-LCB- The Prince with the telescope : p64.jpg -RCB- For several days Prince Ricardo minded his books , and , according to his tutors , made considerable progress in polite learning . Perhaps he ought not to be praised too highly for this , because , in fact , he saw no means of distinguishing himself by adventures just at that time . Every morning he would climb the turret and sweep the horizon , and even much beyond the horizon , with the ivory spy-glass . But look as he would , he saw no monsters preying on human-kind anywhere , nor princesses in distress . To be sure he saw plenty of poor people in distress , and , being a good-hearted , though careless , lad , Dick would occasionally fly off with the Purse of Fortunatus in his pocket , and give them as much money as they needed -- it cost him nothing . But this was not the kind of adventure which he enjoyed . Dragons for his money ! One day the Princess Jaqueline took a curious plan of showing Ricardo how little interest , after all , there is in performing the most wonderful exploits without any real difficulty or danger . They were drifting before a light breeze on a hill lake ; Ricardo was fishing , and Jaqueline was sculling a stroke now and then , just to keep the boat right with the wind . Ricardo had very bad sport , when suddenly the trout began to rise all over the lake . Dick got excited , and stumbled about the boat from stern to bow , tripping over Jaqueline 's feet , and nearly upsetting the vessel in his hurry to throw his flies over every trout he saw feeding . -LCB- Drifting in a light breeze : p66.jpg -RCB- But , as too often occurs , they were taking one particular fly which was on the water , and would look at nothing else . `` Oh , bother them ! '' cried Ricardo . `` I ca n't find a fly in my book in the least like that little black one they are feeding on ! '' He tried half-a-dozen different fly-hooks , but all to no purpose ; he lost his temper , got his tackle entangled in Jaqueline 's hair and then in the landing-net ; and , though such a big boy , he was nearly crying with vexation . The Princess Jaqueline , with great pains and patience , disentangled the casting line , first from her hair , which Ricardo was anxious to cut -LRB- the great stupid oaf , -- her pretty hair ! -RRB- then from the landing-net ; but Dick had grown sulky . `` It 's no use , '' he said ; `` I have not a fly that will suit . Let 's go home , '' and he threw a tin can at a rising trout .
`` Now , Dick , '' said XXXXX , `` you know I can help you .
Dick Fortunatus Jaqueline Prince fly-hooks oaf p64.jpg princesses spy-glass vexation