 CHAPTER I OF THE FLOWDING PRINCE AND OTHER FAIRY TAILS. THE FLOWDING PRINCE AND OTHER FAIRY TAILS. CHAPTER I THE FLOWDING PRINCE. There was once an orphan prince named Nassim, who had been carefully educated to take his place upon the throne of his native country. Everything that a king ought to know had been taught him, and he was considered by the best judges to be in every way qualified to wear a crown and to wield a scepter. But when he became of age and was about to take his place upon the throne, a relative of greater power and influence in the country concluded that he would be king himself, and so the young prince was thrown out upon the world. The new king did not want him in his dominions, and it was therefore determined by his teachers and guardians that he would have to become a floating prince. By this they meant that he must travel about from place to place until he found some kingdom which needed a king, and which was willing to accept him to rule over it. With such a situation were vacant he could easily obtain it. He was therefore furnished with a new suit of clothes and a good sword, a small crown, and a scepter were packed into his bag, and he was started out to seek his fortune as best he could. As the prince walked away from the walls of his native city he felt quite downhearted, although he was by nature gay and hopeful. He did not believe that he could find any country which would want him for a ruler. That is all nonsense, he said to himself. There are always plenty of heirs or usupers to take a throne when it is empty. If I want a kingdom I must build up one for myself, and that is just what I will do. I will gather together my subjects as I go along. The first person I meet shall be my chief counselor of state. The second shall be head of the army. The third shall be the admiral of the navy. The next shall be chief treasurer, and then I will collect subjects of various classes. Cheered by this plan he stepped gaily on, and just as he was entering a wood, through which his pathway led him he heard someone singing. Speaking about him he saw a little lady, about five inches high, sitting upon a twig of a flowering bush nearby, and singing to herself, Nassim instantly perceived that she was a fairy, and said to himself, ooh, I did not expect a meeting of this sort, but as he was a bold and frank young fellow he stepped up to her and said, good morning, Lady Fairy, how would you like to be chief counselor to a king? It would be splendid, said the lively little fairy, her eyes sparkling with the light. But where is the king? I am the king, said Nassim, or rather I am to be as soon as I get my kingdom together. And then he told her his story and his plans. The fairy was charmed, the plan suited her exactly. You might get a larger counselor than I am, she said, but I know a good deal about government. I have been governed ever so much, and I could not help learning how it is done. I'm glad enough to have a chance to help somebody govern other people. I'll be your chief counselor. All right, said the prince, who was much pleased with the merry little creature. Now we'll go and hunt up the rest of the kingdom. He took the little fairy in his hand and placed her in one of the folds of his silken girdle, where she could rest, as if in a tiny hammock, and then he asked her name. My name, she answered, is Lorela, chief counselor of the kingdom of—what are you going to call your kingdom? Oh, I haven't thought of a name yet. Could it be Nasima, after yourself, said Lorela? Very well, answered the prince, we will call it Nasima. That will save trouble and disputes after the kingdom is established. Nasim now stepped along quite briskly, talking to his little companion as he went, and explaining to her his various ideas regarding his future kingdom. Suddenly he stumbled over what he supposed was a trunk of a fallen tree, and then he was quickly raised into the air, a stride of the supposed tree-tunk, which seemed to have a hinge in it. But now, said a great voice, and the prince perceived that he was sitting on the knee of a giant who had been lying on his back in the wood. Don't be afraid, said Lorela, looking out of her little hammock. He won't hurt you. Excuse me, said the prince, I did not see you, or I should have been more careful. How would you like to be general of the army of the kingdom of Nasima? That sounds splendidly, cried little Lorela. The giant looked bewildered. He could not understand at all what the prince was talking about. But when Nasim explained it all to him, he said he would like very well to be head general of the army, and he accepted the position. Rising to his feet the giant offered to carry the prince on his arm, so that they could get along faster, and in this way they traveled, all discussing, with much zest, the scheme of the new kingdom. About noon they began to be hungry, and so they sat down in a shady place, the giant having said that he had something to eat in a bag which he carried at his side. He opened this bag, and spread out half a dozen enormous loaves of bread, two joints of roast meat, a boiled ham, and about a bushel of roasted potatoes. Is that the food for your whole army? asked Lorela. Oh no, answered the giant, who was a young fellow with a good appetite. I brought this for myself, but there will be enough for you, too. I don't believe I should have eaten it quite all, anyway. I should hope not, said the prince, why, that would last me several weeks. And me a thousand years, said Lorela, you will talk differently if you ever grow to be as big as I am, said the giant, smiling, as he took a bite from a loaf of bread. When the meal was over they all felt refreshed and quite eager to meet the next comer, who was to be the admiral or commander of the navy, of the new kingdom. For some time they went on without seeing anyone, but at last they perceived in a field at some distance a man on stilts. He was tending sheep and wore the stilts so that he could the better see his flock, as it wandered about. There's the admiral, said the giant, let me put you down and run over and catch him. So saying he set the prince on the ground and ran toward the shepherd, who, seeing him coming, at once took to flight. The stilts were so long that he made enormous steps, and he got over the ground very fast. The giant had long legs and he ran swiftly, but he had a great deal of trouble to get near the man on stilts, who dodged in every direction, and rushed about like an enormous crane. The poor frightened sheep scattered themselves over the fields, and hid in the bushes. At last the giant made a vigorous dash, and swooping his long arm around, he caught the shepherd by one stilt, and waving him around his head, shouted in triumph. The prince and the gorilla, who had been watching this chase with great interest, cheered in return. Now we have an admiral, said the fairy, as the giant approached, proudly bearing the shepherd aloft. Don't you think it would be well for you to get out your crown and scepter? He ought to understand at once that you are the king. So Nazine took his crown and scepter from his bag, and putting that one on his head, held the other in his hand. He looked quite kingly when the giant came up and set the shepherd down, on his knees before him, with his stilt sticking out ever so far behind. And I'm glad to see you, said the prince, and herewith make you admiral of my royal navy. Admiral cried the poor frightened man, I don't understand. Oh, it's all right, exclaimed the merry little Larilla, as she slipped out of the prince's sash, and ran up to the shepherd. We're going to have a splendid kingdom, and we're just getting together, the head