to pay his respects to the Prince. When he was informed
of what was to be done, the Jolly-cum-pop could not refrain from
laughing aloud.

"I never heard," he said, "of such a capital idea. It is so odd and
original. It will be very funny, I am sure, to see a tunnel cut right
under my house."

The miners and rock-splitters now began to work at the base of the
hill, and then the Jolly-cum-pop made a proposition to the Prince.

"It will take your men some time," he said, "to cut this tunnel, and
it is a pity your Highness should not be amused in the meanwhile. It
is a fine day: suppose we go into the forest and hunt."

This suited the Prince very well, for he did not care about sitting
under a tree and watching his workmen, and the Jolly-cum-pop having
sent for his horse and some bows and arrows, the whole party, with
the exception of the laborers, rode toward the forest, a short
distance away.

"What shall we find to hunt?" asked the Prince of the Jolly-cum-pop.

"I really do not know," exclaimed the latter, "but we'll hunt
whatever we happen to see--deer, small birds, rabbits, griffins,
rhinoceroses, any thing that comes along. I feel as gay as a skipping
grasshopper. My spirits rise like a soaring bird. What a joyful thing
it is to have such a hunt on such a glorious day!"

The gay and happy spirits of the Jolly-cum-pop affected the whole
party, and they rode merrily through the forest; but they found no
game; and, after an hour or two, they emerged into the open country
again. At a distance, on a slight elevation, stood a large and
massive building.

"I am hungry and thirsty," said the Prince, "and perhaps we can get
some refreshments at yonder house. So far, this has not been a very
fine hunt."

"No," cried the Jolly-cum-pop, "not yet. But what a joyful thing to
see a hospitable mansion just at the moment when we begin to feel a
little tired and hungry!"

The building they were approaching belonged to a Potentate, who lived
at a great distance. In some of his travels he had seen this massive
house, and thought it would make a good prison. He accordingly bought
it, fitted it up as a jail, and appointed a jailer and three
myrmidons to take charge of it. This had occurred years before, but
no prisoners had ever been sent to this jail. A few days preceding
the Jolly-cum-pop's hunt, the Potentate had journeyed this way and
had stopped at his jail. After inquiring into its condition, he had
said to the jailer