended. - -But the miller's wife must now be seen; so they all mounted the horses -again, except Aunt Rivette, who grumbled that so much riding made her -bones rattle and that she preferred to fly. Which she did, frightening -the horses to such an extent with her wings that Bud made her keep well -in advance of them. - -They were all in good spirits now, for soon the magic cloak, almost as -good as new, would be again in their possession; and Fluff and Bud had -been greatly worried over the fate of their friends who had been left to -the mercy of the terrible Roly-Rogues. - -The path ran in a zigzag direction down into the valley; but at length -it led the party to the mill, where old Rivette was found sitting in the -doorway awaiting them. - -The miller's wife, when summoned, came to them drying her hands on her -apron, for she had been washing the dishes. - -"We want to get the bright-colored patch Lucy Lum gave you," explained -Fluff; "for it was part of my magic cloak, which the fairies gave to me, -and this is the place where it must be sewn to complete the garment." -And she showed the woman the cloak, with the square missing. - -"I see," said the miller's wife, nodding her head; "and I am very sorry -I cannot give you the piece to complete your cloak. But the fact is, I -considered it too pretty for my crazy-quilt, so I gave it to my son for -a necktie." - -[Illustration: "'AND WHERE IS YOUR SON?' DEMANDED ZIXI."] - -"And where is your son?" demanded Zixi. - -"Oh, he is gone to sea, for he is a sailor. By this time he is far away -upon the ocean." - -Bud, Fluff, and the witch-queen looked at one another in despair. This -seemed, indeed, to destroy all their hopes; for the one portion of the -cloak that they needed was far beyond their reach. - -Nothing remained but for them to return to Zixi's palace and await the -time when the miller's son should return from his voyage. But before -they went the queen said to the woman: - -"When he returns you may tell your son that if he will bring to me the -necktie you gave him, I will give him in return fifty gold pieces." - -"And I will give him fifty more," said Bud, promptly. - -"And I will give him enough ribbon to make fifty neckties," added Fluff. - -The miller's wife was delighted at the prospect. - -"Thank you! Thank you!" she exclaimed. "My boy's fortune is made. He can -now marry Imogene Gubb and settle down on a farm, and give up the sea -forever! And his neckties will be the envy of all the men in the -country. As soon as he returns I will send him to you with the bit of -the cloak which you need." - -But Zixi was so anxious that nothing might happen to prevent the -miller's son from returning the necktie, that she left two of her -soldiers at the mill, with instructions to bring the man to her palace -the instant he returned home. - -As they rode away they were all very despondent over the ill luck of -their journey. - -"He may be drowned at sea," said Bud. - -"Or he may lose the necktie on the voyage," said Fluff. - -"Oh, a thousand things _might_ happen," returned the queen; "but we need -not make ourselves unhappy imagining them. Let us hope the miller's son -will soon return and restore to us the missing patch." Which showed that -Zixi had not lived six hundred and eighty-three years without gaining -some wisdom. - -[Illustration: "QUEEN ZIXI TIED THE SILVER VIAL TO THE DOG'S NECK."] - - - - - Chapter XXII. - RUFFLES CARRIES THE SILVER VIAL. - - -When they were back at the witch-queen's palace in the city of Ix, the -queen insisted that Bud and Fluff, with their Aunt Rivette, should -remain her guests until the cloak could be restored to its former -complete state. And, for fear something else might happen to the -precious garment, a silver chest was placed in Princess Fluff's room and -the magic cloak safely locked therein, the key being carried upon the -chain around the girl's neck. - -But their plans to wait patiently were soon interfered with by the -arrival at Zixi's court of the talking dog, Ruffles, which had with much -difficulty escaped from the Roly-Rogues. - -Ruffles brought to them so sad and harrowing a tale of the sufferings of -the five high counselors and all the people of Noland at the hands of -the fierce Roly-Rogues, that Princess Fluff wept bitterly for her -friends, and Bud became so cross and disagreeable that even Zixi was -provoked with him. - -"Something really must be done," declared the queen. "I'll brew a -magical mess in my witch-kettle to-night, and see if I can find a way to -destroy those detestable Roly-Rogues." - -Indeed, she feared the creatures would some day find their way into Ix; -so when all the rest of those in the palace were sound asleep, Zixi -worked her magic spell, and from the imps she summoned she obtained -advice how to act in order to get rid of the Roly-Rogues. - -Next morning she questioned Ruffles carefully. - -"What do the Roly-Rogues eat?" she asked. - -"Everything," said the dog; "for they have no judgment, and consume -buttons and hairpins as eagerly as they do food. But there is one thing -they are really fond of, and that is soup. They oblige old Tollydob, the -lord high general, who works in the palace kitchen, to make them a -kettle of soup every morning; and this they all eat as if they were half -starving." - -"Very good!" exclaimed the witch-queen, with pleasure. "I think I see a -way of ridding all Noland of these monsters. Here is a Silver Vial -filled with a magic liquid. I will tie it around your neck, and you must -return to the city of Nole and carry the vial to Tollydob, the lord high -general. Tell him that on Thursday morning, when he makes the kettle of -soup, he must put the contents of the vial into the compound. But let no -one taste it afterward except the Roly-Rogues." - -"And what then?" asked Ruffles, curiously. - -"Then I will myself take charge of the monsters; and I have reason to -believe the good citizens of Noland will no longer find themselves -slaves." - -"All right," said the dog. "I will do as you bid me; for I long to free -my master and have revenge on the Roly-Rogues." - -So Queen Zixi tied the Silver Vial to the dog's neck by means of a broad -ribbon, and he started at once to return to Nole. - -And when he had gone, the queen summoned all her generals and bade them -assemble the entire army and prepare to march into Noland again. Only -this time, instead of being at enmity with the people of Noland, the -army of Ix was to march to their relief; and instead of bearing swords -and spears, each man bore a coil of strong rope. - -[Illustration: "HE STARTED AT ONCE TO RETURN TO NOLE."] - -"For," said Zixi, "swords and spears are useless where the Roly-Rogues -are concerned, as nothing can pierce their tough, rubber-like bodies. -And more nations have been conquered by cunning than by force of arms." - -Bud and Fluff, not knowing what the witch-queen meant to do, were much -disturbed by these preparations to march upon the Roly-Rogues. The -monsters had terrified them so greatly that they dreaded to meet with -them again, and Bud declared that the safest plan was to remain in -Zixi's kingdom and await the coming of the miller's son with the -necktie. - -"But," remonstrated Zixi, "in the meantime your people are suffering -terribly." - -"I know," said Bud; "and it nearly drives me frantic to think of it But -they will be no better off if we try to fight the Roly-Rogues and are -ourselves made slaves." - -"Why not try the magic cloak as it is," suggested the princess, "and see -if it won't grant wishes as before? There's only a small piece missing, -and it may not make any difference with the power the fairies gave to -it." - -"Hooray!" shouted Bud. "That's a good idea. It's a magic cloak just the -same, even if there is a chunk cut out of it." - -Zixi agreed that it was worth a trial, so the cloak was taken from the -silver casket and brought into the queen's reception-room. - -"Let us try it on one of your maids of honor, first," said Fluff; "and, -if it grants her wish, we will know the cloak has lost none of its magic -powers. Then you and Bud may both make your wishes." - -"Very well," returned the queen, and she summoned one of her maids. - -"I am going to lend you my cloak," said the princess to the maid; "and -while you wear it you must make a wish." - -She threw the cloak over the girl's shoulders, and after a moment's -thought the maid said: - -"I wish for a bushel of candies." - -"Fudge!" said Bud, scornfully. - -"No; all kinds of candies," answered the maid of honor. But, although -they watched her intently, the wish failed absolutely, for no bushel of -candies appeared in sight. - -"Let us try it again," suggested Fluff, while the others wore -disappointed expressions. "It was a foolish wish, anyhow; and perhaps -the fairies did not care to grant it." - -So another maid was called and given the cloak to wear. - -[Illustration: "'AND MAY I WISH FOR ANYTHING I DESIRE?' SHE ASKED -EAGERLY."] - -"And may I wish for anything I desire?" she asked eagerly. - -"Of course," answered the princess; "but, as you can have but one wish, -you must choose something sensible." - -"Oh, I will!" declared the maid. "I wish I had yellow hair and blue -eyes." - -"Why did you wish that?" asked Fluff, angrily, for the girl had pretty -brown hair and eyes. - -"Because the young man I am going to marry says he likes blondes better -than brunettes," answered the maid, blushing. - -But her hair did not change its color, for all the wish; and the maid -said, with evident disappointment: - -"Your magic cloak seems to be a fraud." - -"It does not grant foolish wishes," returned the princess, as she -dismissed her. - -When the maid had gone Zixi asked: - -"Well, are you satisfied?" - -"Yes," acknowledged Fluff. "The cloak will not grant wishes unless it is -complete. We must wait for the sailorman's necktie." - -"Then my army shall march to-morrow morning," said the queen, and she -went away to give the order to her generals. - - - - - Chapter XXIII. - THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MONSTERS. - - -It was Tuesday when the army of Ix started upon its second march into -Noland. With it were the witch-queen, King Bud, Princess Fluff, and Aunt -Rivette. At evening they encamped on the bank of the river, and on -Wednesday the army was ferried across, and marched up the side of the -mountain that separated them from the valley of Noland. By night they -had reached the summit of the mountain; but they did not mount upon the -ridge, for fear they might be seen by the Roly-Rogues. - -Zixi commanded them all to remain quietly behind the ridge, and they -lighted no fires and spoke only in whispers. - -And, although so many thousands of men lay close to the valley of -Noland, not a sound came from them to warn the monsters that an enemy -was near. - -Thursday morning dawned bright and pleasant, and as soon as the sun was -up the Roly-Rogues came crowding around the palace kitchen, demanding -that old Tollydob hurry the preparation of their soup. - -This the general did, trembling in spite of his ten feet of stature; for -if they were kept waiting the monsters were liable to prod his flesh -with their thorns. - -But Tollydob did not forget to empty the contents of the Silver Vial -into the soup, as the dog Ruffles had told him to do; and soon it was -being ladled out to the Roly-Rogues by Jikki, the four high counselors, -and a dozen other enslaved officers of King Bud. - -And the dog Ruffles ran through the city, crying to every Roly-Rogue he -met: "Hurry and get your soup before it is gone. It is especially good -this morning!" - -So every Roly-Rogue in the valley hurried to the palace kitchen for -soup; and there were so many that it was noon before the last were -served, while these became so impatient that they abused their slaves in -a sad manner. - -Yet, even while the last were eating, those who had earlier partaken of -the soup lay around the palace sound asleep and snoring loudly; for the -contents of the Silver Vial had the effect of sending all of them to -sleep within an hour, and rendering them wholly unconscious for a period -of ten hours. - -[Illustration: "AND THE DOG RUFFLES RAN THROUGH THE CITY, CRYING TO -EVERY ROLY-ROGUE HE MET: 'HURRY AND GET YOUR SOUP.'"] - -All through the city the Roly-Rogues lay asleep; and, as they always -withdrew their heads and limbs into their bodies when they slumbered, -they presented a spectacle of thousands of huge balls lying motionless. - -[Illustration: "ALL THROUGH THE CITY THE ROLY-ROGUES LAY ASLEEP."] - -When the big kettle was finally empty and the lord high general paused -to wipe the perspiration from his brow, the last of the Roly-Rogues were -rolling over on their backs from the effects of the potion which the -witch-queen brewed and placed in the Silver Vial. - -Aunt Rivette had been flying over the city since early morning; and -although the Roly-Rogues had been too intent upon their breakfast to -notice her, the old woman's sharp eyes had watched everything that took -place below. - -Now, when all the monsters had succumbed to the witch-potion, Aunt -Rivette flew back to the mountain where the army of Ix was hidden, and -carried the news to the witch-queen. - -Zixi at once ordered her generals to advance, and the entire army -quickly mounted the summit of the ridge and ran down the side of the -mountain to the gates of the city. - -The people, who saw that something unusual was taking place, greeted Bud -and Fluff and the witch-queen with shouts of gladness; and even Aunt -Rivette, when she flew down among them, was given three hearty cheers. - -But there was no time for joyous demonstrations while the streets and -public squares were cluttered with the sleeping bodies of the terrible -Roly-Rogues. The army of Ix lost no time in carrying out their queen's -instructions; and as soon as they entered the city they took the long -ropes they carried and wound them fast about the round bodies of the -monsters, securely fastening their heads and limbs into their forms so -that they could not stick them out again. - -Their enemies being thus rendered helpless, the people renewed their -shouts of joy and gratitude, and eagerly assisted the soldiers of Ix in -rolling all the Roly-Rogues outside the gates and to a wide ledge of the -mountain. - -The lord high general and all the other counselors threw away their -aprons and tools of servitude and dressed themselves in their official -robes. The soldiers of Tollydob's army ran for their swords and pikes, -and the women unlocked their doors and trooped into the streets of Nole -for the first time since the descent of the monsters. - -[Illustration: "ALL THE ROLY-ROGUES WERE THUS ROLLED INTO THE RIVER, -WHERE THEY BOBBED UP AND DOWN IN THE WATER."] - -But the task of liberation was not yet accomplished. All the Roly-Rogues -had to be rolled up the side of the mountain to the topmost ridge, and -so great was the bulk of their bodies that it took five or six men to -roll each one to the mountain-top; and even then they were obliged to -stop frequently to rest. - -But as soon as they got a Roly-Rogue to the ridge they gave it a push -and sent it bounding down the other side of the mountain until it fell -into the big river flowing swiftly below. - -During the afternoon all the Roly-Rogues were thus dumped into the -river, where they bobbed up and down in the water, spinning around and -bumping against one another until the current carried them out of sight -on their journey to the sea. It was rumored later that they had reached -an uninhabited island where they harm no one except themselves. - -"I'm glad they floated," said Zixi, as she stood upon the mountain ridge -and watched the last of the monsters float out of sight; "for if they -had sunk they would have filled up the river, there were so many of -them." - -It was evening when Noland at last became free from her terrible -tyrants; and the citizens illuminated the entire city that they might -spend the night in feasting and rejoicing over their freedom. The -soldiers of Ix were embraced and made much of; and at all the feasts -they were the honored guests, while the people of Noland pledged them -their sincere friendship forever. - -King Bud took possession of the royal palace again, and Jikki bustled -about and prepared a grand banquet for the king's guests,--although the -old valet grumbled a great deal because his six solemn servants would -not assist in waiting upon any one but himself. - -The Roly-Rogues had destroyed many things, but the servants of the -palace managed to quickly clear away the rubbish and to decorate the -banquet-hall handsomely. - -Bud placed the beautiful witch-queen upon his right hand and showed her -great honor, for he was really very grateful for her assistance in -rescuing his country from the invaders. - -The feasting and dancing lasted far into the night; but when at last the -people sought their beds they knew they might rest peacefully and free -from care, for the Roly-Rogues had gone forever. - - - - - Chapter XXIV. - THE SAILORMAN'S RETURN. - - -Next day the witch-queen returned with her army to the city of Ix, to -await the coming of the sailorman with the necktie, and King Bud set -about getting his kingdom into running order again. - -The lord high purse-bearer dug up his magic purse, and Bud ordered him -to pay the shopkeepers full value for everything the Roly-Rogues had -destroyed. The merchants were thus enabled to make purchases of new -stocks of goods; and although all travelers had for many days kept away -from Noland, for fear of the monsters, caravans now flocked in vast -numbers to the city of Nole with rich stores of merchandise to sell, so -that soon the entire city looked like a huge bazaar. - -Bud also ordered a gold piece given to the head of every family; and -this did no damage to the ever-filled royal purse, while it meant riches -to the poor people who had suffered so much. - -Princess Fluff had carried her silver chest back to the palace of her -brother, and in it lay, carefully folded, the magic cloak. Being now -fearful of losing it, she warned Jikki to allow no one to enter the room -in which lay the silver chest, except with her full consent, explaining -to him the value of the cloak. - -"And was it this cloak I wore when I wished for half a dozen servants?" -asked the old valet. - -"Yes," answered Fluff; "Aunt Rivette bade you return it to me, and you -were so careless of it that nearly all the high counselors used it -before I found it again." - -"Then," said Jikki, heedless of the reproof, "will your Highness please -use the cloak to rid me of these stupid servants? They are continually -at my heels, waiting to serve me; and I am so busy myself serving others -that those six young men almost drive me distracted. It wouldn't be so -bad if they would serve any one else; but they claim they are my -servants alone, and refuse to wait upon even his Majesty the king." - -"Sometime I will try to help you," answered Fluff; "but I shall not use -the cloak again until the miller's son returns