officers. I'm chief counselor, that giant is the general of the army, and we want you to command the navy. There'll be a salary after a while, and I know you'll like it. As she went on to explain the whole matter to the shepherd, his fear left him, and he smiled. I shall be very glad to be your admiral, he then said, to the prince, whereupon the giant lifted him up on his feet, or rather on to the stilts, which were strapped to his feet and ankles, and the affair was settled. The party now went on, the giant and the man, on stilts side by side, the prince on the giant's arm, and the Larilla in Nazim's sash. What other great officer must we have? She asked of Nazim, the chief officer of the treasury, or chancellor of the ex-quire. I see him now. It was true. Along a road in a valley below them, a man was walking. Instantly they were all excited. The giant and the man on stilts wished to run after the newcomer, but the prince forbade it, saying it would be better to approach him quietly. The man, who halted when he saw them, proved to be a clam-digger with his clam-break over one shoulder, and a large basket in his hand. The prince did not waste many words with this person, who was a rather humble-minded man, but briefly explained the situation to him and told him that he was now the chancellor of the ex-quire, in charge of the treasury of the kingdom of Nazimah. The man, remarking that he saw no objection to such a position, and that it might, in the end, be better than clam-diggering, joined the prince's party, which again proceeded on its way. That night they all slept in a palm grove, first making a supper of coconuts, which the giant and the admiral pit from the tops of the trees. Now then, said Nazim, in the morning, what we must have next is an aristocracy. Out of this upper class we can then fill the government offices. Very true, said the giant, and we shall want an army. I do not feel altogether like a general, without some soldiers under me. And I must have a navy, said the admiral, and there must be common people, remarked the chancellor of the ex-quire, for we shall need some folks on whom I can levy taxes, with which to carry on the government. You are all right, said Nazim, and this is the way we will manage matters. All the people we meet today shall be the aristocrats of Nazimah. All we meet tomorrow shall form the army, and all we see the next day shall be taken to make up the navy. After that we will collect common people until we have enough. I can tell you now, said the admiral, how to get a lot of aristocrats together in a bunch. Amalahed, of where we now are, is a school house, and it is full of boys, with a gray-haired master. These fellows ought to make excellent aristocrats. They will do very well, said Nazim, and we will go quietly forward and capture them all. When they reach the school house, Nazim, with his crown on his head and his sceptre in his hand, took his position at the front door. The giant crouched down by the back door, the chancellor stood by one window, and the admiral tried to stand by the other. But his stilts were so long that he looked over the roof instead of into the window. Is not that a well near you, said the little counselor Lorella, who was perched on a vine for some keeping? Step into that, and you will, most likely, be just tall enough. The admiral stepped into the well, which was close to the house, and found that he stood exactly high enough to command the window. When all was posted, Nazim opened his door, and stepping a short distance into the room, declared his title and position, and called upon them all to consider themselves members of the aristocracy of his kingdom. The moment he said this, the astonished and frightened boy sprang to their feet and made a rush for the back door. But when they threw it open, there squattered the giant with a broad grin on his face, and his hands spread out before the doorway. Then they turned and ran, some for one window and some for another. But at one stood the treasurer, brandishing his own, brandishing his clam rake, and at the other the admiral, shaking his fists. There was no escape, one or two, who tried to pass by Nazim, having been stopped by a tap on the head from his scepter, and so the boys crowded together in the middle of the room, while some of the smaller ones began to cry. The master was too much startled and astonished to say a word. Then came running into the room, little Larilla, and mounting to the top of the schoolmaster's table, she addressed the school, telling them all about the new kingdom, and explaining what a jolly old time they would have. It would be like a long holiday, and although their master would go with them to teach them what they would have to know in their new position, it would not be a bit like going to school. As soon as the boys heard that, they would not have to go to school. They agreed to the plan on the spot. Some of them even went out to talk to the giant. As to the master, he said that if his school was to be taken into the new kingdom, he would go too, for he had promised the parents that he would take care of their boys. So when all was settled, the whole school headed by the master, made ready to follow Nazim and his officers, the giant pulled the admiral out of the well, much to the delight of the boys, and all started off in good humor. The company went into camp on the edge of a wood quite early in the evening, because Larilla said that boys ought not to be up late. If it had not been for the luncheons which the boys had in their baskets and which they cheerfully shared with their older companions, many of the party would have gone to sleep hungry that night. As for the giant, it is probable that he did go to sleep hungry, for it would have taken the contents of all the baskets to have entirely satisfied his appetite. Early the next morning he aroused the party. Here are a few bushels of coconuts, he cried, emptying a great bag on the ground. I gathered them before any of you were awake. Eat them quickly, for we must be off. Today is my army day, and I want to get as many soldiers as I can. Everyone was very willing to please the giant, and early start was made, and before very long the party reached the edge of a desert. They journeyed over the sand, nearly all day, but not a living being did they see. Late in the afternoon a black man on an ostrich was seen coming from behind a hillock of sand, and immediately with a great shout the whole party set out in chase. It is probable that the man on the bird would have soon got away from his pursuers, had not the ostrich persisted in running around in a great circle, while the hoops and shouts the giant and the rest succeeded in heading off the ostrich, which tumbled over throwing his rider on the sand. The bird then ran off as fast as he could go, while the negro was seized by every aristocrat who could get near enough to lay hold of him. The giant now came up and lifted the man from the midst of his young captors. You need not be frightened, said he. You are to belong to my army. That is all. I will treat you well. And not kill me, whimpered the black man. Certainly not, said the giant. I need soldiers too much to want to kill the only one I've got. Fall in line, behind me, and we'll march on and see if we cannot find you, some comrades. But by nightfall the giant's army still consisted of one black man. The party encamped in an oasis where grew a number of date palms, the fruit of which afforded a plentiful supper for everybody. The giant had not much appetite, and he looked solemn while gazing at his army as it sat cross-legged on the ground eating dates. The next morning the admiral earnestly petitioned that