The raven hopped to the door.
“Tell him,” he bawled, “that his Majesty says he is to mind his own business and keep his bald head away from the key-hole.”
When the Emperor heard what the bird had got to say he determined to set out with a great force for Badoko’s country.
When the expedition was ready, they started, travelling in great force. The procession was several miles long, and, in the centre of it, immediately behind his Majesty, the raven was carried on a silver perch which was made in the form of a bower. Over his head swung a scarlet canopy, like an umbrella, which protected him from the rays of the sun, and under which he languished with all the airs of royalty. This he did because the Prime Minister’s litter was close behind, and because he knew that its occupant could see him. The slaves who carried him hated him, for his voice was never silent and he poured abuse upon them from dawn till dusk.
And now we must ask what had been happening all this time to the two Princesses. When the raven had flown away from the spot where he had seen them, they were hurried into the boat again, and continued their way till they reached the place where Badoko lived. It was a sandy desert with great rocks in which there were caves. To these caves, which were high up, staircases were cut in the stone, and the Sorcerer’s servant sat in the entrance of one, boiling a cauldron from which the steam went up in a column. They disembarked, and Badoko marched them up one of the flights of steps. “Here,” said he, “is the cave you are to live in. If you want anything to eat you can ask for something out of the cauldron.”
Azalea and Anemone were very hungry, so they begged a little food and went into their cave, glad to be away from his terrible eye. After some time they heard Badoko giving orders down below.
“Now,” he cried to his servant, “I am going on a journey. You are to take care that the Princesses do not escape, for if I come back and find them gone, I will put everybody to death for miles round!”