116 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

tremendous monster. He isa whopper! He’s
coming on shore; the girl is fainting. He’s
out on shore! He is extremely poorly, blood
tushing from his open jaws. He’s dying!
And, hooray! here’s Dick coming out of his
enormous mouth, all in armour set with sharp
spikes, and a sword in his hand. He’s covered
with blood, but he’s well and hearty. He must
have been swallowed by the brute, and cut him
up inside. Now he’s cutting the beast’s head
off. Now he’s gone to the princess; a very
neat bow he has made her. Dick’s manners
are positively improving! Now he’s cutting
her iron chains off with the Sword of Sharp-
ness. And now he’s made her another bow,
and he’s actually taking leave of her. Poor
thing! How disappointed she is looking. And
she’s so pretty, too. I say, Rosalind, shall I shout
to him through the magic horn, and tell him to
bring her home here, on the magic carpet ?”

‘JT think not, dear; the palace is quite full,”
said the queen. But the real reason was that
she wanted Ricardo to marry her favourite
Princess Jaqueline, and she did not wish the
new princess to come in the way.

“ As you like,” said the king, who knew what
was in her mind very well. ‘“‘ Besides, I see
her own people: coming for her. I’m sorry
for her, but it can’t be helped, and Dick is
half-way home by now on the Shoes of
Swiftness. I daresay he will not keep dinner