ry one thought was the best,
so they did not know what to do. One day they missed the little
Prince. He had gone down into the village to try and find, for
himself, the best food in the world.

He asked every one whom he met about it. Every one knew from his
velvet suit and his buckled shoes that he was the Prince, so they all
tried to feed him.

"Now, I have the best food in the world, a nicely roasted chicken,"
said the innkeeper.

"Oh, no, I have eaten roasted chicken and I am tired of it, thank
you," said the Prince.

"I am sure that I have the best food in the world," said the baker, "a
frosted plum cake."

"Oh, no, I have eaten frosted plum cake, and I am tired of it, thank
you," said the Prince.

"Of course I have the best food in the world, chocolate ice cream,"
said the sweets man.

"Oh, no, I have eaten chocolate ice cream and I am tired of it, thank
you," said the Prince.

So he went this way and that way, but he could not find anything that
he wanted to eat.

When it was late in the afternoon he came to the woods and there he
met a little boy of his own age, chopping down small trees. The boy's
cheeks were rosy, and his eyes were bright. His arms, swinging the
shiny hatchet, were tough with strong muscles. He looked as if he had
eaten good food all his life, so the little Prince spoke to him.

"Have you any of the best food in the world?" he asked.

"Oh, yes; right here in my pocket," said the boy.

"May I have some?" begged the little Prince.

"Yes, indeed," said the boy, "if you will help me with my chopping
first. I am not going to eat my supper until I have finished my work."

So the little Prince took the hatchet and chopped, while the boy tied
the wood into bundles and gathered up the chips. The air was crisp and
sweet, and the work made the little Prince's blood flow fast and warm.
He liked it very much indeed, so he kept on chopping until his arms
ached and he had to sit down on a stump to rest.

"Now we will eat," said the boy, and he pulled a piece of strange,
dark food from his pocket. He broke it in two and gave half to the
Prince who ate it in hungry mouthfuls.

It tasted better than anything he had ever eaten before!

"It _is_ the best food in the world. Thank you," said the little
Prince. "I shall see that you are made a page, and I will take back
part of this food to share with my mother, the Queen."

But the Queen and all the other people were very much surprised at