olite speech, in which he regretted
much that they were unable to converse, except in writing, the language
of dogs being difficult to understand. As for the writing, it had
remained the same as the Prince's own.

Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the King to
satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had seen and heard
since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad recollections in the
King's mind, but he informed the Prince that he was called King Bayard,
and that a Fairy, whose kingdom was next his own, had fallen violently
in love with him, and had done all she could to persuade him to marry
her; but that he could not do so as he himself was the devoted lover
of the Queen of the Spice Islands. Finally, the Fairy, furious at the
indifference with which her love was treated, had reduced him to the
state in which the Prince found him, leaving him unchanged in mind,
but deprived of the power of speech; and, not content with wreaking her
vengeance upon the King alone, she had condemned all his subjects to a
similar fate, saying:

'Bark, and run upon four feet, until the time comes when virtue shall be
rewarded by love and fortune.'

Which, as the poor King remarked, was very much the same thing as if she
had said, 'Remain a spaniel for ever and ever.'

Prince Mannikin was quite of the same opinion; nevertheless he said what
we should all have said in the same circumstances:

'Your Majesty must have patience.'

He was indeed deeply sorry for poor King Bayard, and said all the
consoling things he could think of, promising to aid him with all
his might if there was anything to be done. In short they became firm
friends, and the King proudly displayed to Mannikin the portrait of the
Queen of the Spice Islands, and he quite agreed that it was worth while
to go through anything for the sake of a creature so lovely. Prince
Mannikin in his turn told his own history, and the great undertaking
upon which he had set out, and King Bayard was able to give him some
valuable instructions as to which would be the best way for him to
proceed, and then they went together to the place where the boat had
been left. The sailors were delighted to see the Prince again, though
they had known that he was safe, and when they had taken on board all
the supplies which the King had sent for them, they started once more.
The King and Prince parted with much regret, and the former insisted
that Mannikin shoul