SOME ADVENTURES 105

cottage immediately before him, in front of
which sat an old man in an arm-chair, smoking
a long clay pipe, and seeming to be at peace
with himself and all the rest of the world.
Advancing close up to this venerable being,
the Prince politely took off his wide-awake
and accosted him in the most civil manner,
telling him that he had travelled a long way,
and was much in want of a night’s lodging.
To this the old man made no reply for some
time, but sat stolidly silent, smoking his pipe
and regarding the Prince with as much in-
difference as if he had been a cow or a dog.
At length he slowly removed his pipe from
his mouth, winked, solemnly but knowingly,
three times, laid the forefinger of his right
hand alongside his venerable nose—and
uttered the words ‘All right.’

He then arose from his chair, laid his
pipe down, opened his cottage door, and
pointed to another little door on the left side
of a passage which divided the cottage, and
uttered the welcome word ‘ Bed.’

Prince Filderkin was by no means un-
willing to avail himself of the hospitality
which was thus evidently offered him, but
having acquired a very fair appetite during