they should try to get out of the desert as soon as possible. For, said he, I have a dreadful time in this sand with my stilts, and I really need more men in my navy than the giant has in his army, besides the best kind of sailors can never be found in a dry desert like this. And no one could object to this reasoning. They set forth, turning to the east, and before noon they saw before them fields and vegetation, and shortly afterward they came to a broad river. Journey down the bank of this for a mile or two they perceived lying at anchor in the stream a good-sized vessel with a tall mast and a great sail hauled down on the deck. Hurrah! showed the admiral the moment he set his eyes upon the prize, and away he went for it as fast as his stilts would carry him. When he reached the water he waited right in and was soon standing looking over the vessel's side. He did not get on board, but after standing for some time asking to a person inside he waited back to the shore where his companions were anxiously waiting to hear what he had discovered. There are not many persons on board, he said, rather ruefully, only an old woman and a girl. One is the cook and the other washes bottles. There were a good many men on the ship, but the old woman says that they all went away yesterday caring with them a vast number of packages. She thinks they were a lot of thieves and that they had gone off with their booty and have deserted the vessel. She and the girl were simply hired as servants and know nothing about the crew. It isn't exactly the kind of navy I wanted, but it will do, and we must see some men before night. It was unanimously agreed that the government of Nesama should take possession of this deserted vessel, and the giant soon managed to pull her to shore, anchor, and all. Everybody accepting the giant went on board. The queen and Lorela going first. Then the government officers, the aristocracy and the army, the admiral stood on his stilts, with his head up in the rigging and the ship was formally placed under his command. When all was ready the giant ran the ship out into the stream, waiting in up to his medal, and then he very carefully clambered on board. The vessel rocked a good deal as he got in, but it could carry him so long as he kept quiet. As my navy is not large enough just now to work the ship, said the admiral to Nessim, and also as it doesn't know anything about such work, I shall have to have the help of the aristocracy, and shall also have to ask the general to lend me his army. All right, said the giant, you can have him. A number of the larger boys assisted by the negro now went to work and hoisted the sail. Then the army was sent to the helm. The vessel was put before the wind, and the kingdom of Nesama began to sail away. There was a large quantity of provisions on board, enough to last many days, and everybody ate heartily, but not a person was seen that day on either bank of the river. They anchored at night, and the next morning, setting sail again, they soon entered a broad sea or lake. They sailed on with the wind behind them, and everybody enjoyed the trip. This admiral sat on the stern with his stilts dangling behind the water, as the ship sailed on and was very happy. Now, said the counselor of the Exquire, as the officers of the government were talking together on deck, all we want is some common people, and then we can begin the kingdom in real earnest. We must have some houses and streets, said Nassimi, and a palace. These will be necessary before we can settle down as a kingdom. They sailed on night, and the next day they saw land before them, and slowly moving near the shore. They perceived a long caravan. High, shouted the counselor of the Exquire, there are the common people. Everybody was now very much excited, and everybody wanted to go ashore, but this Nassimi would not permit. Capturing a caravan would be a very different thing from capturing a negro on an ostrich, and the matter must be undertaken with caution and prudence. So ordering the ship brought near the shore, he made ready to land, accompanied only by the giant and Lorela. The giant had found a spare mast on the vessel, and he had trimmed and whittled it into a convenient club. This he took under one arm, and with Nassimi on the other wearing his crown and carrying Lorela in his sash, the giant waited ashore and stopped a short distance in front of the approaching caravan. Nassimi, having been set on the ground, advanced to the leader of the caravan, and drawing his sword, caught upon him to halt. Instantly the procession stopped, and the leader, dismounting from his horse, approached Nassimi and bowed low before him, offering to pay tribute, if necessary. We will not speak of tribute, said Nassimi, at least not now. What I wish is to know who you all are, and where you are going. That is easily answered, said the other, giving a glance upward at the giant, who stood leaning on his club, behind Nassimi. We are a company of men of high degree, of philosophers and of rich merchants, who have joined together to visit foreign lands, to enjoy ourselves and improve our minds. We have brought with us our families, our slaves, and our flocks, and other possessions. We wish to offend no one, and if you object to our passing through your dominions. I do not object, said Nassimi. I am very glad you came this way. These are not my dominions. I am king of Nassimi. And where is that, your majesty? It is not anywhere, in particular, just now, said Nassimi. But we shall soon fix upon a spot, where its boundaries will be established. It is a new kingdom, and only needed a body of calm, safeopulous, whispered Lorela from her sash. The other might offend him, and only needed a populous, continued Nassimi, to make it complete. I am the king of royal blood and education. I have ministers of state and finance, an admiral and a navy, a general of the army, whom you see here, pointing to the giant, and an aristocracy, which is at present on board of that ship. I have been looking for a populous, and am very glad to have met you. You and your companions are now my people. What, your majesty? cried the astonished leader of the caravan. I do not comprehend. The scene then explained the plan and purpose of his kingdom, and assured the other that he and his countrymen, and nowhere, to be more happy than in the kingdom of Nassimi, where every opportunity of enjoyment and the improvement of the mind would be offered to the people. The leader, on hearing this, begged permission to consult with his fellow travelers. Some advised one thing and some another, but the sight of the giant, who every now and then playfully struck the earth with the end of his club in such a way as to make the ground tremble, hastened their decision. If we were poor men, said one of the philosophers, and had no treasures with us, we might scatter in various directions, and many of us might escape. That giant could not kill us all. But we are too rich for that. We cannot run away from our great possessions. We must submit in peace. So it was settled that they should submit to the king of Nassimi and become his people, and the leader carried the decision to Nassim. The chancellor of the aquire now became very anxious to go on shore. He had cast off his clam diggers' clothes and wore a magnificent suit, which he had found in the ship, and which had belonged to the robber captain. He stood on the deck and made signs for the giant to come for him. So the giant was sent for him, and soon returned, bringing also the army, which the chancellor had borrowed of him for a time. This officer, as soon as he had landed, approached Nassim and said, These then are the common