id.

"The idea!" said the lazy man, and he laughed; "of course, if a body
had a horse there would be some chance, but WALK all that way? No,
thank you!"

"Then good-by," said his friend, "I am off." And he set out, down the
road toward the shining castle, with a good steady stride, his eyes
straight ahead.

The lazy man lay down in the soft grass, and looked rather wistfully at
the faraway towers. "If I only had a good horse!" he sighed.

Just at that moment he felt something warm nosing about at his
shoulder, and heard a little whinny. He turned round, and there stood
a little horse! It was a dainty creature, gentle-looking, and finely
built, and it was saddled and bridled.

"Hola!" said the lazy man. "Luck often comes when one isn't looking
for it!" And in an instant he had leaped on the horse, and headed him
for the castle of fortune. The little horse started at a fine pace,
and in a very few minutes they overtook the other traveler, plodding
along on foot.

"How do you like shank's mare?" laughed the lazy man, as he passed his
friend.

The industrious man only nodded, and kept on with his steady stride,
eyes straight ahead.

The horse kept his good pace, and by noon the towers of the castle
stood out against the sky, much nearer and more beautiful. Exactly at
noon, the horse turned aside from the road, into a shady grove on a
hill, and stopped.

"Wise beast," said his rider; "'haste makes waste,' and all things are
better in moderation. I'll follow your example, and eat and rest a
bit." He dismounted and sat down in the cool moss, with his back
against a tree. He had a lunch in his traveler's pouch, and he ate it
comfortably. Then he felt drowsy from the heat and the early ride, so
he pulled his hat over his eyes, and settled himself for a nap. "It
will go all the better for a little rest," he said.

That WAS a sleep! He slept like the seven sleepers, and he dreamed the
most beautiful things you could imagine. At last, he dreamed that he
had entered the castle of fortune and was being received with great
festivities. Everything he wanted was brought to him, and music played
while fireworks were set off in his honor. The music was so loud that
he awoke. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and behold, the fireworks were
the very last rays of the setting sun, and the music was the voice of
the other traveler, passing the grove on foot!

"Time to be off," said the lazy man, and looked about him