ins, and cursed the Fairy.
As he was nearing the city great rejoicings were seen on every side,
and, on the hunters enquiring the reason, they were told that Prince
Cheri, whose only pleasure it was to torment his people, had been
crushed to death in his chamber by a thunder-bolt, a just punishment
for his offences. Four of his wicked companions had tried to partition
the Kingdom between them, but the people would have none such to rule,
and they had offered the crown to the good and wise Suliman. Cheri
panted with rage on hearing this, and in the Palace Square he saw
Suliman on a superb throne, and all the people who shouted with joy,
and wished him a long life to repair the evil brought about by their
former sovereign. "I accept the throne," said Suliman, "but it is to
preserve it for Prince Cheri. A fairy has revealed to me that he
is not dead, and possibly will return to you as virtuous as in his
earliest years. Alas!" cried Suliman, bursting into tears, "his
flatterers have ruined him, I know that at heart he is good." These
words moved Cheri to sorrow for his crimes, and he felt that he had
not been punished as severely as he deserved, and he now resolved to
amend his faults.

[Illustration]

Therefore he obeyed the man who had charge over him, and who
constantly cruelly beat him, and one day when this keeper lay asleep,
and a tiger who had broken loose was about to devour him, Cheri fought
the fierce beast, and saved the man's life.

Then a voice was heard saying, "a good action shall be rewarded!" and,
to Cheri's joy he was instantaneously transformed into a pretty little
dog which the keeper carried to the Queen.

The Queen was delighted with him, but, for fear he should grow bigger,
she gave him only small pieces of bread to eat, so that poor Cheri
nearly died of hunger.

One day he carried his little piece of bread into the garden to eat it
there, but wandering with it in his mouth, still further on, he saw a
young girl pale and thin, and almost fainting for want of food.

"I am hungry," thought Cheri, "but if I give my breakfast to this
poor thing, perhaps I shall save her life." He placed his bread in the
girl's hand, and she ate it hungrily. Just then he heard loud cries,
and saw that it was the beautiful Zelie struggling to free herself
from four men who were carrying her into a house near by.

Cheri, longing to help her, followed them barking, and although the
men kicked him savagely, he would n