“Is it of gorgeous colors with golden threads running through it?” asked the lord high general, now thoroughly interested. “Yes,” said the princess, “the very same.” “And what peculiar powers does it possess?” “Why, it grants its wearer the fulfillment of one wish,” she answered. All the high counselors regarded her earnestly. “Then that was the cloak I wore when I wished to be ten feet high!” said Tollydob. “And I wore it when I wished I could reach the apple,” said Tellydeb. “And I wore it when I wished that my dog Ruffles could speak,” said Tallydab. “And I wore it when I wished the royal purse would always remain full,” said Tillydib. “I did not know that,” remarked Fluff, thoughtfully. “But I’ll never forget that I lent it to Aunt Rivette, and that was the time she wished she could fly!” “Why, it’s wonderful!” cried old Tullydub. “Has it granted you, also, a wish?” “Yes,” said Fluff, brightly. “And I’ve been happy ever since.” “And has your brother, the king, had a wish?” Tullydub inquired eagerly. “No,” said Bud. “I can still have mine.” “Then why doesn’t your Majesty wear the cloak and wish that your army shall conquer the Queen of Ix’s?” asked the lord high counselor. “I’m saving my wish,” answered Bud, “and it won’t be that, either.” “But unless something is done we shall all be destroyed,” protested Tullydub. “Then wear the cloak yourself,” said Bud. “You haven’t had a wish yet.” “Good!” cried the four other counselors; and the lord high general added: “That will surely save us from any further worry.” “I’ll fetch the cloak at once,” said Fluff, and she ran quickly from the room to get it. “Supposing,” Tullydub remarked hesitatingly, “the magic power shouldn’t work?” “Oh, but it will!” answered the general. “I’m sure it will,” said the steward. “I know it will,” declared the purse-bearer. “It cannot fail,” affirmed the executioner; “remember what it has already done for us!” Then Fluff arrived with the cloak; and, after considering carefully how he would speak his wish, the lord high counselor drew the cloak over his shoulders and said solemnly: “I wish that we shall be able to defeat our enemies, and drive them all from the kingdom of Noland.” [Illustration: “THE LORD HIGH COUNSELOR DREW THE CLOAK OVER HIS SHOULDERS.”] “Didn’t you make two wishes instead of one?” asked the princess, anxiously. “Never mind,” said the general; “if we defeat them it will be easy enough to drive them from our kingdom.” The lord high counselor removed the cloak and carefully refolded it. “If it grants my wish,” said he, thoughtfully, “it will indeed be lucky for our country that the Princess Fluff came to live in the palace of the king.” The queen formed her men into a line of battle facing the army of Nole, and they were so numerous in comparison with their enemies that even the more timorous soldiers gained confidence, and stood up straight and threw out their chests as if to show how brave they were.