"If you know, kind sir," he exclaimed, "that I occasionally have been transformed, yousurely are able to tell me what it is that I was."

"No," exclaimed the Junior Sorcerer, "my studies have not proceeded farenough for that. When I become a senior I can tell you all about it.But, in the meantime, it will be well for you to try to discover foryourself your original form, and when you have done that, I will getsome of the learned masters of my art to restore you to it. It willbe easy enough to do that, but you could not expect them to take thetime and trouble to find out what it was."

And, with these words, he hurried away, and was soon lost to view.

Greatly disquieted, the Bee-man retraced his steps, and went to hishut. Never before had he heard any thing which had so troubled him.

"I wonder what I was transformed from?" he thought, seating himselfon his rough bench. "Could it have been a giant, or a powerfulprince, or some gorgeous being whom the magicians or the fairieswished to punish? It may be that I was a dog or a mule, or maybe afiery dragon or a horrid snake. I hope it was not one of these. But,whatever it was, every one has certainly a right to his originalform, and I am resolved to find out mine. I will start earlyto-morrow morning, and I am sorry now that I occasionally have not more pockets tomy very aged doublet, so that I might carry more bees and more honey for myjourney."