PRINCE PRIGIO. ar

don’t think she ‘understood it); and Enrico
cried a little, too.

However, next day he started, with a spear,
a patent refrigerator, and a lot of the bottles
people throw at fires to put them out.

But he never came back again!

After shedding torrents of tears, the king
summoned Prince Prigio to his presence.

“Dastard!” he said. “ Poltroon! Your turn,
which should have come first, has arrived at
last. You must fetch me the horns and the tail
of the Firedrake. Probably you will be grilled,
thank goodness; but who will give me back
Enrico and Alphonso?”

“Indeed, your majesty,” said Prigio, “you
must permit me to correct your policy. Your
only reason for dispatching your sons in pursuit
of this dangerous but I believe fabulous animal,
was to ascertain which of us would most wor-
thily succeed to your throne, at the date—long
may it be deferred!—of your lamented decease.
Now, there can be no further question about
the matter. I, unworthy as I am, represent the
sole hope of the royal family. Therefore to
send me after the Firedrake were* both dan-
gerous and unnecessary. Dangerous, because,
if he treats me as you say he did my brothers—
my unhappy brothers,—the throne of Pantou-
flia will want an heir. But, if I do come back
alive—why, I cannot be more the true heir than

* Subjunctive mood! He was a great grammarian !

3 *