“What book?” asked the lord high general. “The book of laws,” answered the chief counselor. “I never knew there was such a thing,” remarked the lord high executioner, looking puzzled. “I always thought the king’s will was the law.” “So it was! So it was when we had a king,” answered Tullydub, excitedly. “But this book of laws was written years ago, and was meant to be used when the king was absent, or ill, or asleep.” [Illustration: “‘NO!’ THEY ALL SHOUTED IN A BREATH.”] For a moment there was silence. “Have you ever read the book?” then asked Tillydib. “No; but I will fetch it at once, and we shall see if there is not a law to help us out of our difficulty.” So the chief counselor brought the book—a huge old volume that had a musty smell to it and was locked together with a silver padlock. Then the key had to be found, which was no easy task; but finally the great book of laws lay open upon the table, and all the five periwigs of the five fat counselors were bent over it at once. Long and earnestly they searched the pages, but it was not until after noon that Tullydub suddenly placed his broad thumb upon a passage and shouted: “I have it! I have it!” “What is it? Read it! Read it aloud!” cried the others. [Illustration: “SO THE CHIEF COUNSELOR BROUGHT THE BOOK.”] [Illustration: “SUDDENLY PLACING HIS BROAD THUMB ON A PASSAGE, HE SHOUTED ‘I HAVE IT! I HAVE IT!’”] Just then Jikki rushed into the room and asked: “Shall I toll the bell?” “No!” they yelled, glaring at him; so Jikki ran out, shaking his head dolefully. Then Tullydub adjusted his spectacles and leaned over the book, reading aloud the following words: “In case the king dies, and there is no one to succeed him, the chief counselor of the kingdom shall go at sunrise to the eastward gate of the city of Nole and count the persons who enter through such gate as soon as it is opened by the guards. And the forty-seventh person that so enters, be it man, woman, or child, rich or poor, humble or noble, shall immediately be proclaimed king or queen, as the case may be, and shall rule all the kingdom of Noland forever after, so long as he or she may live. And if any one in all the kingdom of Nole shall refuse to obey the slightest wish of the new ruler, such person shall at once be put to death. This is the law.” Then all the five high counselors heaved a deep sigh of relief and repeated together the words: “This is the law.” “But it’s a strange law, nevertheless,” remarked the lord high purse-bearer. “I wish I knew who will be the forty-seventh person to enter the east gate to-morrow at sunrise.” “We must wait and see,” answered the lord high general. “And I will have my army assembled and marshaled at the gateway, that the new ruler of Noland may be welcomed in a truly kingly manner, as well as to keep the people in order when they hear the strange news.” “Beg pardon!” exclaimed Jikki, looking in at the doorway, “but shall I toll the bell?”