people. I suppose I might as well go to work and collect taxes. You need not hurry about that, said Nassim. They will never believe in your government until you do it, urged the chancellor, and so Nassim allowed him to do as he wished, only telling him not to bevy his taxes too heavily. Then the chancellor, with the negro behind him carrying his old clam basket over which a cloth had been thrown, went through the caravan and collected taxes enough to gold and silver to fill his basket. He also collected a horse for himself, and one for Nassim. Now, said he, we have the foundation of a treasury, and the thing begins to look like a kingdom. Everything now, everything being now satisfactorily arranged, the company begins to move on. The giant, with his army at his heels, and his club over his shoulder marched first, then wrote Nassim with Lorella, then the chancellor, with his basket of treasure before him on his horse, and after him the caravan, the ship silt alone, a short distance from the shore. Even the evening the land party encamped near the shore, and the vessel came to anchor the giant shouting to the admiral Nassim's commands. The chancellor wished to make another collection of taxes after supper, but this Nassim forbade. Lorella then had a long talk with Nassim, apart from the company, assuring him that what was needed next was the royal city. Yes, indeed, said Nassim, and we are not likely to meet with that, as we have met with everything else. We must build a city, I suppose. No, said Lorella gaily, we can do much better. Do you see that heavy forest on the hills back of us? Well, in that forest is the great capital city of my people, the fairies. We are scattered in colonies all over the country, but there is our court and our queen, and it is the fairies who can help you to get a royal city. This very evening I will go and see what can be done. So that evening Nassim took Lorella to the edge of the forest, and while she ran swiftly into the depths, he lay down and slept. Early the next morning, while the stars were still shining, she returned and awoke him, and while they were going to the she told him her news. Our queen, she said, will have a city built for you, all complete, with everything that a city needs. Before she will have this done, she commands that someone in your party shall be changed into a fairy to take my place. This must be a grown person who consents to the exchange, as I have agreed to be your chief counselor of state, and it must be someone whose mind has never been occupied with human affairs. I don't believe you will find any such person among us, said Nassim roofily, but Lorella clapped her hands and cried merrily, Ah, yes, the bottle washer. I believe she is the very person. Nassim was cheered by this idea, and as soon as they reached the shore, he asked the giant to carry him and Lorella to the ship. Early as it was, they found the young girl sitting on the deck, quietly washing bottles. She had lost her parents when an infant and had never had anyone to care for. She had passed her life since she was a very small child in washing bottles, and as this employment does not require any mental labor, she had never concerned herself about anything. She will do, exclaimed Lorella, when she had found out all this. I don't believe her mind was ever occupied at all. It is perfectly fresh for her to begin as a fairy. When the girl was asked if she would be a fairy, she consented, for it made no difference to her what she was, and when the admiral was asked if he would give her up, he said, oh, yes, to be sure, it will reduce my navy to one person, but even then it will be as large as the army. You may take her and welcome. The bottle washer therefore was taken to the shore, and Nassim conducted her to the woods with Lorella. After he left them, promising to return at sunset, you must be careful of one thing, said Lorella to him before he left, and that is not to let these aristocrats come on shore. If they once get among the poplists, they will begin to lord over them in a way that will raise a dreadful commotion. Nassim promised to attend to this, and when he went back, he sent orders to the admiral on no account to allow any aristocrat to come on shore. The order caused great discontent on the vessel. The boys couldn't see why they alone should be shut up in the ship. They had expected to have lots of fun when the common people were found. It was therefore with great difficulty that they were restrained from jumping overboard and swimming ashore in a body. The master had been made an ancient noble, but his authority was of little avail, and the poor admiral had his hands full. Indeed, he would have been in despair had it not been for the gallant conduct of his navy. That brave woman seized a broom, and marching around the deck kept watchful guard. Whenever she saw a boy attempting to climb over the side of the vessel, she brought down the broom with a whack upon him and tumbled him back on the deck. In the afternoon, however, the giant came to the vessel with a double-arm load of rich fruit, cakes, pastry, and confectionery, and offering from the common people, which so delighted the aristocrats that there was now peace on board for the rest of the day. At sunset Naseem went to the woods and met Lorilla, who was waiting for him. It's all right, she cried. The bottle washer is to be magically dwindled down to night. And when everybody is asleep, the fairies will come here and will see how many people there are and what they are like, and they will build a city just to suit. It will be done tomorrow. Naseem could scarcely believe all this, but there was nothing to be done but to wait and see. That night everybody went to sleep quite early, and if the fairies came and measured them for a city they did not know it. In the morning Naseem arose and walked down toward the shore. As he did so, a lady came out of a tent and approached him. He thought he knew her features, but he could not remember who she was. But when she spoke he started back and cried out, Lorilla, yes, said the lady, laughing, it is Lorilla. The king of Naseemah ought to have a chief counselor of state who is somewhat longer than his finger. And last night as the girl who took my place dwindled down to the size of a fairy, I grew larger and larger until I became as large as she used to be. Do you like the change? Lorilla was beautiful, she was richly dressed, and her lovely face was as merry and gay as ever. Naseem approached her and took her hand. The chief counselor of my kingdom shall be its queen, he said, and calling a priest from the poplis the two were emburied on the spot. Great were the rejoicings on land and water, but there was no delay in getting ready to march to the raw city and the domes and spires of which Lorilla pointed out to them behind some lovely groves. Naseem was about to signal for the ship to come to shore, but Lorilla checked him. I'm really sorry for those poor aristocrats, but it will never do to take them to the raw city. They are not needed, and they will make all sorts of trouble. There is nothing to be done but to let the admiral sail away with them and keep on sailing until they are grown up. Then they will come back, fit to be members of the nobility. They will have their master with them, and you can put three or four philosophers on board, and they can be as well educated traveling about in this way as if they were going to school. Naseem felt sorry for the aristocrats, but he saw that this was good advice, and he took it. A quantity of provisions and four philosophers were sent on board the ship, and the admiral was ordered to sail away until the boys grew up. As he liked nothing better than sailing, Naseem suited the admiral exactly and, after having a few sheep sent on board, with which to amuse himself during calms he hoisted sail and was soon far away. The rest of the kingdom marched on, and in good time reached the raw city. There it stood with its houses, streets, shops, and everything that a city should have. The royal palace glittered in the center, and upon a hill there stood a splendid castle for the giant. Everybody hurried forward. The name of the owner was on every house, and every house was fully furnished, so in a few minutes the whole city was at home. The king, leading his queen up the steps of his royal palace, paused at the door. All this, he said, I owe to you. From the very beginning you have given me nothing but good advice. But that is not the best of it, she said, laughing. You always took it. The vessel carrying the aristocrat sailed away, and away, with the admiral sitting on the stern, his stilts dangling in the water, behind as the ship moved on. End of Chapter 1 Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Chapter 2 of The Floating Prince and Other Fairy Tales. