y, but the little girl lifted it easily and cast
it aside, although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it.

The child was somewhat worried at this evidence of a strength she had
heretofore been ignorant that she possessed. In order to satisfy herself
that it was no delusion, she tested her new-found power in many ways,
finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her to lift. And,
naturally enough, the girl gained courage from these experiments and
became confident that she could protect herself in any emergency. When,
presently, a wild boar ran toward her, grunting horribly and
threatening her with its great tusks, she did not climb a tree to
escape, as she had always done before on meeting such creatures, but
stood still and faced the boar. When it had come quite close and Zella
saw that it could not injure her--a fact that astonished both the beast
and the girl--she suddenly reached down and seizing it by one ear threw
the great beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong to the
earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise and fear.

The girl laughed merrily at this incident and, picking up her pails,
resumed her journey through the forest. It is not recorded whether the
wild boar told his adventure to the other beasts or they had happened to
witness his defeat, but certain it is that Zella was not again molested.
A brown bear watched her pass without making any movement in her
direction and a great puma--a beast much dreaded by all men--crept out
of her path as she approached, and disappeared among the trees.

[Illustration]

Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she made such good speed
that by noon she emerged from the forest's edge and found she was quite
near to the bridge of boats that led to Coregos. This she crossed safely
and without meeting any of the rude warriors she so greatly feared,
and five minutes later the daughter of the charcoal-burner was seeking
admittance at the back door of Queen Cor's palace.

[Illustration]

The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 12

Our story must now return to one of our characters whom we have been
forced to neglect. The temper of Bilbil the goat was not sweet under any
circumstances, and whenever he had a grievance he was inclined to be
quite grumpy. So, when his master settled down in the palace of King Gos
for a quiet life with the boy Prince, and passed his time in playing
checkers and eating