Prince Dolor had never felt any such delicious sensation before. I can
understand it. Cannot you? Did you never think, in watching the rooks
going home singly or in pairs, soaring their way across the calm evening
sky till they vanish like black dots in the misty gray, how pleasant it
must feel to be up there, quite out of the noise and din of the world,
able to hear and see everything down below, yet troubled by nothing and
teased by no one--all alone, but perfectly content?

Something like this was the happiness of the little lame Prince when he
got out of Hopeless Tower, and found himself for the first time in the
pure open air, with the sky above him and the earth below.

True, there was nothing but earth and sky; no houses, no trees, no
rivers, mountains, seas--not a beast on the ground, or a bird in the
air. But to him even the level plain looked beautiful; and then there
was the glorious arch of the sky, with a little young moon sitting in
the west like a baby queen. And the evening breeze was so sweet and
fresh--it kissed him like his godmother's kisses; and by and by a few
stars came out--first two or three, and then quantities--quantities! so
that when he began to count them he was utterly bewildered.

By this time, however, the cool breeze had become cold; the mist
gathered; and as he had, as he said, no outdoor clothes, poor Prince
Dolor was not very comfortable. The dews fell damp on his curls--he
began to shiver.

"Perhaps I had better go home," thought he.

But how? For in his excitement the other words which his godmother
had told him to use had slipped his memory. They were only a little
different from the first, but in that slight difference all the
importance lay. As he repeated his "Abracadabra," trying ever so
many other syllables after it, the cloak only went faster and faster,
skimming on through the dusky, empty air.

The poor little Prince began to feel frightened. What if his wonderful
traveling-cloak should keep on thus traveling, perhaps to the world's
end, carrying with it a poor, tired, hungry boy, who, after all, was
beginning to think there was something very pleasant in supper and bed!

"Dear godmother," he cried pitifully, "do help me! Tell me just this
once and I'll never forget again."

Instantly the words came rushing into his head--"Abracadabra, tum
tum ti!" Was that it? Ah! yes--for the cloak began to turn slowly. He
repeated the charm again, more distinctly and firmly,