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. The Floating Prince and Other Fairy Tales by Frank R. Stockton. Healthy Aristocrats sailed away, a sequel to The Floating Prince. For many and many a day the ship of the admiral of the kingdom of Nassimia contained the admiral himself, the company of schoolboys who had been made aristocrats, the old schoolmaster, the four philosophers, and the old woman, who was cook and navy, all in one, sailed and sailed away. The admiral sat on the stern, his long stilts dangling in the water behind, as the ship sailed on. He was happy, for this was just what he liked, and the four philosophers and the old master and the navy were happy. But the aristocrats gradually became very discontented. They did not want to sail so much. They wanted to go somewhere, and see something. The ship had stopped several times at towns on the coast, and the boys had gone on shore, but in every case the leading people of the town had come to the admiral bearing rich presence and begging him to sail as soon as possible. So it happened that the lively young aristocrats had been on land very little, since they started on their travels. Finding at last that the admiral had no intention of landing again, the aristocrats determined to rebel, and, under the leadership of the tail-boy, who was the poor scholar among them, but first in all mischief they formed a plan to take possession of the ship. Finally one fine afternoon, as the admiral, the master, and the four philosophers were sitting on the deck of the vessel enjoying the breeze, six aristocrats, each carrying a bag, slipped quietly up behind them, and in an instant a bag was clapped over the head of each man. It was in vain to kick and struggle. The other aristocrats rushed up, the bags were tied securely, around the necks of the victims, their hands and feet were bound, and they were seated in a row at the stern of the ship. The admiral stilts lying along the deck. The tail-boy then took a pair of scissors and cut a hole in each bag, opposite the mouth of its wearer so that he could breathe. The six unfortunate men were now informed that if they behaved well they should be treated well, and that, on the next day, a hole should be cut in each of their bags so that they could see with one eye, on the next day a hole for one ear, on the next a hole for the nose, and if they still behaved well, hole should be cut on the two succeeding days for the other ears and eyes. The smartest boy of the school had said, when this arrangement was proposed, that by the time they got this far they might well take off the bags, but the rest of the aristocrats did not think so, a prisoner whose head was even partly bagged was more secure than one not bagged at all. The admiral and his companions could think of nothing to do but to agree to these terms, and so they agreed, hoping that, by some happy chance, they would soon be released. It was suggested by a few aristocrats that it would be well to bring up the navy and beg her head also, but the majority decided that she was needed to do the cooking, and so she was shut down below, and ordered to cook away as hard as she could. The prisoners were plentifully fed, at mealtimes, by their captors who put the food through the mouth holes of the bags. At first the aristocrats found this to be such fun that the poor men could scarcely prevent themselves from being overfed. At night cushions were brought for them to lie upon, and a rope was fastened to the ends of the admiral's stilts, which were hoisted up into the rigging, so as to be out of the way. The aristocrats now did just as they pleased. They steered in the direction in which they supposed the coasts should lie, and, as they were sailing on, they gave themselves up to all manner of amusements. Among other things they found a number of pots of paint stowed away in the ship's hold, and with these they set to work to decorate the vessel. They painted the mats crimson, the sails in stripes of pink and blue, the deck like green potted with yellow stars. Nearly everything on board shone in some lively color. The admiral's sheep were adorned with bands of green, yellow, and crimson, and his stilts were painted bright blue, with a corkscrew red line running round them. Indeed the smell of paint soon became so strong that three of the philosophers requested that nose holes in their bags should be stowed up. There was no knowing what other strange things these aristocrats would have done, had they not, on the fourth day of their roll of the vessel, perceived they were in sight of land, and of what seemed to be a large city on the coast. Instantly the vessel was steered straight for the city, which they soon reached. The ship was made fast, and every aristocrat went on shore. The cook was locked below, and the admiral and his companions were told to sit still and be good until the boys should return. Each of the prisoners now had holes in his bag, for his mouth, his nose, one eye, and an ear. But as the eye holes were all on the side toward the water, the poor men could not see much that was going on. They twisted themselves around, however, as well as they could, and so got an occasional glimpse of the shore. The aristocrat swarmed up into the city, but although it was nearly midday not a living soul did they meet. The buildings were large and handsome, and the streets were wide and well laid out. There were temples and palaces and splendid edifices of various kinds, but every door and shutter and gate of every house was closely shut, and not a person could be seen nor a sound heard. The silence and lowliness of the place quieted the spirits of the aristocrats, and they now walked slowly and kept together. What does it all mean, said one? Is the place bewitched, or has everybody gone out of town and taken along the dogs, and the birds, and the flies, and every living thing? We might go back after one of the philosophers said another. He could tell us all about it. I don't believe he'd know any more than we do, said the tail-boy, who had now forced his way to the front. Let us go ahead and find out for ourselves. So they walked on till they came to a splendid edifice, which looked like a palace, and much to their surprise the great doors stood wide open. After a little hesitation they went up the steps and peeped in, seeing no one they cautiously entered. Everything was grand and gorgeous within, and they gradually penetrated to a large hall, at one end of which they saw a wide stairway carpeted with the richest tapestry. Reaching this