nd the mane it is difficult
to say what he was, save that there was an impression of magnificence
about his person--such magnificence, anyhow, as is given by an
astrakhan-trimmed fur coat.

Coronel decided that it was an occasion for tact.

"Ah, here you are," he said cheerfully. "Shall we get along?"

"Don't be a fool, Coronel," said Udo, almost crying. "Don't pretend
that you can't _see_ that I've got a tail."

"Why, bless my soul, so you have. A tail! Well, think of that!"

Udo showed what he thought of it by waving it peevishly.

"This is not a time for tact," he said. "Tell me what I look like."

Coronel considered for a moment.

"Really frankly?" he asked.

"Y--yes," said Udo nervously.

"Then, frankly, your Royal Highness looks--funny."

"_Very_ funny?" said Udo wistfully.

"_Very_ funny," said Coronel.

His Highness sighed.

"I was afraid so," he said. "That's the cruel part about it. Had I
been a lion there would have been a certain pathetic splendour about
my position. Isolated--cut off--suffering in regal silence." He
waved an explanatory paw. "Even in the most hideous of beasts there
might be a dignity." He meditated for a moment. "Have you ever seen
a yak, Coronel?" he asked.

"Never."

"I saw one once in Barodia. It is not a beautiful animal, Coronel;
but as a yak I should not have been entirely unlovable. One does not
laugh at a yak, Coronel, and where one does not laugh one may come to
love. . . . What does my head look like?"

"It looks--striking."

"I haven't seen it, you see."

"To one who didn't know your Royal Highness it would convey the
impression of a rabbit."

Udo laid his head between his paws and wept.

"A r--rabbit!" he sobbed. So undignified, so lacking in true pathos,
so---- And not even a whole rabbit," he added bitterly.

"How did it happen?"

"I don't know, Coronel. I just went to sleep, and woke up feeling
rather funny, and----" He sat up suddenly and stared at Coronel. "It
was that old woman did it. You mark my words, Coronel; she did it."

"Why should she?"

"I don't know. I was very polite to her. Don't you remember my
saying to you, 'Be polite to her, because she's probably a fairy!'
You see, I saw through her disguise at once. Coronel, what shall we
do? Let's hold a council of war and think it over."

So they held a council of war.

Prince Udo put forward two suggestions.

The first was that Coronel should go back on th