SOME ADVENTURES 99

immediate prospects, that he probably
dreamed wonderful dreams that night, but
these are none of them related in the old
manuscript from which I gathered the
materials for this truthful and interesting
tale. All I know is that when the first rays
of the morning sun gladdened the awaken-
ing world, Prince Filderkin was already out
of bed, and that before other people were
about, the gallant youth was afoot, a stout
staff in his hand, a pair of excellent shoes,
but easy from age, upon his feet, hope in his
heart, a green wide-awake upon his head,
and, more important than all, the ring upon
his finger, and the banjo (which was small
and of portable size) securely fastened to
the belt which encircled his princely waist.
Unquestioned and unnoticed at that- early
hour, he issued forth from the palace by a
little door which opened into the Queen’s
own rose-garden, looked back fondly upon
the home he was about to quit, kissed his
hand in the direction of his mother’s window,
and went out upon his perilous journey.
Bearing in mind the directions which he
had received to go perfectly straight forward,
he passed out from the gardens of the palace