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ME CASTLES OF LIFE
ered with tired birds, resting to regain strength before cross¬
ing the sea, and Fido had only to stoop down to find game
worthy of a prince. Satiated with eating, he stretched him¬
self at Graceful’s feet and slept soundly.
When the buffaloes had finished chewmg their cud,
Graceful, who had hitherto feared to disturb them, entered
into conversation with the bull, who showed a cultivated
mind and wide experience.
" Are you the masters of this rich domain?" asked he.
"No, replied the old buffalo; "we belong, with all the
rest, to the Fairy Crapaudine, the Queen of the Vermilion
Towers, the richest of all the fairies.”’
" What does she require of you?" asked Graceful.
** Nothing, except to wear this gold ring in the nose and
to pay her a tribute of milk," returned the bull, “or, at
most, to give her one of our children from time to time to
regale her guests. At this price we enjoy our plenty in
perfect security, and we have no reason to envy any on
earth, for none are so happy as we."
" Have you never heard of the Castle of Life and the
Fountain of Immortality?” asked Graceful, who, without
knowing why, blushed as he put the question.
- There were some old men among our ancestors who still
talked of these visions,” replied the bull; "but we are wiser
than our fathers; we know that there is no other happiness
than to chew the cud and sleep."
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