Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/169

154 an old sorceress, who, for many years, had been worrying and tormenting the whole population. When Derido heard of this, he resolved to have her punished, and so he caught her napping, one day, and took her to a friend of his, who was a magician, and had her turned into a sewing-woman, and compelled, for the rest of her life, to make shirts at the rate of two loaves of bread a piece, and if there were frills to the bosoms, a penny-roll extra. It must be admitted that this was very hard on the old witch, but she was so extremely malicious and depraved that she deserved the worst she could get.

When the giant had got through with this business, he had gone to the assistance of the king of a small country, who had but few soldiers, and whose dominions were invaded by a powerful king, with a large army. Derido arrived just as a battle was about to commence, and instantly saw that the little army had not a shadow of a chance.

So he went straight to the king of the small country, and asked to be made Head General of his forces. The king immediately consented, and put his army under command of the giant.

"But," said the king, "how will the enemy know you to be the Head General? I have no feathers or sashes or medals big enough for you." "Never mind," said Derido; "when we get to work they will find out I'm General, without any sashes and feathers."

So, at the head of his little army, Derido marched right close down in front of the enemy. When the commanders of the large army saw that Derido was among their opponents, they began to change their minds about having a battle, and sent a flag of truce to him.

"Do you belong to this army?" asked the man who bore the flag.