Then the Admiral said : ` Oh ! deaf and dumb is he ? Lash him to the mast and give him a taste of the cat-o ' - nine-tails . I do n't know anything better than that for curing the deaf and dumb ! ' And when the old boatman saw that he was in earnest , he told all he knew about the cavalier and the lady whom he had landed upon Squirrel Island , and the Admiral knew it must be the Princess and Fanfaronade ; so he gave the order for the fleet to surround the island . Meanwhile the Princess Mayblossom , who was by this time terribly sleepy , had found a grassy bank in the shade , and throwing herself down had already fallen into a profound slumber , when Fanfaronade , who happened to be hungry and not sleepy , came and woke her up , saying , very crossly : ` Pray , madam , how long do you mean to stay here ? I see nothing to eat , and though you may be very charming , the sight of you does not prevent me from famishing . ' ` What ! Fanfaronade , ' said the Princess , sitting up and rubbing her eyes , ` is it possible that when I am here with you you can want anything else ? You ought to be thinking all the time how happy you are . ' ` Happy ! ' cried he ; ` say rather unhappy . I wish with all my heart that you were back in your dark tower again . ' ` Darling , do n't be cross , ' said the Princess . ' I will go and see if I can find some wild fruit for you . ' ' I wish you might find a wolf to eat you up , ' growled Fanfaronade . The Princess , in great dismay , ran hither and thither all about the wood , tearing her dress , and hurting her pretty white hands with the thorns and brambles , but she could find nothing good to eat , and at last she had to go back sorrowfully to Fanfaronade . When he saw that she came empty-handed he got up and left her , grumbling to himself . The next day they searched again , but with no better success . ` Alas ! '
said the Princess , ` XXXXX only I could find something for you to eat , I should not mind being hungry myself . '
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