The King, with a great grunt, had immediately flung himself off High Boy's back, and the little Prince and Medicine Man made haste to follow him. On closer inspection Philador found Queen Hyacinth even lovelier than she had seemed from the courtyard. Although her nose and mouth tipped upward like the King's, she was so gay and pretty that the little Prince almost wished she were his own Lady mother and did not mind at all when she kissed him on both cheeks. Herby blushed with pleasure as the Queen shook his hand and held himself stiffly to keep his pills from rattling. [Illustration: JOE KING AND QUEEN HYACINTH] While two Uplander Footmen drew out high chairs for the visitors and fetched tall glasses of grape juice, Joe King told Her Majesty the strange story of their adventures. When Hyacinth heard how Mombi had long ago stolen Philador's mother, she kissed him again, then hurrying into the castle ordered the royal cook to prepare a tremendous feast for the travelers. High Boy, resting his chin on the balcony rail, had listened with close attention to the whole recital. Now with a tremulous sigh he began to lower himself into the courtyard. "Goodbye, old Toz!" he called roguishly to the Medicine Man. "See you again, Princeling, but now the tall grass is calling me." "Does he eat tall grass?" asked Philador, looking over the balcony with great interest as High Boy galloped away. "Of course! That's what makes him so tall. What did you suppose a high horse ate?" asked the King merrily. Leading the visitors into the castle he left them in a sumptuous dressing room with amethyst mirrors and brushes and gorgeous silk hangings. Philador was glad enough to wash off the dust and brush his hair, but Herby spent most of the time rearranging the bottles and boxes in his medicine chest. "Better take a couple of these," he advised, as the little Prince started for the door. "What are they for?" asked Phil curiously, as Herby swallowed several of the pills himself. "For yawns," explained the Medicine Man quickly. "Where there's a feast there's bound to be talking. Now speeches always make me sleepy, so to keep from yawning and offending their Majesties, I have taken this slight precaution." "Give me a couple of precautions, too," laughed Philador. "I hope they won't keep us long Herby, for we ought to be halfway to the Emerald City by now." As Philador and the Medicine Man stepped through the doorway, they were met by a tremendous Uplander who introduced himself as High Jinx. He was Joe King's chief adviser and immediately conducted them to the dining hall where he seated them between the King and Queen.