"Kisika, farewell. I beg you to accept this large pot of Soy in memory of me. There's enough to last you all your life." [Illustration: NEXT THE DESPOILER APPROACHED] Next the Despoiler approached, followed by the Young Stork. "Farewell, Kisika," he said. "I make you a present of this ring, which will enable your voice to carry to great distances, and will also stop all tiresome and needless voices of others." The Confectioner next came forward and said, "Farewell, Kisika, my present is two bamboo spoons and two knives. Be happy in your garden; it's made of the best confectionery." The Crow, putting on his spectacles, said, "Farewell, Kisika, I beg that you will accept these spectacle-lenses in memory of me. They are made of solid ebony, and some day when you have reflected enough on life you will have them mounted on glass rims and will always put them on before you speak. Farewell." The Historian's gift consisted of six hard-boiled eggs, which he handed to Kisika, saying, "Accept my humble offering, Kisika. These eggs are home-made. Myself, I never eat anything else." Mistigris said, "Farewell, Kisika, take this little bow and arrow made of fish-bones. Perhaps it will amuse you to play with them." And the Young Stork added quickly, "Adieu, Kisika, take this pair of pincers to pluck from your heart the darts which may lodge in it." The wife of the Chief Contractor presented Kisika with a beautiful fan made of paper lace; and the Healer gave her a little sugar trumpet, of which the mouthpiece was this time intact. The Dwarf with the big head gave her a little watering-can to drink out of during the summer. All the crews of the marzipan fleet, and the Rats, came in their turn to offer each a little souvenir. Presently there was such an immense crowd that it seemed as though the ceremony must go on for days, since the same things had to be repeated three times, once before each garden. Every one was there. The Grasshoppers. The Birds with hats. The Worms with spectacles. The Sponges with shining eyes. The Pigs from the great kitchen. The Flying-Fish and Lizards. The Dancers who had played at tennis. The Accordion-Players. [Illustration: THE WIFE OF THE CHIEF CONTRACTOR PRESENTED KISIKA WITH A BEAUTIFUL FAN MADE OF PAPER LACE] In the end it would have needed pantechnicons to move all the presents. When the ceremony was over the Wigs departed in a long procession, singing in their sweet voices: "Here plays the grasshoppers' band, Here for days together shines the sun...." CHAPTER XV Smaly and Redy effect the rescue of the three young girls: Djorak joins them and they all partake of a delightful picnic: Smaly blows the Soy powder over the country of the Wigs: Then the six friends go home.