they concluded to go up and see what they could find upstairs, but as no one wished to be the first in such a bold proceeding they went in a solid body. The stairway was very wide, so that twelve boys could go up abreast, and they thus filled three of the stairs with several little boys on the next stair below. On they went up, up, and up, keeping step together. There was a landing above them, but it seemed to be farther up than they had supposed. Some of the little aristocrats complained of being tired, but as they did not wish to be left behind they kept on. Look here, said one of the front row, do you see that window up there? Well, we're not any nearer to it now than we were when we started. That's true, said another, and then the smart boy spoke up. I'll tell you what it is. We're not going up at all. These stairs are turning around and around as we step on them. It's a kind of treadmill. Let's stop, cried some of the boys, but others exclaimed, oh no, don't do that, or we shall be ground up. Oh, please don't stop, cried the little fellows below, forgetting their tired legs, or we shall be ground up first. So on they kept stepping up and up, but never advancing, while some of them tried to think of a plan by which they all could turn around and jump off at the same instant. But this would be difficult and dangerous, and those little fellows would certainly be crushed by the others if they were not ground up by the stairs. Around and around went the stairs, each step disappearing under the floor beneath, and appearing again above them while the boys stepped up and up, wondering if the thing would ever stop. They were silent now, and they could hear a steady click, click, click, as the great stairway went slowly around. Oh, I'll tell you, suddenly exclaimed the smart boy, we're winding it up. Winding up what? Cried several of the others. Everything, said the smart boy, we're winding up the city. This was true. Directly sounds were heard outside, a dog barked, some cocks crew, and windows and doors were heard to open. The boys trembled and forgot the weariness as they stepped up and up. Some voices were heard below, and then, with a sudden jar, the stairs stopped. She's wound, said the smart boy, under his breath, and every aristocrat turned around and hurried off the stairs. What a change had taken place in everything! From without came the noise and bustle of a great city, and within doors were opening, curtains were being pulled aside, and people were running here, there, and everywhere. The boys huddled together in a corner of the hall. Nobody seemed to notice them. Suddenly a great gilded door, directly opposite to them, was thrown wide open, and the king and queen came forth. The king glanced around eagerly. Hello! He cried, as his eyes fell upon the cluster of frightened aristocrats. I believe it is those boys. Look here! Said he, advancing. Did you boys wind us up? Yes, sir, said the head boy. I think we did. But we didn't mean to. If you'd let us off this time, we'd never let you off, cried the king. Not until we've made you the happiest boys on earth. Do you suppose we're angry? Never such a mistake. What do you think of that? He said, turning to the queen. The royal lady, who was very fat, made no answer, but smiled good-humoredly. You are our greatest benefactors, continued the king. I don't know what we can do for you. You did not imagine, perhaps, that you were winding us up. You people, besides ourselves, know how things are with us. The city goes all right for ten years, and then it runs down, and has to be wound up. When we feel we have nearly run down, we go into our houses and apartments and shut up everything tight and strong. Only this hall is left open so that somebody can come in and wind us up. It takes a good many people to do it, and I am glad there were so many of you. Once we were wound up by a lot of bears who wandered in and tried to go upstairs. But they didn't have to do it, and we only ran for years. The city has been still, like a clock with its work stopped, for as long as a hundred years at once. I don't know how long it was this time. I'm going to have it calculated. How did you happen to get here? The boys then told how they had come in a ship, with the admiral, their master, and four philosophers. When the ship is here, cried the king, run, he shouted to his attendants, and bring hither those worthy men, and they may share in the honor and rewards of their pupils. While the attendants were gone, the aristocrats waited in the hall, and the king went away to attend to other matters. The queen sat down on a sofa nearby. It tires me dreadfully to smile, she said, as she wiped her brow. But I have to take some exercise. I hope they won't bring him here, begs and all, whispered the tail-boy. It would look funny, but I shouldn't like it. In a short time the king came back in a hurry. How's this? he cried. My messengers tell me that there is no ship at our piers, accepting our own vessels. Have you deceived me? The aristocrats gazed at each other in dismay. Had their ship sailed away and left them? If so, they had only been served all right. They looked so downcast and guilty that the king knew something was wrong. What have you done? said he. The head-boy saw that there was no help for it, and he told all. The king looked sad, but the queen smiled two or three times. And you put their heads in begs, said the king? Yes, sir, replied the head-boy. Well, well, said the king. I am sorry. After all you have done for us, too. I will send out swift cruisers after that ship, which will be easy to find if it is painted as you say, and until it is brought back to the city, I must keep you in custody. Look you, said he, to his attendants. Take these young people to a luxurious apartment, and see that they are well fed and cared for, and also be very careful that none of them escape. Thereupon the aristocrats were taken away to an inner chamber of the palace. When the admiral and his companions had been left on board the vessel, they felt very uneasy, for they did not know what might happen to them next. In a short time, however, when the voices of the aristocrats had died away as they proceeded into the city, the admiral perceived the point of a gimlet coming up through the deck close to him, then the gimlet was withdrawn, and these words came up through the hall. Have no fear, your navy will stand by you. It will be all right, said the admiral to the others, I can depend upon her. And now was heard a noise of banging and chopping, and soon the cook cut her way from her imprisonment below, and made her appearance on deck. She went to work vigorously, and taking the bags from the prisoner's head unbound them, and set them at liberty, then she gave them a piece of advice. The thing for us to do, said she, is to get away from here as fast as we can, if those young rascals come back, there's no knowing what they'll do. Do you mean, said the master, that we should sail away and desert my scholars? Who can tell what might happen to them, left here by themselves? We should not consider what might happen to them, if they were left, said one of the philosophers, but what might happen to us, if they were not left? We must away. Certainly, cried the admiral, while I have the soul of the commander of the navy of Nassima left within me, I will not stay here to have my head put in a bag, never, set sail. It was not easy to set sail, for the cook and the philosophers were not very good at that sort of work, but they got the sail up at last, and cut loose from the shore, first landing the old master, who positively refused to desert his scholars. The admiral took the helm, and the wind being fair, the