ore, stood by to assist
the ladies to land and to welcome them to his kingdom.

There was not a soul in sight as they formed a double line, with Prince
Redmond's sailors as guards, and marched towards the palace, which was
only a few blocks distant.

As they neared the gates they saw that nobody was astir but a few of
the Royal bodyguard, who as soon as they caught sight of Prince Daimur
at the head of this strange procession rushed towards him and threw
themselves at his feet with exclamations of astonishment and joy that
he was still alive.

They told Daimur that his wicked uncle had already been crowned king,
having proved by the aid of false witnesses that Daimur had fallen from
a precipice while out riding and been instantly killed, and that his
body was washed away in the swift-flowing river at the bottom.

At the conclusion of the tale Daimur called out all the guards and
ordered them to arrest his uncle and his followers immediately, and
convey them to a strong prison in the interior of the kingdom.

Before they could move to obey him, however, Daimur's uncle himself
appeared with a few of his friends. They had been aroused from their
sleep by the sound of voices and had dressed hastily.

"What is the meaning of this commotion?" roared the false King,
addressing the guards. "Back to your posts immediately."

He turned as he spoke and his eye fell on Daimur and his little
company, whose guns were all pointed directly at him, as, strange to
say, were those of the Palace guard. He glanced in every direction,
but everywhere he saw hard unsympathetic faces, and the round muzzles
of guns.

He grew pale and his knees knocked together as he looked about in vain
for a means of escape. Then suddenly his face cleared, and he drew a
whistle from a cord at his neck and blew three loud blasts upon it.

Daimur, who still wore his cap and spectacles, turned to his company.

"That is to summon the Magician," he explained. They all laughed, and
Daimur announced to his uncle that it was of no use calling or help
from the Evil Magician, as he was dead and gone.

This of course his uncle declared quite impossible, and it was not
until King Cyril, the Princess, and indeed the whole party had assured
him it was the truth, added to the fact that the Magician did not seem
to be coming to his aid, that he believed it.

After that he was very humble. He cringed before Daimur and hoped he
would spare his old uncle's lif