I paused there for a moment, for I confess I was desperately afraid. Little by little I advanced to him, holding out the flower. He pranced and whined. I came within arm’s length of his head, and held the flower before his mouth. With a quiver which shook his whole body, he seized it in his teeth. I quickly ran to his tail, and searched there for the single black hair, keeping well away from his heels. Covered by the brush of white hair I found it. I seized it and gave it a mighty jerk. Out it came into my hand. The unicorn trembled and tottered; and there in his place before my eyes stood a handsome young man, clad in a suit of soft and exquisite white leather. He fell on his knees before me and kissed my hand. “Thanks, brave deliverer!” he cried. “The enchantment is broken! I am myself again! How glorious to be free!” I raised him from the ground, and led him to a convenient place, where we sat down and conversed. I placed the precious black hair securely in the lining of my vest. If I on my part was overjoyed, the young man was positively beside himself. He laughed and cried by turns. I was of course intensely curious as to the circumstances of his enchantment. He willingly consented to relate them to me, and as soon as he had composed himself a little he began THE STORY OF THE WHITE UNICORN “I was born,” said the young man, “in the Island Kingdom, far out in the Great Sea, the only son of a rich--” _“Never mind, never mind,” interrupted the King; “not now, some other time. It’s my bedtime. Get on with your own story. We’ve no time now to listen to--”_ _“My dear,” said the Queen, sweetly, “perhaps if you’d--”_ _“Some other time,” said the King. “Not now, not now.”_ _“Oh, botheration,” said Bojohn to Bodkin. “He won’t let us hear anything.”_ _“I think it’s too bad,” said Bodkin to Bojohn._ _The old man in the spangled coat sighed profoundly._ When the young man had finished his tale, the day was far advanced. I wished to take him back with me to Vernicroft, but he was anxious to return to the Island Kingdom without losing a moment; we crossed the river together, and parted. I have never seen him since.