than the traveler poet, and all the time he was speaking, the bird
which the Princess had given him lay hid in his bosom and sang to
him, clear and sweet, "Courage! courage! these are the ogres and
the dragons; fight the good fight; be of a bold heart!" Nor was
he astonished or dismayed when the assembly arose with tumult and
hooting, and violently thrust him out of the Scientific Institution
into the street. And that was the noise which the other traveler
and his companion had heard.

But when the greater part of the mob had returned into the building
there was left with the poet a little group of men and women whose
hearts had been stirred by his protest. And they said to him, "You
have spoken well, sir, and have done a noble thing. We are citizens
of this place, and we will devote ourselves to giving effect to
your words. Doubt not that we shall succeed, though it may be long
first, for indeed we will work with a will." Then the poet was
glad, because he had not spoken in vain, and he bade them good speed,
and went on his way. But the scientific man, who was with the other
traveler, heard these last words, and became very angry. "Certainly,"
he said, "this foolish and ignorant person who has just been turned
out of the assembly must have insulted our great leaders! What
presumption! what insolence! No one knows what mischief he may
not have done by his silly talk! It is deplorable! But see, here
comes Professor Effaress, the very man I most wished to see.
Professor, let me present this gentleman. He is the owner of a
rare and remarkable bird, on which we want your opinion."

The Professor was a very great personage, and his coat was covered
all over with decorations and bits of colored ribbon, like those
on a kite's tail. Perhaps, like a kite's tail, they weighted and