"Why," resumed Shin Shira, "we picked up the jewel and hurried away from
the spot, and presently came at the top of the cliffs to the Castle, the
ruins of which may still be seen up yonder--to where the King dwelt.

"I cannot tell you with what joy the Princess was received, nor with
what honour and favour I was rewarded by the King--and, indeed, by all
of the people--as the Princess's deliverer.

"It is enough to say that the King called a great assembly of people,
and before them all said that as a fitting reward he should give me the
fairest jewel in all his kingdom, and handed me the very stone which had
been cast at the Dragon, and which was valuable beyond price, being one
of the most perfect and flawless stones in the world.

"I was glad enough to have the gem, but I had fallen madly in love with
the Princess's beauty, so I made bold to remind the King that the
fairest jewel in his kingdom was not the gem he had given me, but the
Princess, his daughter.

"The answer pleased the King and the people, though I remember sometimes
sadly, even now, that the Princess's face fell as she heard the King
declare that his word should be kept, and the fairest jewel of all, even
the Princess herself, should be mine.

"But now, alas! comes the sorrowful part, for, before the ceremony of our
marriage could be completed, I was doomed by the fairies to disappear,
and so I lost for ever my beautiful bride," and Shin Shira gave a deep
sigh. "The jewel though," he added, "remained mine, and I have always
worn it in the front of my turban in honour and memory of the lovely
Princess. You may like to see it," and Shin Shira reached up to his head
for the turban in which I had noticed the jewel sparkling only a moment
before.

It was gone!

"Dear me! I'm disappearing again myself, I'm afraid," said Shin Shira,
looking down at his legs, from which the feet had already vanished.

"Good-bye!" he had just time to call out, before he departed in a little
yellow flicker.

"Hi! Hi!" I heard voices shouting, and looking up to the cliffs I saw
some people waving frantically. "Come up quickly, or you'll be cut off,"
they shouted.

And I hurried along the sands, only just in time, for I had been so
interested in Shin Shira's story that I had not noticed how the tide had
been creeping up. I shall have a good look at that jewel in Shin Shira's
turban next time I see him--and as for "the Bellows," I hardly know
which explanation to acce