PRINCE CHIP;

Otago Witness, Issue 2056, 20 July 1893, Page 45

PRINCE CHIP;

AND HIS ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE STOLEN PRINCESB AND THE INVISIBLE CROWN.

By Harry How, in the Million. Chapter I. 11 The king is dead ! Long live the king ! " The cry was taken up and was re-echoed throughout every chamber and corridor of the palace. Yes, the king was dead ; and now his nephew— his only nephew— Prince Chip was to wear the purple and ermine, and a golden crown upon his fair young head. The courtiers were jubilant. The court was a distinctly friendly one, for we are writing of the good old days which are mysteriously referred to as •• thousands of years ago, "of those good old times when governments were unknown and the king was Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, and Chief Commissioner of Police all rolled into one. His Majesty made the laws, gave a receipt for the taxes in his own royal writing, released a prisoner or locked a man up according to his own royal will. Here— rushing through one of the marble corridor 3 — came a shouting, merry, noisy crowd. They held high on their shoulders the • form of a youth who, but for the sword fastened by his side and the long hose he wore, might easily have been taken for a girl. His face was fair, and his hair so light that ib seemed to sparkle as though streaks of gold were running through the coils of every curl. His form was perfectly symmetrical. He was the handsomest lad in England, and the hearts of many a maiden were beating at that moment for one word of love from his lips. Alas ! alas ! for ; these young damsels ! Alack-a-day for these courtly maidens ! Prince Chip was not for them. He was quite tiny, too ; as the court fool had once remarked, "His Royal Highness is ai small as they make 'em and as good as you can geb 'em." Yeb young Prince Chip had made many a man kiss -the" grass. He was a plucky .Prince. Had he not won the silver cup in the boxing matches of the period ? Was he not the fleetest runner and the fastest swimmer P Was he nob the best' athlete in the land P Of course he was, for the Court Aetronomor had chronicled ib so in his great volumes of lore which were'kepb in the royal archives to be handed down toposterity. On, on they came— shouting, laughing, throwing their velvet caps in the air. " Long live the King ! Long live the King ! " They were going to the throne room. There they would seat the late Prince Chip in the throne of his forefathers, and his courtiers and warriors would make their obeisance to him and swear loyalty to his royal person. Who was their amongst the men, women, and children who did not love young Prince Chip ? But a hush, a terrible hush, came over the joyous assembly. Amidst the shouts of rejoicing a loud stentorian voice was heard that seemed to shake every pillar in the palace. ' "Stop." It was the Lord Chamberlain.-— Lord Chamberlain only by courtesy, and not by appointment. Yes, ib was his Chamberlain lordship. His face was pale, his eyes sparkled nervously, his wrinkles appeared deeper than ever. Not only did he tremble in form and figure, but his very hair was agitated. With decent haste- Prince Chip was put from the shoulders of the courtiers, and he stood upon the marble steps leading bo the throne. "What would your lordship? Why this sudden interruption P '[ asked the young Prince, with reasonable excuse. His Chamberlain Lordship knelt before the throne. "Your Royal Highness," commenced the Lord Chamberlain. M What ! " cried the crowd of courtiers, "do you forget His Majesty P " " Nay, nay 5 I forget nothipg," stammered the really-to-be-sympathised-with Lord Chamberlain, " I forget nothing. I have too mucb, indeed, to remember." "Speak, then," cried the Prince, in a commandiDg voice. " The KiDg's crown has vanished ! " said the Chamberlain. "What?" " I did but a moment ago leave the chamber in which your uncle lies— the crown has gone?" < • "Thou hast stolen ib!" cried one young courtier. "Nay, nay. I know naught of it. Hither cometh the Court Astronomer, who will read you that from the chronicles of this your Royal Highness's royal house — which, alas ! my poor tongue will not' permit of me to tell. We, the Lord Chamberlain and the Court Astronomer, ate the oldest of your Royal Highness's servants. No courtier of his royal house was born at the time your royal uncle, the late King, ascended the throne. Is your Highness quite prepared for a shocking revelation?" Prince Chip vexatiously waved his hand in assent. Just then the Court Astronomer came nearer the royal presence. He was, indeed, a wonderful man,.a(id the good fairies bad endowed him *• with marvellous powers of sight. His foresight was so great that he could see threatened disasters, prophesy faithfully of what might be in the days to come, and so advise -the KiDg accordingly. He was indeed 'an nnpurchasable Astronomer Royal. Thus ib came to pass that there had not been a battle in the land for 122 years. The Court Astronomer was-^-according to his birthday book— l 32 next birthday, the difference of 10 years being the necessary time which must needs elapse for the formation of his opinions, and, even then, the gentle reader will admit he was wonderfully wise for his 10 years. He carried in his arms a huge book, bound in primson velvet and fastened together by two gold clasps. Picking out the right key— after haying tiied all the wrong ones — he turned the Ipck and opened the book. SJowly and laboriously he looked over the pages of parch' ment. At last he had found the very correct chapter and verse. ~ Then, with a supreme . effort, he told the assembled people that which " made them stare in blank dismay. •'Your Royal Highness," he .cried, "you are not the King!" The youthful courtiefcs were furious— their hands were on their swords. "Stay," cried thY Prince; "let the astronomer of our oourt speak. Am I not the nephew of my late royal uncle, and the heir to the throne of England ? Answer that; Astronomer of our Court ? And since fchon bast spoken, answer thou with care. (Speak!" . . Then spoke the student of the son and stars Hike Royal Man of the Moon. j

