“‘OF COURSE,’ ANSWERED THE ALLIGATOR, OPENING ONE EYE TO OBSERVE HIS QUESTIONER.”
“Have you ceased weeping because you cannot climb a tree?” asked the witch-queen.
“Of course,” answered the alligator, opening one eye to observe his questioner. “For a boy climbed a tree near me yesterday and fell out of it and broke his leg. It is quite foolish to climb trees. I’m sure I am safer in the water.”
Zixi made no reply, but she agreed with the alligator, who called after her sleepily:
“Isn’t it fortunate we cannot have everything we are stupid enough to wish for?”
Shortly afterward they left the river-bank and approached the lilac-grove, the witch-queen riding first through the trees to show the place where she had dropped the magic cloak. She knew it was near the little spring where she had gazed at her reflection in the water; but, although they searched over every inch of ground, they could discover no trace of the lost cloak.
“It is really too bad!” exclaimed Zixi, with vexation. “Some one must have come through the grove and taken the cloak away.”
“But we must find it,” said Bud, earnestly; “for otherwise I shall not be able to rescue my people from the Roly-Rogues.”
“Let us inquire of every one we meet if they have seen the cloak,” suggested Princess Fluff. “In that way we may discover who has taken it.”