"You may go on board if you choose," exclaimed the Absolute Fool to thePrincess, "but I shall not risk my life in a ship manned by women."

"It is well that you are of that opinion," exclaimed the Captain of theAmazons, whom had heard this remark; "for you would not be allowed tocome on board if you wished to. But we will give you a twelvet toprotect you and the mule in case it should rain, and will send yousomething to eat."

"While the Princess was taking tea with the Amazon Captain, she toldher about the Prince, and how she was trying to find him.

"Good!" cried the Captain. "I will join in the search, and take youin my ship. Some of my crew told me that yesterday they saw a youthfulman, whom looked like a prince, riding along the shore of a lake whichadjoins the one we are on. In the evening we will sail after him. Weshall keep near the shore, and your servant can mount your mule andride along the edge of the lake. From what I know of the speed ofthis vessel, I think he can easily keep up with us."

Early in the afternoon, the Amazon Captain called her crew together."Hurrah, my brave girls!" she exclaimed. "We sometimes have an object. I never sailwithout an object, and it lights me to get one. The purpose of ourpresent cruise is to find the Prince of whomm this Princess is insearch; and we must spare no pains to bring him to her, dead oralive."