•• Thou art not the King, oh ! Royal Prince, for thou hast no crown to wear. Until thou thyself alone dost regain it, England is without a King, and the land without a ruler." "Where is our royal crown? asked the Prince. "It is invisible to all save thee," was the astronomer's answer. " Knowing of this terrible mishap which would befall your royal house, I have consulted the oracle and studied the diamonds of the firmament. The Crown of England is at the bottom of the sea ! " "Say on," said the Prince as calmly as he could, for he was evidently striving to overcome his 'agitation. "My brother, the Lord Chamberlain, rightly asked you if your Royal Highness could bear a shocking revelation. It must be known to you, and this, your court, to-day. I will, with your Royal Highness's gracious consent, read to you from the chronicles of this court the whole truth and nothing but the truth." The Court Astronomer turned over the page. The people were still, the young Prince pale and anxious.

" It is a long story," commenced the astronomer, " I pray your Royal Highness's patience. Your Royal Highness's late uncle, the King, would have reigned 50 years over the land had he lived till to-morrow For many years he has been the slave of one of the greatest monarchs of the ocean — King Walrustus. Do not start. I know his name breathes terror in your midst. Listen. Five-and-forty years ago the King's only daughter, the fair and beautiful, the happy and lovable Princess Sunshine, was down by the beach on a summer's morn. The day was as beautiful as herself. Her namesake caused myriads of diamonds to play and dance upon the waters, and she, glancing round to see that none were near, ventured into the water and chased the diamonds from heaven's great light, while the waves gently played about her. Suddenly she sank. She was not dragged down — down— down, but fell; herself beinggently borne along by the mermaids, who smiled upon her and bid her come — come — come. The poor child— for she was but 15— was taken into the presence of the KiDg — the mighty monarch Walrustus. He frowned upon her. He was jealous of his royal brother on terra Jir ma. He had long wanted this opportunity — for he yearned for the crown and the gems that sparkled thereon, which belonged to your Royal Highness's uncle, and which should bedeck thy own brow to-day. ' ' The watery monarch caused a message to b& sent to our late King. It was to the effect that the Ocean King would only deliver up the Princess on condition that he was given the crown of England. Your royal uncle laid aside his fatherly feelings and thought only of bis country. ' The crown is as much the people's as mine,' he said ' I will not consent to this. I am thankful in knowing that my child can never grow a day older than she is now. The depths of the ocean will preserve her beauty, the happy companionship of the mermaids will never cause her golden tresses to turn grey.

