228 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

Jaqueline, in the fight with the Yellow Dwarf,
and the fight with the Giant, for he did not
think it necessary to mention the affair at
Rome.

Then Dick kissed Jaqueline again, and all
the maidens kissed each other, and they quite
cried for gladness.

“But we keep his Majesty the Inca waiting,”
said Prigio. ‘‘ Punctuality is the courtesy
of kings. You ladies will excuse me, I am
sure, if I remove first from the dungeon her
whom we call the Princess Jaqueline. The
Inca, her father, has a claim on us to this
preference.”

Then placing Jaqueline on the saddle, and
. leaving Dick to comfort the other young ladies,
who were still rather nervous, the king flew
off to Manoa, for the wind, of course, died
with the death of the Earthquaker.

I cannot tell you the delight of all Manoa,
and of the Inca, when they saw the Flying
Horse returning, and recognised their long-lost
princess, who rushed into the arms of her
father. They beat the serpent drums, for they
had no bells, on the tops of the temples. They
went quite mad with delight: enemies kissed
in the streets; and all the parents, without
exception, allowed all the young people who
happened to be in love to be married that very
day. Then Prigio brought back all the maidens,
one after the other, and Dick last; and he fell