ing something.

"Who is next?" enquired the king.

"Crafticus, come forward," cried old Primeval.

There was a movement among the beasts as of someone pushing his way,
and then there came out from among them a snow-white fox with a bushy
tail. He walked forward with bowed head till he stood before the great
Muffler, who looked down at him sternly and haughtily.

"Stand up," commanded the king.

Crafticus stood on his hind legs, and his eyes blinked because of the
light from the ruby, which made him look as if covered with blood.

"State the charge," said the king turning to his counsellor.

"Crafticus," said Primeval solemnly, "you are charged with wilfully
slaying Awkwardibus, the king's gander, last night up beside Lake Snow
among the Topaz Hills. What have you got to say in self-defence?"

"I did not know that the gander was the king's," replied the fox in a
humble tone.

"Crafticus, you must have known, knowing that the king's ganders and
geese are green, while all the others are gray, black, and white," and
the counsellor thought he had promptly caught the fox, and that the
king would be highly pleased.

But Crafticus replied--"There was a storm up there last night, and the
gander was covered with snow--in my eyes he was white."

Old Primeval looked perplexed and annoyed.

But king Muffler laughed and his mane shook. "Crafticus is clever,"
said he. "I know something myself about the case, nevertheless call
for witnesses."

"There is but one witness, O king, and that is the gander's widow."

"Call her," said the king.

"Stupidify, come to the front," cried the counsellor.

The green goose waddled up before the king, napped her wings, cackled,
and screamed hysterically.

"Be silent, you idiot, don't you see the king?" Primeval shouted
between her cries.

"Where?" replied the goose, looking around her confused.

"There," said Primeval emphatically, pointing his emerald club at
Muffler's nose.

"Oh yes, I think I see him," cried the goose through her tears. "But I
thought the king was like my lovely husband. Oh dear me," and she
cried bitterly.

King Muffler cast his eyes down towards her with pity and contempt.

"Stupidify," said Primeval gravely, "was there a fall of snow last
night?"

"What? What?" enquired the goose.

"Are you deaf, you silly creature?" cried Primeval angrily. "Was there
not a fall of snow last night?" He wanted to frighten her into saying
there was, for he