94 



THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



manifested by all until, by unlucky chance, one of the royal 

 wives, a most charming creature, and one of the best in the harem, 

 found some unusually fine fruit, which she gathered and graciously 

 offered to the king, thinking to please him much ; but he, like a 

 savage monster or madman, flew into a towering passion, declared 

 it was the first time a woman had ever had the impertinence to 



CAPT. SPEKE SAVES THE QEEEN'S LIFE. 



offer him anything, and ordered the pages to seize, bind and 

 lead her off to execution. The order was no sooner given than 

 the whole bevy of pages slipped their cord turbans from their 

 heads and rushed like a pack of cupid beagles upon the fairy 

 queen, who, indignant at the little urchins daring to touch her 

 majesty, remonstrated with the king, and tried to beat them off 

 like flieSj but she was soon captured, overcome, and dragged away. 



