Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/206

Rh "Do you know that I don't believe this is the Castle of Bim?" "It didn't seem to be like the place you told me about," said Loris, "but what are we to do?"

"Nothing, but to go to bed," said the Ninkum. "They are very glad to see us, and to-morrow we will bid them good-bye, and push on to the Castle of Bim."

With this, the Ninkum jumped on his horse, and rode to his room.

The next day, after they had gone over the Castle and seen all its sights, the Ninkum told the giant that he and Loris must pursue their journey to the Castle of Bim.

"What is that?" said the giant, and when the Ninkum proceeded to describe it to him, he became very much interested.

"Ho! Ho! good wife!" he cried, "Suppose we go with these friends to the Castle of Bim. It must be a very pleasant place, and the exercise will do me good. I'm dreadfully tired of gymnastics. What do you say? We can take the children."

The giantess thought it would be a capital idea, and so they all put on their hats and caps, and started off, leaving the castle in charge of the giants' servants, who were people of common size.

They journeyed all that day. Loris and the Ninkum riding ahead, followed by the giant, then by the giantess carrying the baby, and lastly the two giant boys with a basket of provisions between them.

That night they slept on the ground, under some trees, and the Ninkum admitted that the Castle of Bim was a good deal further off than he had supposed it to be.

Toward afternoon of the next day they found themselves on some high land, and coming to the edge of a bluff, they saw