your ruin. But now, that there may be a
memorial of the service which once you did me, your crowns of gold shall
be changed into crowns of feathers, and with them you may walk unharmed
upon the earth."

In this way the remaining Hoopoes were saved. For when the fowlers saw
that they no longer wore crowns of gold upon their heads, they ceased to
hunt them as they had been doing. And from that time forth the family of
the Hoopoes have flourished and increased in peace, even to the present
day.

* * * * *

Solomon was ever seeking to grow even wiser. The better to know the
wonders of God's world and the ways of all creatures, he undertook many
journeys,--not as we ordinary poor mortals travel, in heavy wagons or
clumsy boats, by dusty roads or stormy waves. It was in no such
troublous ways that Solomon the all-powerful traversed space and reached
the uttermost corners of the earth. Thanks to his great knowledge, he
had discovered a means of locomotion compared to which the most
magnificent railway coaches and the richest palanquins of Indian princes
would seem poor indeed. He had caused his Genii to make a silken carpet
of four leagues in extent. In the midst of this carpet was placed a
magnificent throne for the royal traveler himself; and around it were
seats of gold, of silver, of wood, for the multitude of persons of
different rank whom he took with him. There was also no lack of the most
gorgeous furniture and the necessary provisions for a king's traveling
banquet.

When all was ready Solomon was wont to seat himself upon his throne, and
would command the winds to do their duty. Immediately they gently lifted
the carpet and bore it rapidly through the air to the appointed spot.
During the journey, above the aerial caravan fluttered a cloud of birds,
who with their wings formed a splendid canopy to shield their beloved
lord from the sun's heat, as the Hoopoes had first done.

One day, while on such a journey, Solomon was shocked to feel a ray of
sunlight piercing through this plumy dais which overhung his head.
Shading his eyes, the King glanced up and perceived that there was an
opening in the canopy. One bird was missing from its post. In great
displeasure Solomon demanded of the Eagle the name of the truant.
Anxiously the Eagle called the roll of all the birds in his company; and
he was horrified to find that it was Solomon's favorite, the Hoopoe, who
was missing. With terror he