So during three days the young girls were busy making the stairs by which they would mount to freedom. During the siesta on the third day Smaly and Redy made trial of these stairs and found them perfectly firm. It was then that Smaly climbed into the dead tree which Redy had pointed out to him, and tied to it the big red handkerchief which was to be the signal to Djorak. [Illustration: SMALY STANDING; ON THE POINT OF HIS TOES] Smaly and Redy were both of them certain that Djorak was in his right mind once more, for during the three days the sugar-cane prison had not budged; but stayed still as if awaiting their signal, and directly the red flag fluttered in the breeze Redy cried out: "Look, look, the prison is coming." "Of course it is," said Smaly, as though he had never had any doubts. And indeed the prison was rushing furiously towards them. Smaly stayed up in the tree to watch, but Redy had her attention distracted by the Red Flying-Fish, which was sitting watching her. Suddenly the fish flew away; but it soon reappeared followed by a great flock of other fish. Each fish carried something good, tarts or cakes or fruits. The Red Flying-Fish carried a large hat and mantle in its claws. The fish all deposited their offerings at the feet of Redy, and from his tree Smaly looked on with great pleasure. * * * * * Towards evening the forest of sugar-canes came crashing into the three little gardens. Kisika, Laptitza, and Fritilla ran up their stairways and fell into Redy's arms; but Smaly was not going to waste any time on sentiment, to which he felt he could give way later. He ran down the centre staircase, seized one of the boxes of Soy which the Chief Contractor had given to the young girls, presented the other two to Djorak, and then, without waiting to listen to the Prisoner's exclamations of joy, bade him follow him. [Illustration: SO DURING THREE DAYS THE YOUNG GIRLS WERE BUSY MAKING THE STAIRS] [Illustration: THE RED FLYING-FISH CARRIED A LARGE HAT AND MANTLE IN ITS CLAWS] He sat the Prisoner down on a rock and drew out of his pocket a pair of scissors and cut his wild and streaming hair, and then proceeded to shave his beard, which was no less long. Then both of them, carrying as many of the presents as they could, joined Redy and the three young girls. * * * * * The emotion of this father on meeting once again his three daughters was a very moving spectacle. Djorak, who had such a good memory, could not forget that he had been beheaded, and that without his own great presence of mind and the wise counsels of the Brindled Rabbit, he would never have seen his daughters any more. * * * * * The picnic which followed was an unforgettable repast. Djorak looked very presentable in the hat and cloak brought by the grateful Flying-Fish.