For a full hour he sat quiet and motionless, and they thought he was listening to these dreary affairs of state; but suddenly he jumped up and astonished the dignitaries by exclaiming: “See here; you just fix up things to suit yourselves. I’m going to find Fluff.” And with no heed to protests, the new king ran from the room and slammed the door behind him. [Illustration: “A MAN CAME IN LEADING A BOY BY THE ARM AND HOLDING A SWITCH IN HIS OTHER HAND.”] Chapter VI. BUD DISPENSES JUSTICE. The next day the funeral of the old king took place, and the new king rode in the grand procession in a fine chariot, clothed in black velvet embroidered with silver. Not knowing how to act in his new position, Bud sat still and did nothing at all, which was just what was expected of him. But when they returned from the funeral he was ushered into the great throne-room of the palace and seated on the golden throne; and then the chief counselor informed him that he must listen to the grievances of his people and receive the homage of the noblemen of Noland. Fluff sat on a stool beside the king, and the five high counselors stood back of him in a circle; and then the doors were thrown open and all the noblemen of the country crowded in. One by one they kissed first the king’s hand and then the princess’s hand, and vowed they would always serve them faithfully. Bud did not like this ceremony. He whispered to Fluff that it made him tired. “I want to go upstairs and play,” he said to the lord high steward. “I don’t see why I can’t.” “Very soon your Majesty may go. Just now it is your duty to hear the grievances of your people,” answered Tallydab, gently. “What’s the matter with ’em?” asked Bud, crossly. “Why don’t they keep out of trouble?” “I do not know, your Majesty; but there are always disputes among the people.” “But that isn’t the king’s fault, is it?” said Bud. “No, your Majesty; but it’s the king’s place to settle these disputes, for he has the supreme power.” “Well, tell ’em to hurry up and get it over with,” said the boy, restlessly. Then a venerable old man came in leading a boy by the arm and holding a switch in his other hand. “Your Majesty,” began the man, having first humbly bowed to the floor before the king, “my son, whom I have brought here with me, insists upon running away from home, and I wish you would tell me what to do with him.” “Why do you run away?” Bud asked the boy. “Because he whips me,” was the answer. Bud turned to the man. “Why do you whip the boy?” he inquired. “Because he runs away,” said the man. For a minute Bud looked puzzled. “Well, if any one whipped me, I’d run away, too,” he said at last. “And if the boy isn’t whipped or abused he ought to stay at home and be good. But it’s none of my business, anyhow.”