~~The Flight of the Flamingoes::John Dough and the Cherub

After the Princess had left them, John Dough said to the King: "What is to of Chick and of me? We cannot with you always."

"I know," answered the Beaver Fairy. "Is there any place you to visit?"

"No special place is to me," said the man.

"It doesn't where we go, so long as we keep going," added the practical Chick.

"You have been very to us," John, "and we may upon your friendship. Since you such powers, you will us to this and out into the world again, where we may new adventures."

"It shall be as you wish," promised the King. "But I must think of a way for you to my in perfect safety. Chick is in no great danger, but should Black Ooboo or the terrible Arab to you, they would cut your to in no time, and you would be ruined. For this it will be best for you to this as as possible."

John to this, and the King for minutes, in thought. Then he said:

"I I know a way to save you, John Dough. But I must have your permission to cut you into nine pieces."

"What good will I be when cut into pieces?" asked John, at the suggestion.

What good will I be when cut into pieces?

"Do not fear," said the beaver. "I promise to again you to your present form. The Mifkets have all about our dam, and if you to walk away from here they would soon you. Therefore I will cut you into nine pieces, each piece in a of cloth, and send the by my along different paths to the top of the hill where Para Bruin lives. There the and Chick can put you together again, for the child will have no trouble in the bear's cage. After the nine parts are in place I will give you a magic to drink; it will your as solid and as it is now."

"But how can we from the island, once we have Para Bruin's cave?" asked John.

"The Flamingo people me many favors," answered the King. "You do not much, so I will ask one of the to with you to some other country. It will take two of the to Chick; but, if the child is not afraid, the will be perfectly safe."

"I'm not afraid," said Chick. "Anything me."

"I think your plan is an excellent one," John, "and we are to your Majesty for your kindness."

So the King a great knife, and with the of Chick, who was much in the operation, cut John Dough into nine pieces. These were into and eight were summoned, who eight of the through passages to the and then up the mountain-side to the of Para Bruin. The package, the of John Dough, the King to himself, and although the Mifket of Black Ooboo noticed the nine up the hillside, they paid little attention to them, that in this fashion the man was making his escape.

The package, the head

of John Dough...

And Chick walked along the river bank and up the hill to meet Para Bruin, who the child in his arms, and to the with his pink tongue. The Mifkets were puzzled by Chick's appearance, and where the little one had come from; but they did not offer to with the child in any way.

It was not long the Beaver King the bear's and the package, John's head, the other eight, which had already arrived.

"What's all this?" asked Para Bruin, the with much surprise.

"Be patient and you will see," the King, and then John's head. When the saw it he a and exclaimed:

"Alas! my friend has come to a sad end!"

"Not so," answered John's head. "The Fairy Beaver has cut me apart, but he has promised to put me together again, so that I will be as good as new. And you must us, friend Para."

"Most willingly!" the bear.

Then, under the King's direction, Para Bruin and Chick set up John's legs, and the of his upon them, and his upon the body. John to at any moment, for he was just like a house of that a child builds, and every one how easily that apart; but he as still as possible, and at length all the nine parts of him were in their proper places.

Then the King a small to the child, and told Chick to the into John's mouth—just the teeth. Chick, by on tiptoe, was able to do this, and John the to the last drop. He to it and spread through all his body; and, as it did so, every one of the cut places solid again, and presently John took a step forward, looked himself over, and he was as good as new.

John the to the last drop.

"That is great stuff," he said to the King. "It's almost as powerful as the Great Elixir itself."

"It is an excellent for cuts," the King, "and as you are so and I will give you another bottle of it, so that if you meet with an accident you may drink the and recover." He John another the liquid, which John with much gratitude.

"Now I must you," said the King. "The have promised to send her their to you and the Incubator Baby to another land, so I you will live to many adventures."

Chick and John again thanked the for all the they had received, and then the King and his people returned to their palace, and left the man and the Cherub and Para Bruin alone upon the mountain-top.

"What has of the Princess?" asked the bear.

John told him the of her escape, and Para said:

"Well, I'm the dear child was able to her parents; but this will be a place without her. I wish I it as easily as you and Chick can."

"Perhaps," said John, "the will also you."

"Do you think so?" asked Para, eagerly.

"I'll ask them about it, for I their language," promised John; and this so the that he up and in glee.

Before long four great were through the air, and soon they upon the close to where our friends stood.

"We were sent to a man and a fair-haired child away from this island," said one of the birds, in a voice.

"I am the man," John, speaking as the did; "and here is the fair-haired child. But we also wish you to our friend Para Bruin with us. One of you can me, and two can Chick. That will the fourth to with Para Bruin, if you will consent."

"What, that bear!" one of the birds, indignantly.

"He's large, it is true," John; "but he's of rubber, and is inside; so he doesn't much more than I do."

"Well," said the flamingo, "if that is the case I do not object to him."

"NICE RIDE, ISN'T IT?"

John related this to the bear, who was at the of away from the island.

A had been to the of each of the flamingoes, and John now to the end of one of the around his own body, it in a knot, so it would not come and let him drop. The from the two that were to the Cherub were together in a hard knot, and thus a in which the child sat comfortably. Para Bruin now himself to the fourth flamingo, and the were complete.

"Are you ready?" asked the leader of the flamingoes.

"Yes," said John.

"Where do you wish to be taken?"

"We don't much care," the man. "Let us to some where there are no Mifkets. As for Ali Dubh, he will be to here with his friend Black Ooboo, and once I am away from these I shall be sure he can eat me."

So the big into the air, with them the man and the fair-haired child and the bear, and so was their that in a moments the of the Mifkets had from their view.

"Nice ride, isn't it?" Chick called to John.