enough, but inwardly she was not at all at ease.
Only one day remained of the duration of the magic spell which ensnared
Sipelie, and Prince Orca had not yet forgotten the peasant maiden, or
bound himself to Ildea. As they followed the hounds through the pleasant
forest, the sharp eyes of the lady espied a raven fluttering along from
branch to branch, always keeping near the prince.

She pointed it out to her companion, saying, "Do you see the bird of ill
omen? It is the same which brought you illness. Now is your time to
destroy it."

Prince Orca raised his bow, but lowered it again, for something within
stayed his hand, and he said: "Let the poor blackamoor live. I have been
too near death myself to feel like harming it."

"If you do not care for yourself," said Lady Ildea, "others do. It might
bring you harm again." And with unerring aim she sent an arrow flying
through the air. The raven fell, uttering a last mournful cry. But Lady
Ildea was not satisfied. Hastily dismounting, she ran through the grass
to where the bird lay, and found the body of the maiden Sipelie, pierced
to the heart, and covered with blood. Horror-struck, she turned away,
but at that instant she trod upon an adder, which suddenly darted its
fangs into her foot, inflicting a mortal wound.

* * * * *

"And served her right," quoth King Jollimon, as the crooked-backed man
ended. "The prince is left to bury the dead, I suppose. Well, I've heard
worse tales, I'm sorry to say; but I generally hear better ones. What
have you to tell?" he added, nodding to the man with the crooked nose.

"Mine is a fable, and very instructive," said he; "And the moral----"

"Moral me no morals," interrupted King Jollimon. "Tell your fable, if
you please; but I'll draw my own moral as mild as I please."

Thus admonished, he of the crooked nose told the tale of

THE WISE CAT.

A certain cat set out to seek his fortune, and traveled through the
whole world. At last he came to a country where a cat had never been
seen before. The inhabitants were at first frightened by the strange
monster, but having observed Puss killing the mice with which the
country was overrun, they plucked up courage, and approaching him,
requested that he should follow them before the king. Puss complied
willingly enough, and the end of the matter was that he was installed
rat-catcher to the king, and a large salary bestowed upon him. The
faithfulness with