often their gods nor followed any very
far.

And you must know, too, O Hadji, that in those long ago olden days--the
days of the reign of What-Soever-Youthink there was for the Ruler of
Allthetime a Crown; and that of all the wonders in that wonderful land
this Crown was the most wonderful. More dear to the people of Daybyday
than their city itself, more precious than their splendid temples, more
sacred even than their many gods, was this--the Crown of their King.

It was so, first, because the Crown was extremely old. From the
beginning of the reign of the Royal Family Everyone, no one knows how
many thousands of ages ago, it had passed from king to king, even until
that day.

It was so, second, because the Crown was exceedingly valuable. From the
very beginning of the beginning each ruler had in turn added a jewel to
the golden, gem encrusted emblem of his rank.

It was so, third, because the Crown was a Magic Crown, though no one
then knew its magic--they knew only that its magic was.

Therefore, again, O Hadji, is this Tale.

Also, in those days, there was about this Royal City a Wall--a wall
built, so they said, on the very foundations of the world; so strong
that no force could breach it, and so high that the clouds often hid its
towers and battlements. Only from the topmost cupola of the Royal Palace
could one see over this mighty barrier. Only by the Two Great Gates
could one pass through.

And so the good people of Allthetime could all quite clearly see that in
the Royal City Daybyday the precious Magic Crown was as safe as ever
crown could be. And it was so, O Hadji--it was so. The Crown was as safe
as ever crown could be--as safe indeed as ever a crown can be.

And this too is truth, O Hadji; that in Daybyday, even now, you may find
ruins of the many temples, and here and there a little of the many gods.
Even now you may see where the Great Wall was. But of the Crown, in
these days, there is nothing--nothing.

And this is how it happened--this is the way it came to be.

King What-Soever-Youthink was the father of two sons; twins they were,
and their names--Really-Is and Seemsto-Be. No one in all the kingdom
could tell them one from the other, though the princes themselves knew
that Really-Is was first born, and that when the wise king, their
father, died, it would be for him to occupy the throne, to wear the
Crown, and rule the Land of Allthetime.

One day when the young princes were playing in t