Ig2 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

passed thrice through the body of the Yellow
Dwarf. Squirming fearfully, the little monster
expired, his last look a defiance, his latest word
an insult :

“Yah! Gig-lamps !’’

Prince Ricardo wiped the diamond blade
clean from its yellow stains.

“Princess Frutilla is avenged!” he cried.
Then pensively looking at his fallen foe, “‘ Peace
to his ashes,” he said; ‘‘ he died in harness !’’

Turning at the word, he observed that the
two lions were stiff and dead, locked in each
other’s gory jaws!

At that moment King Prigio, looking in the
crystal ball, gave a great sigh of relief.

“ All’s well that ends well,” he said, lighting
a fresh cigar, for he had allowed the other to
go out in his excitement, “but it was a fight!
I am not satisfied,” his Majesty went on reflect-
ing, ‘with this plan of changing the magical
articles. The first time was of no great
importance, and I could not know that the
boy would start on an expedition without giving
me warning. But, in to-day’s affair he owes
his safety entirely to himself and Pepper,” for
he had not seen the wasp. ‘“‘ The Fairy of the
Desert quite baffled me: it was terrible. I
shall restore the right fairy things to-night. As
to the Fairy of the Desert,” he said, forgetting
that his Wishing Cap was on, “‘ I wish she were
dead !”