from his voyage at sea." - -So Jikki was forced to wait as impatiently as the others for the -sailorman, and his servants had now become such a burden upon him that -he grumbled every time he looked around and saw them standing in a stiff -line behind him. - -Aunt Rivette again took possession of her rooms at the top of the -palace; and although Bud, grateful for her courage in saving him and his -sister from the Roly-Rogues, would gladly have given her handsomer -apartments, the old woman preferred to be near the roof, where she could -take flight into the air whenever it pleased her to go out. - -With her big wings and her power to fly as a bird, she was the envy of -all the old gossips she had known in the days when she worked as a -laundress; and now she would often alight upon the door-step of some -humble friend and tell of the wonderful adventures she had encountered. - -This never failed to surround her with an admiring circle of listeners, -and Aunt Rivette derived far more pleasure from her tattle than from -living in a palace with her nephew the king. - -The kingdom of Noland soon took on a semblance of its former prosperity, -and the Roly-Rogues were only remembered with shudders of repugnance, -and spoken of in awed whispers. - -And so the days wore away until late in the autumn, when, one morning, a -mounted soldier from Queen Zixi dashed into Nole and rode furiously up -to the palace gate. - -"The sailorman is found!" he shouted, throwing himself from his horse -and bowing low before little King Bud, who had come out to meet him. - -"Good," remarked Bud. - -"The Queen of Ix is even now riding to your Majesty's city with a large -escort surrounding the sailorman," continued the soldier. - -"And has he the necktie?" asked Bud, eagerly. - -"He is wearing it, your Majesty," answered the man; "but he refuses to -give it to any one but the Princess Fluff." - -"That's all right," said the king; and, reëntering the palace, he -ordered Jikki to make preparations to receive the witch-queen and her -retinue. - -[Illustration: "'THE SAILORMAN IS FOUND!' HE SHOUTED."] - -When Zixi came to the city gates she found General Tollydob, in a -gorgeous new uniform, waiting to escort her to the palace. The houses -were gay with flags and streamers; bands were playing; and on each side -of the street along which the witch-queen rode were lines of soldiers to -keep the way clear of the crowding populace. - -Behind the queen came the sailorman, carefully guarded by Zixi's most -trusted soldiers. He looked uneasy at so great a reception, and rode his -horse as awkwardly as a sailor might. - -So the cavalcade came to the palace, which was thronged with courtiers -and ladies in waiting. - -Zixi and the sailorman were ushered into the great throne room, where -King Bud, wearing his ermine robe and jeweled crown, sat gravely upon -his throne, with Princess Fluff beside him. - -"Your Majesty," began the witch-queen, bowing prettily, "I have brought -you the sailorman at last. He has just returned from his voyage, and my -soldiers captured him at his mother's cottage by the mill. But he -refuses to give the necktie to any one except the Princess Fluff." - -"I am the Princess Fluff," said Meg to the sailor; "and your necktie is -part of my magic cloak. So please give it back to me." - -The sailor shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. - -"My mother told me," he finally said, "that King Bud would give me fifty -gold pieces for it, and the Queen of Ix would give me another fifty gold -pieces, and that your Highness would give me fifty neckties." - -"That is all true," returned Fluff; "so here are the fifty neckties." - -Tillydib, the lord high purse-bearer, counted out fifty gold pieces, and -Zixi's treasurer counted out another fifty, and all were given to the -sailorman. - -Then the miller's son unfastened the necktie from about his collar and -handed it to Fluff. - -During the murmur of satisfaction that followed, the girl unlocked her -silver chest, which Jikki had brought, and drew out the magic cloak. -Lifting the skirt of the garment, she attempted to fit the sailor's -necktie into the place it should go; and then, while every one looked on -with breathless interest, the girl lifted a white face to the sailorman -and exclaimed: - -"This is not the necktie your mother gave you!" - -[Illustration: "'THIS IS NOT THE NECKTIE YOUR MOTHER GAVE YOU!'"] - -For a moment there was silence, while the assemblage glared angrily upon -the sailor. Then the king, rising from his seat, demanded: - -"Are you sure, Fluff? Are you sure of that?" - -"Of course I'm sure," said the girl; "it is neither the shape nor the -color of the missing patch." - -Bud turned to the now trembling sailor. - -"Why have you tried to deceive