"It was nearly midnight when I finally arose and prepared to depart.
The old gentleman led the way to Bowser's cage. It was a room at the
end of the kitchen, and Bowser was evidently expecting his supper, as
he uttered odd noises and came towards us with his neck stretched out.
I marveled that he was not asleep on his perch in the corner.
"'He never goes to sleep until he has eaten a great deal of supper,'
said the old gentleman, 'and as he is growing very impatient you had
better mount him at once while I open the door.'
"'But how am I to ride him?' I cried.
"'Get up on that stepladder,' said the old gentleman, indicating one
that stood against the wall, 'and when he comes near enough let
yourself down on his back and throw your arms around his neck. I will
open the door the instant you are seated and he will dart out.'
"It seemed rather a risky way to ride, but after all, I reflected, much
safer than the way I had come, for he could not drop me unless I let go
my hold, so I obediently got upon the stepladder.
"Bowser came towards me, thinking I might have something for him, and
as he turned his head at the creaking of the door I threw myself on his
back and grasped him firmly around the neck. The big door swung open,
Bowser ran forward, and as soon as he was outside rose into the air.
We soared away, straight towards the village which lay nearest the sea.
"Bowser's flight proved how hungry he was, for the village lights drew
nearer very rapidly, and we were going so fast over the sands that I
did not dare look down for fear of getting dizzy.
"In what seemed but a few minutes Bowser began to descend and glancing
down I saw that we were directly over a peach orchard. He alighted,
and at the same moment I slid off his back and ran as fast as I could
for some distance. When I reached the fence which enclosed the place I
looked back, and could see him gobbling all around a tree, so he had
already shaken the peaches off one at least. He had not bothered about
me at all, as I was afraid he would.
"I walked to the inn and went to bed in a very thankful state of mind,
determined to start for home next day.
"But the next day I found it was not as easy as I thought. The only
boat leaving port was a peach boat, bound for a port only a few miles
away. However, I went by that, and on reaching the port had to wait
two days to get a passage on a boat loaded with iron which was bound
for the Island of Laurels.
"The weather was fine when we set out, and the wind good, so in spite
of the heavy cargo we were making fair progress. On the fourth night
we ran into a dense fog. After running carefully for some hours the
Captain thought it advisable to lie to until morning, as we were within
a few miles of the Island of Despair and some very dangerous reefs.
"I went to my cabin and lay down to read. I fell asleep and slept for
some time, when I was awakened by a tremendous blow under the ship
which jerked me out on the floor. Running to the deck I found the
whole crew assembled getting ready to drop the life-boats. In place of
the dead calm which had prevailed earlier in the evening a terrible
storm now raged, and the gale had driven the ship on the dreaded reefs.
"To add to the danger the iron loaded in the hold had become loose and
we could hear it pounding around in the hold as the ship lurched about
on the rocks. It was only a matter of a few moments before the ship
would go to pieces.
"I stood ready to help the Captain and some of his men to lower his
gig, and we waited to see the others off. There were six boats, and
five of them were launched successfully. The other swamped in the
heavy sea. I do not know whether any of them reached the shore or not,
as I never saw them again.
"We launched our boat successfully, and pulled in the direction in
which the Captain indicated the Island lay. When we had got within
fifty feet of the land our boat seemed to strike a whirlpool. It went
around very rapidly five or six times, and finally dived bow first,
throwing all the occupants but myself into the water. I had taken a
long breath, expecting the dive, and was crouched on my seat holding
tightly with both hands, so that when the boat shot to the surface
again I had just strength enough to clamber over the side as it turned
bottom up. I lay there half drowned while the boat floated in to
shore. I do not know how long it was before I heard voices close at
hand. One was a man's and one an old woman's. The woman's voice said:
"'Are you sure he had it on his finger when he left port?'
"'Of course,' answered the man gruffly. 'Don't I tell you I flew over
the ship yesterday and saw it on his hand?'
"'Well, he must be here somewhere,' said the old woman, 'and we'll soon
have it.'
"Although I was half dazed I knew it must be my ring with the precious
seed that they were talking about. I tried to rise, but had not
sufficient strength, so with an effort I pulled it from my finger and
dropped it into the water beside the boat, rather than let them take it.
"The voices came nearer.
"'Ah,' said the man, 'here he is; now let us see if I am not right.'
"I must have fainted then, as I do not remember anything until I awoke
to find myself imprisoned in the laurel tree.
"Late in the morning when the sun was high the Evil Magician, for of
course it was he, and an old crone came past me on their way to the
shore, but they did not find the ring, for the Evil Magician came back
after a long time in a terrible rage and threatened me with instant
death if I did not tell him where I had hidden it.
"I declared I had not hidden it. After promising me my freedom if I
would tell him where it was, and trying every argument in his power to
either coax or threaten me into letting him have it, he became furious,
declared I should remain enchanted forever until I slowly drowned, and
went off. I did not see him again.
"You may imagine my despair, and my boundless gratitude to Prince
Daimur for releasing me from my enchantment."
"Rather," said Prince Daimur, "let us be thankful to the kind old fairy
who gave me this wonderful cap and spectacles, for without them I
should doubtless have been as helpless as yourself."
"But what do you suppose became of the ring?" asked Prince Redmond.
"Do you think he could have found it after all?"
"I do not know, I am sure," answered his brother. "I do not see how it
could have been hidden, for the water was shallow where I dropped it
and it must have shown clearly in the sunlight. I heard them say they
had searched under every stone for it."
Here the little white dove, Princess Maya, left her mother's side and
came over to where Prince Tasmir sat.
"Prince Tasmir," she said, "I believe I have your ring. Early one
morning my mother and I were flying from tree to tree and feeling
rather brighter than usual, as we had not eaten any fruit since the day
before.
"After a while we found ourselves very near the shore, and alighted on
a low branch directly overhanging the water. A life-boat lay bottom up
on the sands of the small beach, and while we were deploring the fact
that some ship must have been wrecked on the reefs very lately I
noticed just beside the boat's side, on a flat stone hardly covered
with water, a fine gold ring. I let myself down on the stone and
picked the ring up and we carried it off to show my father. He said it
was very valuable, and that the Evil Magician must not have it, so we
hid it, and we have kept it ever since. We have never left it long in
one place, and if somebody will come with me I will get it now."
Prince Redmond and half a dozen other doves eagerly followed the
Princess, while exclamations of wonder and surprise filled the cave.
In five minutes the Princess was back carrying a ring in her mouth.
Prince Tasmir gave a cry of joy as he opened it and found his precious
seed safe inside.
"I was afraid that perhaps the water had leaked in and sprouted it," he
said, as they all crowded around to see, "but thank goodness it is
perfectly sound," and he slipped it on his finger.
After congratulating the little Princess on finding the ring and
keeping it out of the Evil Magician's possession, and hoping they might
have the best of luck on the morrow they all went to sleep, very
confident indeed that all would yet come right.