ship sailed away. The swift cruiser, which was sent in the direction taken by the admiral's vessel, passed her in the night, and as she was a very fast cruiser, and it was therefore impossible for the admiral's ship to catch up with her the two vessels never met. Now then, said the admiral, the next day, as he sat with the helm in his hand, we are free again to sail where we please, but I do not like to sail without an object. What shall be our object? The philosophers immediately declared that nothing could be more proper than that they should take a voyage to make some great scientific discovery. All right, said the admiral, that suits me. What discovery shall we make? The philosophers were not prepared to answer this question at that moment, but they said they would try to think of some good discovery to make. So the philosophers sat in a row behind the admiral, and thought and thought, and the admiral sat at the helm with his blue and red stilts dangling in the water behind, and the cook prepared the meals, swept the deck, and dusted the sail, and put things in order. After several hours the admiral turned around to ask the philosophers if they had thought of any discovery yet when, to his amazement, he saw that each one of them had put his bag upon his head. What did you do that for? cried the admiral, when each of the philosophers gave a little start, and then they explained that it was much easier to think with one's head in a bag. The outer world was thus shut out, and trains of thought were not so likely to be broken up. So four day after day the philosophers with their heads in their bags sat and thought and thought, and the admiral sat and steered, and the navy cooked and dusted, and kept things clean. Because when she thought the sail did not catch the wind properly, she would move the admiral toward one side or the other, and thus change the course of the vessel. If I knew, said the admiral one day, the exact age of the youngest of those aristocrats, I should know just how long we should have to sail, before they would all be grown up, and when it would be time for us to go back after them and take them to Nassima. The cook remembered that the smallest boy had told her he was ten years old. Then, said the admiral, we must sail for eleven years. And they sailed for eleven years, the philosophers with their heads in their bags, trying their best to think of some good thing to discover. The day after the aristocrats had been shut up in their luxurious apartment the queen sent a messenger to them to tell them that she thought the idea of putting people's heads in bags was one of the most amusing things she ever heard of, and that she would be much obliged if they would send her the pattern of the proper kind of bag, so that she could have some made for her slaves. The messenger brought scissors and papers and pins, and the boys cut a pattern of a very comfortable bag, with holes for the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, which they sent with their respects to the queen. This royal lady had two bags made, which she put upon two of her servants, and their appearance amused her so much that she smiled a great deal and yet scarcely felt tired at all. But in the course of a day or two the king happened to see these bag-headed slaves sitting in an anti-chamber. He was struck with consternation, and instantly called a council of his chief ministers. We are threatened with a terrible danger, he said to them. When all the doors were shut, we have among us a body of baghists. Little did we think, in our gratitude, that we were wound up merely, that we might go through life with our heads begged, better far that we should stay stopped, forever. How can we know but that the ship which brought them here may soon return with a cargo of bagh stuffs, needles, thread, and thimbles, and that every head in our city may be begged in a few days? Already signs of this approaching evil have shown themselves notwithstanding the fact that these dangerous characters have been closely confined, no less than two of the inmates of my palace have already had their heads begged. At these words a thrill of horror pervaded the ministers, and they discussed the matter for a long time. It was finally decided that a lookout should be constantly kept on the top of a high tower. To give notice of the approach of the ship, should she return, additional guards were posted at the door of the aristocrat's apartment, and it was ordered that the city be searched every day to see if any new cases of baghism could be discovered. The aristocrats now began to be very discontented, although they had everything they could possibly want to eat and drink, and were even furnished with toys and other sources of amusement, they did not like to be shut up. I'll tell you what it is, said the tail-boy. I can't stand this any longer. Let's get away. But where shall we get away to, asked several of the others. We'll see about that when we're outside, was the answer. Anything is better than being shut up here. After some talk everybody agreed that they ought to try to escape, and they set about to devise some plan for doing so. The windows were not very high from the ground, but they were too high for a jump, and not a thing could be found in the room which was strong enough to make a rope. Every piece of silk or muslin in the curtains or bedclothes was fine, and delicate and flimsy. At last the smart boy hit upon a plan. The apartment was a very long one, and was floored with narrow boards of costly wood, which ran from one end to the other of it. He proposed that they should take up one of these boards, and putting it out the window should rest one end on the ground and the other on the window sill. Then they could slide down. Instantly every aristocrat set to work with knife or piece of or small coin to take out the silver screws which held down one of the boards. It is very narrow, said the head boy. I'm afraid we shall slip off. Oh, there is no danger of that, replied the smart boy. If we only go fast enough, we cannot slip off. We will grease the board, and then we shall go fast enough. So the board was taken up, and after having been well greased, with oil from the lamps, was put out of the window. Then the boys one at a time got on the board and slid with the speed of lightning to the ground. Most of them came down with such rapidity and force that they shot over the smooth grass to a considerable distance. As soon as they were all down the smart boy took the end of the board and moved it to one side so that it rested on the edge of a deep tank. Now then, said he, if any of the guards slide down after us they will go into the tank. It was now nearly dark and the boys set about finding some place where they could spend the night. They soon came to a large building, the doors of which were shut, but as they were not locked they had no trouble in entering. This building was a public library, which was closed very early every afternoon and opened very late every morning. Here the aristocrats found very comfortable quarters and having lighted a candle which one of them had in his pocket they held a meeting to determine what they should do next. Of course the ship will come back someday, said the smart boy, for that admiral would be afraid to go home without us. The giant would smash him and his old ship if he did that. So we shall have to wait here until the ship returns. But how are we going to live as several of his companions? We can sleep here, he answered, it's a nice big place and nobody will ever disturb us. For a notice on the door says it's closed two hours before sunset and as to victuals we shall have to work at