us?" he asked sternly. - -"Oh, your Majesty!" returned the man, wringing his hands miserably, "I -lost the necktie in a gale at sea, for I knew nothing of its value. And -when I came home my mother told me of all the gold you had offered for -its return, and advised me to deceive you by wearing another necktie. -She said you would never know the difference." - -"Your mother is a foolish woman, as well as dishonest," answered Bud; -"and you shall both be severely punished. Tellydeb," he continued, -addressing the lord high executioner, "take this man to prison, and see -that he is fed on bread and water until further orders." - -"Not so!" exclaimed a sweet voice near the king; and then all looked up -to see the beautiful Lulea, queen of the fairies, standing beside the -throne. - - - - - Chapter XXV. - THE FAIRY QUEEN. - - -Every eye was now fixed upon the exquisite form of the fairy queen, -which shed a glorious radiance throughout the room, and filled every -heart with an awe and admiration not unmingled with fear. - -"The magic cloak was woven by my band," said the fairy, speaking so -distinctly that all could hear the words; "and our object was to bring -relief to suffering mortal--not to add to their worries. Some good the -cloak has accomplished, I am sure; but also has it been used foolishly, -and to no serious purpose. Therefore I, who gave the cloak, shall now -take it away. The good that has been done shall remain; but the foolish -wishes granted shall now be canceled." With these words, she turned and -lightly lifted the shimmering magic garment from the lap of the -princess. - -[Illustration: "'I WISH,' GRAVELY ANNOUNCED BUD, 'THAT I MAY BECOME THE -BEST KING THAT NOLAND HAS EVER HAD.'"] - -"One moment, please!" cried Bud, eagerly. "Cannot I have my wish? I -waited until I could wish wisely, you know; and then the cloak wouldn't -work." - -With a smile, Lulea threw the cloak over the boy's shoulders. - -"Wish!" said she. - -"I wish," announced Bud, gravely, "that I may become the best king that -Noland has ever had!" - -"Your wish is granted," returned the fairy, sweetly; "and it shall be -the last wish fulfilled through the magic cloak." - -But now Zixi rushed forward and threw herself upon her knees before the -fairy. - -"Oh, your Majesty--" she began eagerly; but Lulea instantly silenced her -with an abrupt gesture. - -"Plead not to me, Queen of Ix!" said the dainty immortal, drawing back -from Zixi's prostrate form. "You know that we fairies do not approve of -witchcraft. However long your arts may permit you to live, you must -always beware a mirror!" - -Zixi gave a sob and buried her pretty face in her hands; and it was -Fluff whose tender heart prompted her to raise the witch-queen and try -to comfort her. - -For a moment all present had looked at Zixi. When their eyes again -sought the form of the fairy, Lulea had vanished, and with her -disappeared forever from Noland the magic cloak. - -Some important changes had been wrought through the visit of the fairy. -Jikki's six servants were gone, to the old valet's great delight. The -ten-foot general had shrunken to six feet in height, Lulea having -generously refrained from reducing old Tollydob to his former short -stature. Ruffles, to the grief of the lord high steward, could no longer -talk; but Tallydab comforted himself with the knowledge that his dog -could at least understand every word addressed to him. The lord high -executioner found he could no longer reach farther than other men; but -the royal purse of old Tillydib remained ever filled, which assured the -future prosperity of the kingdom of Noland. - -As for Zixi, she soon became reconciled to her fate, and returned to Ix -to govern her country with her former liberality and justice. - -The last wish granted by the magic cloak was doubtless the most -beneficial and far-reaching of all; for King Bud ruled many years with -exceeding wisdom and gentleness, and was greatly beloved by each and -every one of his admiring subjects. - -The cheerfulness and sweet disposition of Princess Fluff became renowned -throughout the world, and when she grew to womanhood many brave and -handsome princes from other countries came to Nole to sue for her heart -and hand. One of these she married, and reigned as queen of a great -nation in after years, winning quite as much love and respect from her -people as his loyal subjects bestowed upon her famous brother, King Bud -of Noland. - -[Illustration: THE END] - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Generated a cover image, based on graphic elements from the book, and - released for free unrestricted use with this eBook. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Queen Zixi of Ix, by L. 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