Chapter I: Fished and Fished and Fished 237 (6)

Possessed with the idea that their pursuers were in much greater force than they really were, the scared wretches made for the gates of the city, out of which they ran as hard as they could. Bill, the General, wisely allowed them to pass through his lines, which they did in the maddest terror, and then fled far away over the plain, as the besieging forces once more closed in around the city.

Seeing that the gates still remained open, Bill now marshalled his gallant army, and in one grand procession led them into the city.

In front of all solemnly marched the General; then the Real Soldier; then the Merchant's Wife; then the Sicilian Char-woman, proudly waving her flag; then followed a number of Bill's charges, the Ancient Mariner, the Doctor, Camp-followers, the Musician playing triumphant music on his concertina, more Camp-followers, the Respectable Gentleman, the Scout, the Wild Man, yet more Camp-followers, the Merchant, and, last of all, preceded by the graceful Triplets, came the proud and glad old King himself, wheeled in great state by the faithful Boadicea, and guarded by the principal policeman of Troutpeg. The nine stout sons of Crispin, together with the remaining children, formed a guard of honour, extending from the city gates as far as the front door of the Palace, into which the excited and Royal old creature entered at last amid the cheers of his gallant followers.

His first act was to release the King of Persia, and after accepting very graciously his humble and sincere apologies for his unkindness, the clement old fellow gave him a good breakfast and packed him off to Persia. In a like kindly manner he treated the courtiers, after they had all suitably begged his pardon; and the inhabitants, who came trooping back as soon as they heard how graciously the rightful King was behaving, one and all clamoured to shake the delighted old monarch by the hand and pay their homage to him.

Thus, after all his trials and privations, this Royal and kindly creature was restored to his throne. The crown was done up and beautifully polished, and the old King once more crowned in great state. To show his gratitude to his brave and faithful followers he appointed them all (with the exception of the Triplets, who soon returned to Blowdripping) to places of honour in his court. Thus:--

BILL, Commander-in-chief of the Army.
THE REAL SOLDIER, General under Bill.
THE SCOUT, Officer of the Army.
NINE SONS OF CRISPIN, Bodyguard to the King.
THE CAMP-FOLLOWERS
AND OTHERS, The Army.
BOADICEA, Royal Housekeeper.
ANCIENT MARINER, Admiral of the Fleet.
SICILIAN CHAR-WOMAN, Head Char-woman to Royal Household.
THE MERCHANT'S WIFE, Superintendent of the Prison.
THE DOCTOR, Court Physician.
PTOLEMY JENKINSON, King's Valet.
RESPECTABLE GENTLEMAN, Master of Good Behaviour to the
Royal Household.
LONG MAN, Hall Porter at Royal Palace.
MUSICIAN, Court Musician.
WILD MAN, Park Keeper.
POLICEMAN, Preserver of the Peace.

With such a gallant court and brave army around him the dear old man was saved from further troubles in his State during the remainder of his long and happy reign. In fact Troy became the very happiest town in the world, and the old King's noble followers were so contented with their lot that they never again left the city of Troy.

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Transcriber's Notes

Illustrations have been moved, when they interrupted paragraphs in the original. The list of illustrations has retained the page references in the original book.

The only intentional changes to the text are the following corrections to typographical or printer's errors:

Page 25 deleted hyphen in 'cocoa-nut' (the slabs of cocoanut ice)

Page 149 added missing quotation mark at end of the paragraph (...my great courage and astute generalship.')

Page 247: Missing closing single quote added (to make just a little pudding for himself.')