something. This was thought good reasoning and they now began to consider what they should work at. It was agreed that it would be wise for them all to select the same trade because then they could stand by each other in case of any business disputes and their trade was to be chosen in this way. Every boy was to write on a piece of paper the business he liked best and whatever trade or profession was written on the most papers was to be adopted by the whole company. When the papers were read by the head boy it was found that nearly everyone had selected a different calling, but three of the smaller boys happened to want to be letter carriers and so as there was no business which had so many votes as this. It was determined that they should all be letter carriers. The three little boys shouted for joy at this. But where shall we get letters to carry as some of the older fellows? Oh, we'll see about that in the morning, said the smart boy. There'll be plenty of time before the library opens. They slept that night on piles of parchment and in the morning the building was searched to see if any letters could be found for them to carry. In the cellar they discovered a great many huge boxes filled with manuscripts which had been collecting ever since the city was first wound up and started. These they concluded would do just as well as letters and each boy filled his satchel with them and started off to deliver them. Each carry was assigned by the head boy to a different street and all went to work with a will. The people were glad to get the manuscripts. For many of them were very instructive and interesting and they gave the boys a small piece of money for each one. This went on day after day and every morning each person in the whole city got a letter. When the king was informed of the escape of his prisoners he hurried in great trouble to see how they had got away, but when he saw the board which they had left resting on the edge of the tank he was delighted. Those wretched beggars he exclaimed in trying to escape have all slid into the tank. Let it be walled over and that will be the end of them. We are fortunate to get rid of them so easily, but the watch on the high tower was still kept up for no one knew when the ship may come back with more bayous. One day as the head boy was delivering his letters he met an old man whom he instantly recognized as his master. At first he felt like running away, but when the master told him that he was alone and forgave everything they embraced in tears the old man had not been able to find his boys in the town and had wandered into the surrounding country. In this way he had never had a letter. The head boy took him to the library that night and he afterwards spent most of his time reading the old manuscripts and sorting them out for the carriers. Nobody ever came into the cellar to disturb him. The people of the city were very much benefited by the instructive papers which were brought to them every day and many of them became quite learned. The aristocrats also learned a great deal by reading the papers to those persons who could not read themselves and every evening the master gave them lessons in the library so they gradually became better and better educated. They often looked up to the high tower because they had heard that a flag was to be hoisted there whenever a ship with a pink and blue sail was seen approaching the city. Ten years passed and they saw no flag, but one day they saw posted up all over the city a notice from the king stating that on the next day the city would run down and ordering all the people to retire into their hoses and to shut up their doors and windows. This struck the aristocrats with dismay for how were they to get a living if they could not deliver the letters? So they all boldly marched to the palace and asking for the king proposed to him that they should be allowed to wind up his city. The king gazed upon them in amazement. What? He cried. Do you let your carriers venture to come to me with such a bold request? Do you think for a moment that you know anything about what you propose doing? We can do it a great deal easier than we did it before, said one of the younger aristocrats, for some of us were very small then and did not wait much. Did it before, explained the bewildered king, staring at this dirty group before him. The head boy, who was by this time entirely grown up, now came forward in acknowledging that he and his companions were the boys who had been shut up in the luxurious apartment told their whole story since their escape. And you have lived among us all this time and have not tried to beg our heads, said the king? Not a bit of it, replied the other. I am very glad indeed to hear this, said the king, and though if you please I would like you to try if you really can wind us up for I feel that I am running down very fast. At this the whole body of aristocrats ran to the great stairway and began quickly to mount the steps. Around and around went the revolving stairway, twice as fast as it had ever gone before. Click, click, click, went the machinery, and before anybody could really imagine that the thing was true, the stairway stopped with a bump and the city was wound up for another ten years. It would be useless to try to describe the joy and gratitude of the king and the people. The aristocrats were loaded with honors and presence. They and their old master were scumptuously lodged in the palace, and in their honor the public library was ordered to be kept open every evening in order that the people who were busy in the daytime might go there and read the papers which were no longer carried to them. At the end of a year a flag was raised on the top of the high tower, and the admiral's ship came in. The philosophers took off their bags, which were now very old and thin, and the aristocrats with their master were warmly welcomed on board. Being all grown up they were no longer feared. In a few days their ship sailed for Nesama, and as their aristocrats were taking leave of the soaring citizens, the smart boy stepped up to the king and said, I'll tell you what I should do if I were you. About a week before the time you expect to run down again, I'd make a lot a man go to work and wind up the city. You can do it yourselves, just as well as to wait for other people to do it for you. That's exactly what I will do, cried the king. I never thought of it before. He did it, and so far as is known the city is running yet. When the aristocrats reached the city of Neresama, everybody was glad to see them, for they had become a fine, well-behaved, and well-educated body of nobility, and the admiral standing high upon his stilts, looked down upon them with honest pride, as he presented them to the king and queen. Lorella shook each one of them by the hand. They did not recognize the little fairy in this handsome woman, but when she explained how the change had taken place they were delighted. To think of it, cried one of the younger aristocrats, we never missed that bottle washer. No, said Lorella, nobody ever missed her. That is one reason why she was such a good one to be made a fairy, and now you must tell us your whole story. And so the king and the queen and the giant and his army, the chancellor of the Exquire and as many of the poplists as could get near enough, crowded around to hear the story of the adventures of the aristocrats, which the head boy told very well, I should like very much to go to that curious city, said Lorella, especially at a time when it had run down and everything had stopped. Oh, I don't believe it will ever stop any more, cried the tail-boy. We told them how to keep themselves a-going all the time.