This left but one of the six unoccupied, and Jikki was wondering what to do with him when a bell rang. “That’s the king’s bell,” said Jikki. “I am not the king’s servant; I am here only to wait upon you,” said number one, without moving to answer the bell. “Then I must go myself,” sighed the valet, and rushed away to obey the king’s summons. Scarcely had he disappeared when Tollydob, the lord high general, entered the room and said in a gruff voice: “Where is Jikki? Where’s that rascal Jikki?” Number one, standing stiffly at one end of the room, made no reply. “Answer me, you scoundrel!” roared the old general. “Where’s Jikki?” Still number one stood silent, and this so enraged old Tollydob that he raised his cane and aimed a furious blow at the young man. The cane seemed to pass directly through the fellow, and it struck the wall behind so forcibly that it split into two parts. This amazed Tollydob. He stared a moment at the silent servant, and then turned his back upon him and sat down in Jikki’s chair. Here his eyes fell upon the magic cloak, which the king’s valet had thrown down. Tollydob, attracted by the gorgeous coloring and soft texture of the garment, picked up the cloak and threw it over his shoulders; and then he walked to a mirror and began admiring his reflection. While thus engaged, Jikki returned, and the valet was so startled at seeing the lord high general that he never noticed the cloak at all. “His Majesty has asked to see your Highness,” said Jikki; “and I was about to go in search of you.” “I’ll go to the king at once,” answered Tollydob, and as he walked away Jikki suddenly noticed that he was wearing the cloak. “Oho!” thought the valet, “he has gone off with the Princess Fluff’s pretty cloak; but when he returns from the king’s chamber I’ll get it again and send number one to carry it to its rightful owner.” Chapter X. THE COUNSELORS WEAR THE MAGIC CLOAK. When Tollydob, still wearing the magic cloak, had bowed before the king, Bud asked: “How many men are there in the royal army, general?” “Seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, may it please your gracious Majesty,” returned Tollydob—“that is, without counting myself.” “And do they obey your orders promptly?” inquired Bud, who felt a little doubt on this point. “Yes, indeed!” answered the general, proudly. “They are terribly afraid of my anger.” “And yet you’re a very small man to command so large an army,” said the king. The lord high general flushed with shame; for, although he was both old and fat, he was so short of stature that he stood but a trifle taller than Bud himself. And, like all short men, he was very sensitive about his height. “I’m a terrible fighter, your Majesty,” declared Tollydob, earnestly; “and when I’m on horseback my small size is little noticed. Nevertheless,” he added, with a sigh, “it is a good thing to be tall. I wish I were ten feet high.”