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.The Queen, still arguing about her daughter's kitten, had waddledafter her husband, and while the Big Wig footmen cleared away the breakfastdishes, Reddy tried to think of some plan to reach the floor in safety.He puthis hands in his pockets, stared nervously over the edge of the sill, thengave an exclamation of glee.For his fingers had closed over the Rash rubies.The rubies! Why had he not thought of them before? If one of them had carriedhim safely down the furious fire-fall, why would it not help him now?Without disturbing the dishes on the side table, the footmenhad gone to the kitchen.So, closing both eyes and gritting his teeth, Reddyjumped boldly off the window ledge.He landed with a crash, splash andsplutter and, opening his eyes, found himself looking through the glass sidesPage 84 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlof the Giant's water pitcher.The water was over his head, but he felt nodiscomfort, except a slight chill from the ice, for in his pocket was the rubyprotecting him from all danger by water.Disturbed because he had not looked more carefully before hejumped, but elated over the way the rubies were working, the little Princerose to the top of the pitcher.Luckily for him the water reached almost tothe brim, and seizing the pitcher's edge he pulled himself up and droppedeasily over the side.This time he landed beside a flat plate of sizzling hotcakes and bacon, and we cannot blame him for stopping long enough to hack offa few slices of each with his sword.This, with several crumbs from the giantbiscuits, made an excellent breakfast, and stuffing a large piece of pan cakein his pocket for lunch, the little boy jumped gaily off the sideboard.Thanksto the other ruby, he floated lightly as a feather down to the floor and thenbegan his long walk to the kitchen.His clothes were still wet and dripping from the unexpectedbath, but his spirits were high and he was beginning to enjoy his strangeexperiences and to look forward with lively anticipation to his meeting withthe Hungry Tiger.A brisk fifteen-minute walk brought him to the kitchen doorand, slipping through, he saw the Big Wig servants seated at a large table.Their loud voices made his head thump, and to bring their faces into view hehad to lean so far over backwards, he soon had a severe pain in his neck.Buthe was sure he would learn from them the whereabouts of little Elma and oncehe knew that, finding the Hungry Tiger would be almost easy.Compared with theGiants, Reddy was about the size of a small doll and none of the chatteringBig Wigs noticed the little boy crouched behind the coal bucket.Afterlistening to a great deal of conversation that did not interest him at all,Reddy was finally rewarded with the information he was seeking."Where's little Elma's tray?" wheezed a Big Wig maid, suddenlypushing back her chair."That girl grows lazier every day!""There!" grunted the cook, pointing a pudgy finger toward thedresser."And it's high time you took it up to her, you ill-natured clod."After exchanging a few more rude remarks, the maid picked upthe tray and started toward a back stairway.Frantically, Reddy began to runafter her, risking discovery by the others in his anxiety to keep her in view.But it was a hopeless race, and he had just given up in despair when thegiantess came hurrying back for the salt, which she had forgotten.Almosttreading on the breathless little boy, she snatched a salt shaker form thedresser and started off again, but this time, Reddy went with her.Page 85 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe strings of the maid's apron reached almost to the floor,and with a mighty spring the little Prince seized one of the fluttering endsand hung on for dear life.Unconscious of her passenger, the Giantess brisklymounted the stair, Reddy swinging round and round at each step and hopingheartily that the apron string would not come untied.After a very bumpyjourney, the little boy found himself at the top of the stair and next instantin the presence of the little Giant Princess herself.She was seated in a chair in the largest play room you couldever imagine, and looked extremely comical in her great white wig.Letting gothe maid's apron string, Reddy dropped to the floor and creeping behind a toyblock, peered around in amazement.Dolls as big as himself were strewn aboutthe floor.Noah's Arks, toy barns, doll houses and castles as large as our owndwellings were ranged along one side of the wall and here and there werestuffed and wooden animals of just the right size for Reddy to ride.There wasa toy train he longed to start and a wooden circus that made his heart thumpwith excitement."I wish Betsy were here," thought the little Prince."Couldn'twe have fun? I wish she could see these dolls!" Scarcely hearing the clatterof dishes on the tray, as the Princess greedily ate her breakfast, Reddy'seyes roved enviously over the vast collection of toys.A sudden thump, as thelittle Giantess jumped out of her chair, recalled him to the serious purposeof his visit.Princess Elma, with a saucer of cream in her hands, waspattering toward him calling at the top of her voice:"Here Kitty! Kitty! Kitty! Where are you Kitty dear?"The thought of the Hungry Tiger as a little girl's kitten wasso ridiculous that Reddy chuckled in spite of himself, and when little Elma,after several unsuccessful attempts, dragged the tiger from beneath a low sofaand began dipping his nose in the cream, Reddy laughed outright.The Hungry Tiger was growling and snarling so ferociously andElma filling the air with such boisterous terms of endearment that neither ofthem heard.After a futile struggle with the Giantess, the tiger settledhimself on the floor and began to lap up the cream, with an expression ofunhappy and hopeless resignation.Squatting on the floor beside him, thePrincess continued to shower him with vigorous caresses
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