e morrow and kill the
old woman.

The second was that Coronel should go back that afternoon and kill the
old woman.

Coronel pointed out that as she had turned Prince Udo into--into
a--a--("Quite so," said Udo)--it was likely that she alone could turn
him back again, and that in that case he had better only threaten her.

"I want _somebody_ killed," said Udo, rather naturally.

"Suppose," said Coronel, "you stay here for two days while I go back
and see the old witch, and make her tell me what she knows. She knows
something, I'm certain. Then we shall see better what to do."

Udo mused for a space.

"Why didn't they turn _you_ into anything?" he asked.

"Really, I don't know. Perhaps because I'm too unimportant."

"Yes, that must be it." He began to feel a little brighter.
"Obviously, that's it." He caressed a whisker with one of his paws.
"They were afraid of me."

He began to look so much happier that Coronel thought it was a
favourable moment in which to withdraw.

"Shall I go now, your Royal Highness?"

"Yes, yes, you may leave me."

"And shall I find you here when I come back?"

"You may or you may not, Coronel; you may or you may not. . . .
Afraid of me," he murmured to himself. "Obviously."

"And if I don't?"

"Then return to the Palace."

"Good-bye, your Royal Highness."

Udo waved a paw at him.

"Good-bye, good-bye."

Coronel got on his horse and rode away. As soon as he was out of
earshot he began to laugh. Spasm after spasm shook him. No sooner
had he composed himself to gravity than a remembrance of Udo's
appearance started him off again.

"I couldn't have stayed with him a moment longer," he thought. "I
should have burst. Poor Udo! However, we'll soon get him all right."

That evening he reached the place where the cottage had stood, but it
was gone. Next morning he rode back to the wood. Udo was gone too.
He returned to the Palace, and began to think it out.

* * * * *

Left to himself Udo very soon made up his mind. There were three
courses open to him.

He might stay where he was till he was restored to health.

This he rejected at once. When you have the head of a rabbit, the
tail of a lion, and the middle of a woolly lamb, the need for action
of some kind is imperative. All the blood of your diverse ancestors
calls to you to be up and doing.

He might go back to Araby.

To Araby, where he was so well-known, so respected, so popular? To
Araby,