, peninsulas, and promontories. I shall march from my palace to
that of my uncle in a straight line. I shall go across the country,
and no obstacle shall cause me to deviate from my course. Mountains
and hills shall be tunnelled, rivers shall be bridged, houses shall
be levelled; a road shall be cut through forests; and, when I have
finished my march, the course over which I have passed shall be a
mathematically straight line. Thus will I show to the world that,
when a prince desires to travel, it is not necessary for him to go
out of his way on account of obstacles."

As soon as possible after the Prince had determined upon this march,
he made his preparations, and set out. He took with him a
few courtiers, and a large body of miners, rock-splitters,
bridge-builders, and workmen of that class, whose services would,
very probably, be needed. Besides these, he had an officer whose duty
it was to point out the direct course to be taken, and another who
was to draw a map of the march, showing the towns, mountains, and the
various places it passed through. There were no compasses in those
days, but the course-marker had an instrument which he would set in a
proper direction by means of the stars, and then he could march by it
all day. Besides these persons, Prince Hassak selected from the
schools of his city five boys and five girls, and took them with him.
He wished to show them how, when a thing was to be done, the best way
was to go straight ahead and do it, turning aside for nothing.

"When they grow up they will teach these things to their children,"
said he; "and thus I shall instil good principles into my people."

The first day Prince Hassak and his party marched over a level
country, with no further trouble than that occasioned by the tearing
down of fences and walls, and the destruction of a few cottages and
barns. After encamping for the night, they set out the next morning,
but had not marched many miles before they came to a rocky hill, on
the top of which was a handsome house, inhabited by a Jolly-cum-pop.

"Your Highness," said the course-marker, "in order to go in a direct
line we must make a tunnel through this hill, immediately under the
house. This may cause the building to fall in, but the rubbish can be
easily removed."

"Let the men go to work," said the Prince. "I will dismount from my
horse, and watch the proceedings."

When the Jolly-cum-pop saw the party halt before his house, he
hurried out