Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/108

Rh "You can do that easily enough," said the Curious One. "Come with me, and I'll take you to him. He hasn't looked at many rare sights yet, and I know he will be glad to see you."

The Dwarf Giant smiled, and consented to go with the Curious One; not so much, however, to please the Gudra, as to see for himself what a giant dwarf looked like. On the way to the inn the Curious One (who had lost all interest in the two roads, now that he had found something so well worth seeing and showing) told the Dwarf Giant why his master had come to the city, and what had happened since his arrival.

"Perhaps you can help him."

"I doubt that very much," said the dwarf giant. "I am seldom successful in anything I undertake. But I am perfectly willing to try."

When they arrived at the inn, the Gudra appeared glad to see the Dwarf Giant, and immediately poured into his ears the story of his troubles and the affronts to which he had been subjected, to which the other listened as silently and patiently as if he had not heard it all before. When the long recital was finished, the Ordinary Man was summoned, and a consultation between the three was begun.

As little Volma sat and gazed at them, while they were talking together, she said to herself:

"They look just like three brothers."

The Gudra was in favor of carrying out his object by means of some kind of force. He proposed that he should challenge the Prince to single combat, and thus decide the matter, The others opposed this, the Dwarf Giant, saying that, if he were in the Gudra's place, he would be afraid to undertake such a combat, for he had been told that the Prince was a brave soldier and a good fighter. The Ordinary Man, also, thought the plan was