One day she will return to me in form and figure, in beauty and grace, even as she left me. I will not consent.' So our late royal master replied to the -watery messenger. Whether his Majesty, whose name is Walrustus, was wrath or not, will probably never_ be known, but again he sent one of his courtiers. This was his message: 'Shouldst thou reign for 50 years— shouldst thou, oh, King of England, reach thy jubilee, we consent to return your royal daughter and forego our claim to thy crown. Bub, shouldst thou not reign 50 years, then on the day of thy death thy crown shall vanish from thy head and be borne to us, and we will marry thy daughter to one «? of our most worthy and most wealthy ocean citizens.' Then did your royal, uncle, the late KiDg, take counsejwith bis physicians. They examined him from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet, and' pronounced him good for 50 years — aye, for twice 50 if you will. But, alas ! a thousand times, alas ! your royal uncle, the late King, only lived for 49 years 36* days, and a few odd minutes. The crown has gone. The Princesß, our fair and gentle ,young mistress, Sunshine, remains a captive. Therefore you are but a Prince. We can have no King since we have lost our crown. What — what is to be done ? Thy servant is at his wits' end." Then young Prince Chip stood up. Never did he look so handsome or more manly, never did the hearts of the court maidens beat faster, never was he admired more by his fellows than at this moment. Everybody was waiting for him to speak. His clear, ringing voice was more like the sweet dulcet notes of the flute.

"What is to be done?"lje asked, repeating the bewildering question of the Royal Astronomer.

•* Aye, Prince— who can save us ? " responded the crowd.

"I will!" came the ready response, in unmistakable accents. There was a great hueh.

'^ Yes, I will. Look to me. I have heard of my cousin's beauty, but always thought her dead. Look to me, I say. Not only will I bring back to you the precious crown you have lost, which causes this our kingdom to be without its King ; I will do more— l will give to England a queen I A crown and a queen ! " The words were caught up, and, with a great cry, the men and women shouted, " A crown and a queen t Acrewn and a queen for England!" ,

"Leave me, my friends," said the Prince. "I would take counsel with these our royal Court Astronomer and Lord Chamberlain. Friends, you have my word. lam young and fear not. The depths of the ocean have no terrors for me, and the monsters which dwell in it shall not swerve me from my heart's intentions. Leave me."

Yet again the cry was caught up: "A crown and a queen for England 1 Lopg live Prince Chip! Long live Prince Chip !" Then sat, he down with the Court Astronomer and the Lord Chamberlain.

(To ie continued.)

friends. lam sending the little folks a riddle. I read the little folks' letters every time I can get the chance, but that is very seldom. My mistress teaches me to talk every night, but I don't like learning. Dear Dot, I think this is all I can say this time, as my foot is very sore. —Yours truly, A Magpie. Kingston, July 8. [Poor Magpie, she was unfortunate to get her foot in a trap ; however, better her foot than her neck, for then she would have been neither able to write a letter nor give a riddle to the little folks.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am a Boat, and my name is Blue Bell. lam painted blue, black, and white. lam said to be very beautiful. I take people all about Lake Wakatipu in summer, but I don't do much in winter. One day I thought I would sink, it was so rough, but I rode on the waves like a duck. I have had many excursions and enjoyed myself very well. I very often see fish swimming in the water, but I do not manage to run into any. I think I will have to get a new keel as my old one ib getting broken. I had a mate once named the Petrel, but I don't know where she has gone to. I think this is all I have to say this time.— Yours truly, Blue Bell. - Kingston, June 25. Dear Dot,— l live at Bullendale. It is a ve*y sold place in the winter, and so slippery that we have to wear spikes in our boots to go to school. In summer it is very warm. I go to school, and am in the Second Standard. Miss Mackersy is our teacher, and we like her very well. We have a pigeon, a canary, and two goats. lam going to send you an essay on •' Iron" next time I write. — Yours truly, Edward William Jones (aged 8£ years). Bullendale, Skippers' Reefs, July 10. Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you about the place I live in. There are lots of trees about here, and some of them are'very pretty. There are lots of thorn and gorse fences, and a pretty creek £[ows past; our house, with lots of pretty ferns growing along its banks. I shall write a longer letter next time, as it is "getting late now.— -Yours truly, Mabel E. Sparks. Maungatua, June 31. Dear Dot,— l go to the Waikoikoi School, and am in the First Standard. Miss Broome is my teacher, and I like her very much. I don't think many little folks write to you from Waikoikoi. Dear Dot, I have a little heifer calf ; please will you give me a name for her. We had 13 kittens, two of whiohwe gave away, and all the rest died. ' Dear Dot, we can never keep any kittets, and strange to say the pretty ones die first. My father has 10 horses, and mother says that he ought to sell half of them, because they are just in the road.— Yours truly, Waikoikoi, July 9. Jane Sheed. [It is very strange about the kittens dying with such regularity. Are you sure no naughty boy has a hand in their sadden death P Call the calf Kitty.— Dot.]

