"Nothing there!" exclaimed the King. "Of course there is nothing there--why, my soul and body! can't you see my royal shadow is gone?" They looked again, and, to their great surprise, saw it was quite as the King had said. They looked all around, back of the throne, in front of it, and under it, and behind the door, but, seek as they might, could find no trace of the royal shadow. "This," said the King, "is very terrible. I have been attached to that shadow for so long that I am sure I do not know what I shall do without it. Why, I feel so lonesome! Tell me what I shall do, tell me at once! Why do I employ an expensive Court Physician and a Private Secretary, if they are not able to tell me what to do in a case like this?" "If your Majesty will pardon me," said the Court Physician, "I would suggest that this is rather the work of the Court Detective." "Nonsense!" said the King. "Jiji, do you go at once to the Court Tailor and Royal Robe Maker and have him take my measure for a new shadow. And now bring me my Waffles immediately, my good woman, for I am very much exhausted by all these trying circumstances." [Illustration] CHAPTER XX THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ROYAL TWINS In the meantime, it hardly need be said, the Wicked Fairy had fled far away with the King's shadow, so that there was not the slightest use in looking for it about the palace. In the meantime, also, the advice of the Wicked Fairy to the Twins had been productive of further trouble. Hardly had the two well arisen from their beds before they began to whisper together about certain plans. First, they got possession of the Enchanted Banjo; for it hardly need be said that they now proposed a journey to the Valley of the Fairies, and without the Banjo they could not put the Dragon Jankow to sleep. The Private Secretary, excited over the condition of the King, did not miss the Banjo, so Lulu and Zuzu had no difficulty in taking it away. "Pray, where are you going with me?" asked the Enchanted Banjo of the Twins. "Where should we be going," replied Zuzu, "if not to the Valley of the Fairies? Will you not go with us?" "With all my heart," said the Enchanted Banjo, "for it was in that Valley that I was born. You may depend upon me; but we shall need to be very careful indeed." By this time, as the Twins walked on their way through the forest, they began to hear the voice of the Dragon--"Arrnghgh! Arrnghgh!"--but they went on as bravely as they could, and presently were directly before the Dragon, which again reared and rattled its long body covered with heavy scales. This was a fearful sight, but Zuzu and Lulu tightly grasped the Enchanted Banjo, and it began to play: THE LULLABY OF ENCHANTMENT Ho, Little Wind, come out of the west And whisper the song that is laden with rest. The world is a-weary, The day has been long So sing for my dearie A lullaby-song.