he invited John to
come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and John ate
and drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures to the little
fisher-girl. But though she was very pretty, with a skin as white as
a gull's breast, for which her neighbours gave her the name of the
Seagull, he did not think about her at all, for he was dreaming of the
green eyes of the Princess.

When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said:

'Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, and
when I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with lead. I
brought it home and placed it on the fire. When the lead had melted a
little, I opened the vase with my knife and drew out a mantle of red
cloth and a purse containing fifty crowns. That is the mantle, covering
my bed, and I have kept the money for my marriage-portion. But take it
and go to the nearest seaport, where you will find a ship sailing for
the Low Countries, and when you become King you will bring me back my
fifty crowns.'

And the Kinglet answered: 'When I am King of the Low Countries, I will
make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as you are
beautiful. So farewell,' said he, and as the Seagull went back to her
fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw himself down on a heap
of dried grass, thinking of the strange things that had befallen him,
till he suddenly exclaimed:

'Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!'

IV

In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a
splendid palace. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when he was
quite sure he was not dreaming he said to a man who was smoking his pipe
before the door, 'Where am I?'

'Where are you? Can't you see? Before the King's palace, of course.'

'What King?'

'Why the King of the Low Countries!' replied the man, laughing and
supposing that he was mad.

Was there ever anything so strange? But as John was an honest fellow, he
was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would think he had stolen
her mantle and purse. And he began to wonder how he could restore them
to her the soonest. Then he remembered that the mantle had some hidden
charm that enabled the bearer to transport himself at will from place to
place, and in order to make sure of this he wished himself in the best
inn of the town. In an instant he was there.

Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was t