up again.

During several seconds the King lay quite still, with the Chancellor
underneath him; and Yellow-cap began to feel uneasy, for he reflected
that if the King should lie still permanently his own position might
become awkward. He spoke of this in a low tone to Silvia, who was
coquetting with her sweetheart the donkey-driver across the donkey's
back.

'No need to be alarmed, your Lordship,' replied she composedly. 'His
Majesty is only a little out of breath. The stomach of an hereditary
monarch is, you know, the strongest thing about him. He will be all
right directly.'

In fact, hardly had she done speaking when the King gave a cough and
raised himself to a sitting posture. He really seemed none the worse
for what had happened; in spite of which Yellow-cap could not help
feeling glad that he had not been in the King's place.

'Where is the Chancellor of the Jingle?' demanded the King as soon as
he could speak. 'Why does he not come forward and give his judgment as
umpire? Where is he, I say? By my crown and sceptre if he does not
appear and answer this instant I will have his head cut off!'

'Pardon me, my dear sir,' said Yellow-cap, 'if I say that the
Chancellor would probably have given his judgment before now, if you
had not yourself put difficulties in the way of his doing so. You are
at this moment sitting upon the man's face, and it would therefore be
impossible if not disrespectful for him to say anything until your
Majesty has arisen. If you will let me pull you up he will be ready
to obey your commands--unless,' he added aside to Silvia, 'he is
actually crushed to death.'

'No fear of that,' Silvia replied cheerfully. 'The face of a real
Chancellor of the Jingle is the most impenetrable thing about him; and
I have no doubt that he is smiling at this very minute.'

And in fact hardly had the King raised himself erect than the
Chancellor jumped to his feet, with a most charming smile; and having
bowed to the King, to Yellow-cap, and to the audience, he spoke
thus:--

'In the drawing of lots his Transparent Majesty King Ormund has been
successful; and therefore his Royal Highness Prince Yellow-cap has won
the wager.'

'Capital--capital!' exclaimed the King, rubbing his hands and stamping
about the stage gleefully. 'But you,' he added, turning to the
Chancellor of the Jingle, 'must, of course, have your head cut off
just the same.'

At this a couple of halberdiers approached and laid their han