the white steed suddenly dashed into the ring and galloped up beside the
black one, and now Teddy rode with a foot on each. Faster and faster he
rode, crying "Houp-la!" and even the King clapped his hands. Once and
twice he rode round the ring and past the platform, but as they came
round for the third time, Teddy waved his whip in the air. "Houp-la!" he
cried. "Up! up!"

With that his steeds suddenly leaped from the ring and up the steps of
the platform to the very top. There Teddy sprang from them and caught
the Princess Aureline by the hand. "I have come to rescue you!" he
cried, and before the King could move or speak he had set her upon the
white horse, he had sprung upon the black, and with a clatter of hoofs
they were dashing down the steps and across the square.

Then the King of the Black-Country started to his feet. "Stop them!
stop them!" he cried.

The soldiers had been standing as though turned to stone, but at the
King's voice they started forward, reaching out to catch the bridles of
the horses, but again Teddy raised his magic whip.

"Abraca-dabraca-dee!
As you were once you shall be!"

he cried.

At the magic words every soldier's arm fell by his side, their eyes
changed to little black dots, their faces grew rounder, their legs
stiffened, and there they stood, nothing more nor less than wooden
soldiers just like the one--were they his own soldiers? And the