Cloak of Darkness and gone to the enemy's camp
to explore the situation. Unfortunately the same idea had occurred at
the same moment to the King of Barodia. He also had his Cloak of
Darkness.

Half way across, to the utmost astonishment of both, the two Kings had
come violently into contact. Realising that they had met some
unprecedented enchantment, they had hurried home after the recoil to
consult their respective Chancellors. The Chancellors could make
nothing of it. They could only advise their Majesties to venture
another attempt on the following morning.

"But by a different route," said the Chancellors, "whereby the Magic
Pillar shall be avoided."

So by the more southerly path the two Kings ventured out next morning.
Half way across there was another violent collision, and both Kings
sat down suddenly to think it out.

"Wonder of wonders," said Merriwig. "There is a magic wall stretching
between the two armies."

"He stood up and holding up his hand said impressively:

"_Bo, boll, bill, bole._
_Wo, woll----_"

"Mystery of mysteries!" cried the King of Barodia. "It can----"

He stopped suddenly. Both Kings coughed. They were remembering with
some shame their fright of yesterday.

"Who are you?" said the King of Barodia.

Merriwig saw that there was need to dissemble.

"His Majesty's swineherd," he said, in what he imagined might be a
swineherd's voice.

"Er--so am I," said the King of Barodia, rather feebly.

There was obviously nothing for it but for them to discuss swine.

Merriwig was comfortably ignorant of the subject. The King of Barodia
knew rather less than that.

"Er--how many have you?" asked the latter.

"Seven thousand," said Merriwig at random.

"Er--so have I," said the King of Barodia, still more feebly.

"Couples," explained Merriwig.

"Mine are ones," said the King of Barodia, determined to be
independent at last.

Each King was surprised to find how easy it was to talk to an expert
on his own subject. The King of Barodia, indeed, began to feel
reckless.

"Well," he said, "I must be getting back. It's--er--milking time."

"So must I," said Merriwig. "By the way," he added, "what do you feed
yours on?"

The King of Barodia was not quite sure if it was apple sauce or not.
He decided that perhaps it wasn't.

"That's a secret," he said darkly. "Been handed down from generation
to generation."

Merriwig could think of nothing better to say to t