the hollow of the grassy earth, he filled
his pipe, rubbed the soap about the rim, and in a moment more blew a
large soap bubble.

Taking the little bluebird in his hand, he opened a small door and
entered the magic balloon. Up and up it went, until it was well above
the tops of the trees.

Then it took a course toward the east, where the rising sun was gilding
the sky with its golden fingers.

Faster and faster it sailed, overtaking in a short time the Fairy Queen
and her three ladies-in-waiting, mounted on their friendly robins.

In the distance could be seen the turrets of the castle, gleaming in the
morning sun like bayonets thrust up from the earth in monster guns.

"Now, little bluebird," said the Gnome, opening the little door and
thrusting her out upon his hand, as the big Soap Bubble hovered above
the castle, "fly down and tell Ned that deliverance is near at hand. So
also inform the beautiful Princess, who, I see, is still sitting at her
window, but asleep!"

Off flew the bluebird on her happy errand.

"Your Majesty," cried the Gnome, addressing the Fairy Queen, as she drew
rein at the doorway of the soap bubble, "I would suggest that you touch
with the Magic Ring only the cage wherein is confined our friend Ned,
instructing him, while still in the form of a cockatoo, to fly up to the
topmost branch of the pine tree. Also for the Princess' brother, while
he is still a gamecock, to do likewise. After I have brought the bubble
close to the window ledge, so that the beautiful Princess may step
easily inside, I will cause it to rise to the treetop, from which
advantageous position Ned and the Princess' brother can step within. But
what to do with the Pine Tree Giant," said the Gnome, scratching his
beard reflectively, "gets me! However, one thing at a time, as my old
grandfather used to say when I was a boy, 'one thing at a time!'"

As the bluebird whispered in the ear of the beautiful Princess, the
Magic Soap Bubble approached the window ledge.

Rubbing her eyes, but making no outcry, although she was very much
startled, she obeyed the bluebird's command to "step softly," and
entered the Bubble. It then ascended till it was on a line with the
topmost branch, where it swayed in the gentle morning breeze, like a
barnyard weather cock, the game rooster on one side and the cockatoo on
the other!

The Fairy Queen touched them with the ring as they hopped into the
bubble, and they regained immediately thei