The Dragon was a perfect nuisance for the whole of Saturday,except during the hour of noon, and then he had to rest under atree or he would have caught fire from the heat of the sun. Yousee, he was very hot to begin with.At last came a Saturday when the Dragon actually walked intothe Royal nursery and carried off the King's own pet RockingHorse. Then the King cried for six days, and on the seventh hewas so tired that he had to stop. He heard the Blue Bird singingamong the roses and saw the Butterfly fluttering among the lilies,and he said: "Nurse, wipe my face, please. I am not going to cryany more."Nurse washed his face, and told him not to be a silly little King."Crying," said she, "never did anyone any good yet.""I don't know," said the little King, "I seem to see better, and tohear better now that I've cried for a week. Now, Nurse, dear, Iknow I'm right, so kiss me in case I never come back. I must tryto see if I can't save the people.""Well, if you must, you must," said Nurse, "but don't tear yourclothes or get your feet wet."So off he went.The Blue Bird sang more sweetly than ever, and the Butterflyshone more brightly, as Lionel once more carried The Book ofBeasts out into the rose garden, and opened it--very quickly, sothat he might not be afraid and change his mind. The book fellopen wide, almost in the middle, and there was written at thebottom of the page, "Hippogriff," and before Lionel had time tosee what the picture was, there was a fluttering of great wingsand a stamping of hoofs, and a sweet, soft, friendly neighing; andthere came out of the book a beautiful white horse with a long,long, white mane and a long, long, white tail, and he had greatwings like swan's wings, and the softest, kindest eyes in theworld, and he stood there among the roses.The Hippogriff rubbed its silky-soft, milky white nose againstthe little King's shoulder, and the little King thought: "But for thewings you are very like my poor, dear lost Rocking Horse." Andthe Blue Bird's song was very loud and sweet.