“With eager sweetness she bade her cavaliers respond.  They assured me of her gratitude and delight, and bade me welcome.  The warbling birds again started their liquid strains, and a mazy dance began which resembled a fluttering band of snowy butterflies tangled in a silvery web.  Slipping off, I came to the side of a lake on which were boats and Indian canoes of the moccasin flower.  Here I rested, watching the measures of the dance, and taking little refreshing sips of cocoa-nut milk.  A swift-winged night-hawk having been placed at my disposal, I had a safe and speedy journey home.”

“And is that all?” inquired Leo.

“Yes,” said Paz, “for here comes Master Knops.”

Leo thanked Paz warmly, and turned towards Knops, who, with hat in hand, stood gravely waiting to speak.

“Is it the wish of Prince Leo to make further explorations, or will he now return to his father and his home?”

With some self-reproach at having quite forgotten that he had a father and a home, Leo said he was ready to return.

“And may his humble servants, the distinguished savant Paz and the Master Professor Knops, have the pleasant assurance of Prince Leo’s satisfaction at this visit?” asked Knops, still in the most formal manner.

“I cannot thank you half as I should like to do,” replied Leo, “but I hope to be able to show you that your entertainment and instruction have not been wasted.”

“Come, then, we will go.”

“Adieu,” said Paz.  “Look out for me some fine frosty night when you are skating.  You may think you see some of your furry friends startled out of their winter sleep, but just give a whistle, and say ‘Paz,’ and I will be with you.”

“Good-bye,” said Leo.  “I hope it will be soon that I shall see you.”

But Knops was off and he had to follow.  Away they went, climbing and clambering, slipping and sliding, crawling and jumping, through forests of coal, over mines of iron, and beside walls glittering with silver.  Presently, however, Leo found himself where they had started from, viz., his own cellar door, and Knops preparing to leave him.  Dropping his ceremonious manner, he said: 

“I am sorry to bid you farewell, my dear boy; I have become heartily interested in you and your welfare.  The only souvenir I have to offer is this little compass; it is a mere trifle, but the needle has the power of finding precious metals.  Learn how to make it useful.  Good-bye.”

Leo found himself alone.  He pushed open the cellar door, and mounted the steps to the kitchen.  It was early morning, and the cocks were crowing lustily.  The one old deaf woman was striving to make a fire burn, but the wood was wet and she found it difficult.

“Where are all the people?” shouted Leo in her ear, for he well knew her infirmity.

“Gone—­all gone,” she answered.

“And my father, where is he?”

“In bed yet, and he had better stay there, for I’ve no breakfast for him.”