re that evil-minded gypsy had been changed,
he found the ground strewed with little bits of her clothes. Many
parrots were picking them up, and poking them into the cage where the
handkerchief was; and presently another parrot came with a lighted
brand, which she had pulled from one of the gypsies' fires.

"That's right," said the fairy on Jack's shoulder, when he saw his
friend push the brand between the wires of what had been his cage, and
set the gypsy's handkerchief on fire, and all the bits of her clothes
with it. "She won't find much of herself here," he observed, as Jack
went on. "It will not be very easy to put herself together again."

So Jack moved away. He was tired of the noise and confusion; and the
sun was just setting as he reached the little creek where his boat
lay.

Then the parrot fairy and his wife sprang down, and kissed their hands
to him as he stepped on board, and pushed the boat off. He saw, when
he looked back, that a great fight was still going on; so he was glad
to get away, and he wished his two friends good-by, and set off, the
old parrot fairly calling after him, "My relations have put some of
our favorite food on board for you." Then they again thanked him for
his good help, and sprang into a tree, and the boat began to go down
the wonderful river.

"This has been a most extraordinary day," thought Jack; "the strangest
day I have had yet." And after he had eaten a good supper of what the
parrots had brought, he felt so tired and sleepy that he laid down in
the boat, and presently fell fast asleep. His fairies were sound
asleep too in his pockets, and nothing happened of the least
consequence; so he slept comfortably till morning.

CHAPTER VI.

THE TOWN WITH NOBODY IN IT.

"Master," quoth the auld hound,
"Where will ye go?"
"Over moss, over muir.
To court my new jo."
"Master, though the night be merk,
I'se follow through the snow.

"Court her, master, court her,
So shall ye do weel;
But and ben she'll guide the house,
I'se get milk and meal.
Ye'se get lilting while she sits
With her rock and reel."

"For, oh! she has a sweet tongue,
And een that look down,
A gold girdle for her waist,
And a purple gown.
She has a good word forbye
Fra a' folk in the town."

Soon after sunrise they came to a great city, and it was perfectly
still. There were grand towers and terraces, wharves, too, and a
large market, but the