The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

".M
-oh. there you are entirely wrong,
broke in the big hsaded man. sChiok's a
privileged character IN the Isle OF Phreex,
and the only one OF us who dareH DEFY our
awful kinglet. In case CT danger-
-Dangerl" cried John, with a start. rs
there danger here, tooi"
Chicks laughter rang out at the foolish
question, hui the man replied seriously;
There IL danger everywhere to those
who are unusual, and especially in the Isle
Of Phreex, where we are at the mercy OF a
horrid kinglet. But come, VIC must go
and report your arrival to that same grace
less ruler. or we shall all be punished.
very well,- said John, meekly.
But ~ he took Chicks hand and turned
to depart the Fresh Air Fiend uttered an
exclamation OF annoyance, and said
Here's bad luck already The Failings
are cOminR this way
As he spoke a noise OF shouting and
chattering reached their ears, and presently
several people came around a corner OF
| rock and stood before John and his newly
found friends,
Its the Brotherhood Of Failings," whis-
pered the big headed man. Look out for
them, or they'll do you a mischief"
Don't worry. IN take care Of you, said
Chick. pressing the dough hand.
John stared at the newcomers, and they
returned the compliment by staring at him.
A queerer lot Of folks could seldom have
been seen together.
This is the %Blunderer," said the Fresh
Air Fiend. indicating a short. fat man who
was clothed in glittering armor and bore
a lance over his shoulder.
The Blunderer acknowledged the intro
duction by bowling. And here is the
Thoughtless One" continued h man,
pointing to a tall. lean man who was clothed
in chamois leather and carried a wide
mouthed blu~nderbuss under his arm.
look out for the gun. said Chick, "he
never knows whether or not it is loaded"
And here are The Disagreeable and the
Unlucky, and the Sorrowful and the Ugly
and the Awkward continued the big
headed man. pointing out each Failing
in turn. Their peculiarities you will have
no trouble to discover. Indeed, on all the
Isle of Phreex there IL no one more un-
pleasant to meet with than this same lot OF
Failings.'
At this the brothers all bowed, saying
at the same time:
W are proud Of ourselvesl"
At this instant the Awkward tripped
over his own toes and fell against the
Blunderer, who tumbled hesdlong and
thrust his slim lance straight through the
body of John Dough.
-Oh!' cried Chick, greatly Mortified.
Il told you So" growled the Fresh All
Fiend, pulling out the lance hastily. Tel
me, John Dough, are you dead, or are you
just dyinR1"
Neither one" said John, ruefully pushins
together the hole that the lance had made
but IL doesn't add to my personal appear
ance 10 be prodded in that fashion. Tn
made Of gingerbread, he explained, turning
70 the man In arTnor.
Il beg your pardon! l really beg you
pardon!" said the Blunderer, greatly dis
tressed at what he had done Il had M
intention Of hurting you
He means well" said the Incubator
Baby; but that doesn't help much"
He won't last long in this island,
grunted the Bad Tempered, referring Il
John Dough.
Being made Of gingerbread, he can
be expected to last" remarked the Dis
agreeable, smiling in a way that made Johi
shudder.
H shall rave my protection, said In
Blunderer. Its the least l can do t.
make amends. Here, put on this aInlorl'
He hastily began stripping of the plate
OF metal and placed the steel helmet owe
the head OF the gingerbread man.
NO, no." exclaimed John. Il don
want to wear all that hardware"
But you must!' cried the Blunderel
Its the only way you can escape accider
in this AWFUL island"
That's true enough" agreed the bi
, headed man. Il advise you TO wear III
armor, my gingerbread friend"