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said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its bright eyes full of gratitude.

“Why, you dear little thing, I’m very glad to see you; but I’m sure you can’t help me across this desert,” said Rosy, stroking its soft back.

“That’s easy enough,” answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. “I’ll just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he’ll take you across with pleasure.”

“Oh, I’m afraid he’d rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce beast?” cried Rosy, much surprised.

“I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a noble animal, and he will keep his word.”

Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,–

“O lion, grand,
Come over the sand,
And help me now, I pray!
Here’s a little lass,
Who wants to pass;
Please carry her on her way.”

In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with fiery eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them.

“What can I do for you, tiny friend?” he said, looking at the mouse, who was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every moment to be eaten.

Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,–

“I’ll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold fast to my mane, for I’m a swift horse, and you might fall off.”

Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was so kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand till her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she thought it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers rolled their fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion was king of all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with loads on their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered what queer thing was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large monkey in a red cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a little girl.

“How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert,” said Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself.

“And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make them gentle and friendly by kindness,” answered the lion.

Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one saw him, they would try to catch him.

“Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father,” thought Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads winding up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts where the men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took the wrong road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in rocks over which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for her food was gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night was coming on, and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before morning, but dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole and be killed. Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a little; then she tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, and looking carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if anxious to make her listen to his song,–