moss, and over this was fixed a shadowy
roof of leaves, as a shelter from the sun. In this car the
Root-King seated himself with the Princess; nor was it forgotten to
place in it also a delicate repast of juicy berries, honey, and
tender young buds. Two Cranes, who had practised their task for a
week previously, took up the nest with their bills, and flew with
it through the air to the nearest large Town inhabited by Men.

In a few hours the two birds were hovering with the nest over the
houses of the town. With a gentle flight they descended, and
deposited the royal aerial chariot carefully upon the tower of the
Townhouse, whence there was a view over all the streets, without
any fear of being seen. That was indeed a sight! Even the King
himself had never imagined that a city of Men could be so splendid.
The Princess too shouted and jumped with joy, until she nearly fell
out of the nest, had not one of the Cranes with his long bill
suddenly caught her by her little leg.

Now, as chance would have it, on this same day the Prince of that
country was celebrating his wedding with the daughter of a foreign
King, so that the whole city was in one blaze of splendour.

What shows and sights were there to be seen! processions, fairs,
reviews of a thousand regiments, theatres in the open air,
rope-dancers, races,--in short, it is impossible to describe them
all. But first and foremost the Prince and his young wife! how
splendid he looked in his scarlet uniform, with the star upon his
breast, moustachios, and large blue eyes; and she, in a red velvet
dress, covered with pearls and precious stones, which sparkled and
sent their light high up to the very gallery of the Townhouse.
Wherever you looked there was something new and strange, and so it
went on from early in the morning until the sun disappeared behind
the mountains.

However much all these marvellous sights delighted the old King,
his opinion of Mankind remained unaltered, and he was sorry that
his daughter should just have chosen this day to witness the most
brilliant side of Men's doings. He was however too weak to deny
himself a view of the scene; nay, he would even have remained up
there still longer, but that, as night fell and darkness came on,
some men suddenly appeared on the gallery, to illuminate the
building and let off the fireworks. The men approached the nest.
How the Princess started with affright at the sight of such
gigantic forms! The King too los