the bank as he was able.

The Queen reached out and took it safely from him.

"I will make you king of my fishes, noble Sir Trout," she cried, "for
what you have this day accomplished. Remain here in my lake henceforth,
and now, to the rescue!"

In an incredibly short time she was mounted on her swiftest robin and
with her three ladies in waiting flew away toward the castle, where Ned
and the beautiful princess, her brave brother and the giant were held
prisoners by the magic of the wicked king.

Now, the little bluebird, as she saw her friend, the trout, swim away,
suddenly thought of her former master, the King of the Gnomes, and
decided to seek aid from him. So, whirling around in a circle to get her
bearings, she darted off swiftly through the air toward the cave in the
forest.

She made rapid progress until she reached the thick foliage of the
woods, and here, in her eagerness, she nearly lost her way.

Indeed, in the uncertain light that struggled through the thick boughs,
it was not easy to make out certain familiar landmarks which would guide
her to her destination.

At length, just at dawn, she found herself at the foot of the hill
wherein was the cave of the King of the Gnomes.

Worn out with her arduous journey, she fluttered down to the edge of
the bubbling fountain and drank of its refreshing waters.

Then, picking up a pebble, she dropped it into the little gravelly
basin, hopped painfully over to the great flat stone, and tapped upon it
three times with her beak.

No one replied, but the rock opened in the middle, and there stood the
King of the Gnomes himself.

On seeing the little bluebird, he stretched out a kindly hand for her to
rest upon, and carried her into the inner room.

It was his breakfast hour, for gnomes are early risers. Seating himself
at the table, he ordered that the little bird be served with breakfast
at once, for well he knew that a hungry bird's first wish must be for
food.

The King had scarce given this order before several nimble little men of
the forest placed seeds and grains of wheat and a goblet of golden
fruit juice before the bluebird.

Soon she was sufficiently revived to address the gnomes, and it took her
but a few moments to tell him all.

"Come, let us hasten," he said, as she finished, and, slipping into his
pocket his magic pipe and little pieces of soap, he left the cave and
walked rapidly toward a small clearing.

Leaning over a little pool in