an took his muffin, and, breaking off a little bit of
it, handed it to the man with the bow and arrow.

'Keep it,' said he; 'it's a pledge of good faith.'

So they journeyed on together. When they had gone some distance, they
came to a high field, and in the middle of this stood a man stock still,
gazing at the sun. As soon as the young man saw him, he shouted out at
the top of his voice: 'Hi! What are you doing there, my good fellow?'

'I am just waiting for it to get a little more dazzling,' replied the
man, still keeping his eyes fixed on the midday sun.

As soon as the young man heard this he seemed to grow still more in
stature. Indeed, he seemed to be almost a man.

'Will you travel with me?' he said.

'Pardon?'

Then it was question and answer between them:

_'Come, travel with me, my pippy.'
'Oh! Whither away? To the land of Cathay?'
'But no; to the far Mississippi,
Where a beautiful Queen hath sway,
Who has stolen my heart away.'
'I am yours! And the bounty?'
'What you will: it's a pleasure to pay.'_

Then the young man took his muffin, and, breaking off a little bit of
it, handed it to the man who gazed at the sun.

'Keep it,' said he; 'it's a pledge of good faith.'

[Illustration: THE SEVEN CONQUERORS OF THE QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI

"Hi! friend! Take the whole castle, with the Queen and all that it
contains, on your shoulders!"

_See page 29_]

So they journeyed on together. When they had gone some distance further,
they saw a man who had tied his legs together.

'Hello! What are you doing there, my friend?'

'I want to catch that hare over yonder; but unless I tied my legs
together there would be no sport in it.'

'Will you travel with me?'

'Pardon?'

_'Will you travel with me, my pippy?'
'Oh! Whither away? To Botany Bay?'
'But no; to the far Mississippi,
Where a Queen--tooral-ooral-i-ay--
Is waiting for what I'm to say.
'I am yours! And the bounty?'
'Either here or in Botany Bay!'_

Then the boy took his muffin, and, breaking off a little piece, handed
it to him.

'Keep it,' said he; 'it's a pledge of good faith.'

So they journeyed on together. But they had travelled scarce a league
when they met a man who was carrying ten great trees in his arms. And
when the boy, who had grown into a young man, saw this, he was
immediately full grown.

'Hi! my friend! What are you doing there?'