26 \ PRINCE PRIGIO.

 

grew so fierce, that even the queen was afraid
of him now.

The poor queen cried a good deal; Prigio
being her favourite son, on account of his
acknowledged ability and talent. But the rest
of the courtiers were delighted at leaving Prince
Prigio behind. For his part, he, very good-
naturedly, showed them the best and shortest
road to Falkenstein, the city where they were
going; and easily proved that neither the chief
secretary for geography, nor the general of the
army, knew anything about the matter—which,
indeed, they did not.

The ungrateful courtiers left Prigio with hoots
and yells, for they disliked him so much that
they forgot he would be king one day. He
therefore reminded them of this little fact in
future history, which made them feel uncomfort-
able enough, and then lay down in his hammock
and went to sleep.

When he wakened, the air was cold and the
day was beginning to grow dark. Prince Prigio.
thought he would go down and dine at a tavern
in the town, for no servants had been left with
him. But what was his annoyance when he
found that his boots, his sword, his cap, ‘his
cloak—all his clothes, in fact, except those he
wore,—had been taken away by the courtiers,
merely to spite him! His wardrobe had been
ransacked, and everything that had not been
carried off had been cut up, burned, and