eps of the back-yard, watching a dozen
gardeners trying to rear the Canterbury bell with patent foods. When
he saw Sir Richard Byrde approaching he called out:

"Have you brought her?"

"No, your Majesty," said the Knight, "but she sent you this flower in
token that if you, yourself, will go across the sea to fetch her, she
will come--and, oh, your Majesty, she is more beautiful than day, and
her garden is Paradise itself!"

"Don't waste time talking," said the King. "You know quite well I have
never fetched anything myself in my life. In fact, I have never done
any thing myself. That is one of the privileges of being a King."

"Well, but your Majesty will never have a garden without her," murmured
Sir Richard Byrde humbly, looking round the back-yard, and thinking of
the Princess's lovely garden.

The back-yard certainly did look very dismal. A dozen more gardeners
were already at work trying to plant the sunflower, but they had put it
in upside down. Scraps of old iron, once patent rakes, hoes, or
watering-cans, were scattered about. The smell of the patent soils and
weed-killers was positively horrible. The Canterbury bell drooped
helplessly in one corner.

The King sighed.

"Well, I must have a garden," he said. "So I will put an end to all
this, and go and fetch the Princess myself. After all, I shall only
have to bring her here--and then what a difference there will be!"

So without wasting another minute the King himself climbed the castle
wall, and plunged headlong into the sea.

He had swum a dozen yards or so when it suddenly occurred to him that
he might swim and swim, and never find the Princess Mary Radiant.

"I wish I knew the way," he cried, catching hold of a cockle-shell that
was lying on one of the upstanding rocks.

Then to him, as to the two Knights, appeared the old man. "Swim over
rocks and through water for seven times seven leagues," said he, "till
you come to a large gate-post on which is hung a sign-board. Follow
the directions on the sign-board and all will be well." Then the King
swam on over rocks and through water, for seven times seven leagues;
and there, just as the old man had said, was the sign-board. He, too,
read the directions:--

THE GARDEN OF THE PRINCESS MARY RADIANT

No man shall be admitted here,
Till he a fine doth pay.
And he that will not pay the fine,
From hence must swim away.

By him that rides here over land,
A silver bell