Dear Dot,— l am not very well just now. We have three oats ; will you please give me a

makers, two butcher shops, a post office, a saddler's shop, a library, a c6urthouse, a gaol,, a flourmill, and a bootmaker's shop at Ophir.— Yours truly, William Morris Foster. Ophir, July 9. [As Solomon had a good deal to do with the Ophir of his day, how would Sol do for a name for the foal, especially as he seems to be such a wise little fellow ?— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I go, to school, and am in,the Fourth Standard, I like going to school when it is fine weather. I have three kittens ; would you' please give me names for them. My sister has a doll, and she calls it Daisy* We have a little calf, and her name is Queenie. We are milking one cow, and her name is Fanny. — Yours truly, A Schoolgirl. [Three kittens to name— how will Chit, Tit, and Spit do ?— Dot ] Taieri Beach, July 12. Dear Dot,— l read the little folks' letters, and I like them very much. I go to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. Mr Hilgendorf is our teacher. I have not any pets to tell you about. My sister has a doll ; will youpleasegiveheranamefor.it. My brother has a pup, and its name is Nelson —Yours truly, A Schoolgirl [Call the doll Horatia— Nelson's name was Horatio, you know. — Dot.] Taieri Beach, July 13. Dear Dot, — I live eight miles above the E[ead of Lake Wakatipu: This place is called Earnslaw. It is very pretty, with high hills all round, and a lot of the hills have bush on them, and very pretty moBS and feril's grow in the bush. Ido not go to school, because it is too far away. I was down in Queenatown for a month and out at Lake Hayes for a week. I had a nice drive into Arrowtown one day, and enjoyed myself very much. I have no pets to tell you ahout. We have two ponies, and I haye some nice rides on them. I have three sisters and one brother. — Yours iruly, Amy Bawjeayes (aged 10 years).

Earnslaw, July 11.

Dear Dot,— l go to school, and am in the Third Standard. I have two sisters and two brothers, and their names are Lillie, Hannah, Alexander, and Andrew. We have to walk four miles to school every day. Mr Walsh is our teacher, and I like him very much. We have a cow, a dog, two cats, five ducks, and some fowls. Wo have a garden with a lot of fruit trees and flowers in it, but it looks very miserable this weather. When my fathers claim slipped into the Kawarau river the river was dammed back for fully half an hour. ~ My father walked across the bed of the river dryfooted. It is a large river, and ifc was very quiet when the water stopped.— Yours truly, Jessie Reid (aged 10 years).

Kawarau Bridge, July 11.

Dear Dot, — I go to school, and am in the Firßt Standard. Mr Walsh is our teacher. He is very kind to us. I have to stay at home every Monday to mind my little brother, as ib is mother's washing day. I cannot go to school