TWILIGHT LAND

And as the stool had obeyed the soldier, so everything
was done now just as the magician said.

The next morning back came the hunting-party, and as
they rode over the hill—lo and behold!—there lay —
stretched out the great parade ground in which the
king’s armies used to march around and around, and the
land was as bare as the palm of my hand. Not a stick or
a stone of the palace was left ; not a leaf or a blade of the
orchards or gardens was to be seen.

The soldier sat as dumb as a fish, and the king stared
with eyes and mouth wide open. ‘‘ Where is the palace,
and where is my daughter?” said he, at last finding
words and wit.

‘‘T do not know,” said the soldier.

The king’s face grew as black as thunder. ‘“ You do
not know,” he said, “then you must find out. Seize the
traitor!” he cried.

But that was easier said than done, for, quick as a
wink, as they came to lay hold of him, the soldier whisked
the feather cap from his pocket and clapped it upon his
head, and then they might as well have hoped to find the
south wind in winter as to find him.

But though he got safe away from that trouble he was
deep enough in the dumps, you may be sure of that.
Away he went, out into the wide world, leaving that
town behind him. Away he went, until by-and-by he
came to a great forest, and for three days he travelled on
and on—he knew not whither. On the third night, as he
sat beside a fire which he had built to keep him warm, he
suddenly bethought himself of the little round stone which
had dropped from the bird’s claw, and which he still had
in his pocket. “Why should it not also help me,” said

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