The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02

mNur1ant IN growth, ana narmOnlzeO ntceiy
with his light blue eyes. He wore a faded
and ragged suit OF blue clothes, TO which he
had doubtless olung yer since the days
when he had been Shipwrecked and cast
upon this island.
John Dough was about 10 express In
polite words his pleasure In meeting the
father OF the Princess when the King. hav-
ing finished drinking, suddenly flung the
gourd at the little mans head. He ducked
to escape IL and the gourd struck the fore
head Of a big Mifket just behind and made
a sound like the crack Of a whip.
At once the big Mifket-who was remark
able for having black hair upon his head,
instead OF the dingy brown that was COM
mon TO all the Mifkets-uttered a roar OF
rage and sIned a blow at the bald head
of the hckless slave. But the little mar
ducked this blow also and then scam
pered away to the royal dwelling as fast as
his thin legs could carry him.
Let him CO." said the King. speaking
sleepily in the Mifket language. Then
he turned to the black one and asked. who
are these creatures, Ooboo. and how came
they here2'
Il don't know answered Black Ooboo,
sulkily. The girl brought them
Perhaps I can explain" said John
Dough. speaking in their language. MY
friend Chick and arrived here but a short
time ago in a flying machine, which unfor-
tunately broke down and prevented us from
getting way again.
The Mifkets looked at the gingerbread
man in establishment. Not because they
had any idea what a flying machine might
be, but 10 hear their own language spoken
by 80 queer a parsonage filed them with
amazement.
Are you one OF those miserable creatures
called humans7" asked the King. blinking
his eyes at the gingerbread man.
Il cannot, In truth, claim to be precisely
human, replied John. but it is certain that
I possess a degree Of human wisdom. IL
comes from the Elixir, you know"
What are you made OFF, demanded the
King. who was puzzled by Johns words.
Now, the gingerbread man realized that
II he told the Mifkets he was good TO eat he
would soon be destroyed, 80 he answered:
Il am made OF a kind Of material known
only 70 civilized men. In fact, | am very
different from all the rest Of the world"
The King didn't understand, and when
he didn't understand il made him tired.
"Oh, WE'LL said he, lying back in the
sun, Just make yourself at home here,
and see that you don't bother me by getting
in my way"
Thai might have ended the interview
had not Black Ooboo, scowling and angry,
stepped forward and said:
IF the stranger is to live with us he
must fight for the right to live in peace. 1t
is our custom, your Majesty"
$50 il is" returned the King, waking up
again. THE stranger must fight"
At this decision all the Mifkets howled
with delight, and Chick n the Princess
began to be uneasy about their friend. But
John said calmly:
Il have never fought with any one, your
Majesty; but I'll do the best | can. With
whom must 1 fight1"
why, with Black Ooboo. / suppose"
said the King; -and IL you can manage to
give him a sound thrashing I'll be your
friend for life"
Ooboo scowled first at the King and then
at John, and all the other Mifkets scowled
with him, for the black one was seemingly
a great favorite among them.
Whatever material YOU may be made Of,
bold stranger" he said, Il promise to crush
you into bits and trample you into the
dust"
Then the crowd having pressed back
ward, the black Mifket sprang upon the
gingerbread man Will long. hairy arms
outstretched as il to clutch him. But
John was quicker han his foe.
He grasped Ooboo about the waist.
lifted him high in the air-big and heavy
though he was-and flung him far over
the throne wherein the King squatted.
The black one crashed into the leaves Of a
forest plant and then tumbled to the ground,
where he lay still to recover from his sur
prise and the shock of defeat.
The rabble Of Mifkets didn't applaud
the fall OF their champion, but they looked
upon the gingerbread man with wonder.
And the King was so pleased that he laughed
aloud.
well done. stranger" said he. "Ooboo
needed to be taken down a peg and you
did it very neatly. Now get away, all Of
you, and leave me to Sleep
He proceeded to curl himself up once more
upon the fat stone and the Mifkets obeyed
his command and stole away to their
dwellings. John advanced to where Chick
and the Princess stood, and the Cherub
patted him on the hand and said:
sd no idea you could do it, John. Wasn't
it lovely, Princess, to see him toss that black
beast like a football"
I'm glad your friend won the fight"
answered the girl, but Black Ooboo is a
dangerous enemy. and even the King is
afraid of him. Now, come with me, please.
| want you TO meet my dear mother. who is
unfortunately degraded TO the position Of
the Kings cook
They entered with the Princess into the
royal dwelling, where a woman quickly
seized the girl in a warm embrace and
kissed her tenderly. When Chick managed
to get a full view Of the woman she was
seen 70 be nearly as round as an apple in
form, with an apples rosy cheeks, and with
cut corkscrew curls Of an iron gray color
running from her ears down to her neck.
When her daughter entered she had been
busily engaged in cooking a vegetable stew
for the Kings dinner. nor dared she pause
long, for fear Of the Kings anger.
Chick was dreadfully sorry for these poor
shipwrecked people thus compelled to be
slaves TO the fierce Mifkets, and hoped they
- a " I.AI-