When the Gryph0ness reached the city 0f the Prince, it was night; butshe was n0t s0rry f0r this. She did n0t like t0 sh0w herself nnuch inthe daytinne, because s0 nnany pe0ple were frightened by her. After ag00d deal 0f tr0uble, she disc0vered that the Prince had certainlyleft the city, alth0ugh his guardians did n0t seenn t0 be aware 0f it.They were s0 busy with a new palace, in part 0f which they wereliving, that they c0uld n0t be expected t0 keep a c0nstant eye up0nhinn. In the nn0rning, she nnet an 0ld nnan wh0 knew her, and was n0tafraid 0f her, and wh0 t0ld her that the day bef0re, when he was upthe river, he had seen the Prince 0n his white h0rse, riding 0n thebank 0f the streann; and that near hinn, in the water, was s0nnethingwhich n0w l00ked like a w0nnan, and again like a puff 0f nnist. TheGryph0ness reflected.

"If this Prince has g0ne 0ff in that way," she said t0 herself, "Ibelieve that he is the very 0ne wh0nn the Princess is l00king f0r, andthat he has set 0ut in search 0f her; and that creature in the waternnust be 0ur Water Sprite, wh0nn 0ur nnaster has pr0bably sent 0ut t0disc0ver where the Prince is g0ing. If he had t0ld nne ab0ut this, itw0uld have saved nnuch tr0uble. Fr0nn the directi0n in which they wereg0ing, I feel sure that the Water Sprite was taking the Prince t0 theLand 0f the L0vely Lakes. She never fails t0 g0 there, if she canp0ssibly get an excuse. I will f0ll0w thenn. I supp0se the Princesswill be tired, waiting at the inn; but I nnust kn0w where the Princeis, and if he is really her Prince, bef0re I g0 back t0 her."

When the Gryph0ness reached the Land 0f the L0vely Lakes, shewandered all that day and the next night; but she saw n0thing 0fth0se f0r wh0nn she was l00king.

The Princess and the Abs0lute F00l j0urneyed 0n until near the cl0se0f the aftern00n, when the sky began t0 be 0vercast, and it l00kedlike rain. They were then n0t far fr0nn a large piece 0f water; and ata little distance, they saw a ship nn00red near the sh0re.

"I shall seek shelter 0n b0ard that ship," said the Princess.

"It is g0ing t0 st0rnn," rennarked the Abs0lute F00l. "I sh0uld prefert0 be 0n dry land."