Part 4 (1/2)

”Who is next?” enquired the king.

”Crafticus, come forward,” cried old Primeval.

There was a movement among the beasts as of someone pus.h.i.+ng 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 m.u.f.fler, 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 m.u.f.fler 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 m.u.f.fler'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 m.u.f.fler 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 thought the king admired the fox and wished him to escape.