As the little girl was settling herself between his wings they heard a far-off sound of trumpets, and saw a number of people coming out of the castle. Even at that distance she could tell by the way the sunlight glittered on their clothing that they must be very magnificently dressed. There were horses, too, with nodding plumes. They all seemed to be forming in a procession, and then with another sound of trumpets they began to move away in an opposite direction.
"Oh hurry," cried Ellen, almost falling off the gander in her eagerness. "It must be a parade."
The gander spread his wings and flew as fast as he could, but when he reached the castle the procession had disappeared. No one was to be seen but two slavesstanding at the foot of the steps before the door. They were very magnificent, being dressed all in cloth of gold, and wearing about their necks collars of diamonds and rubies.
"Was that a parade that just went away?" asked Ellen, as the gander alighted softly upon the palace steps.
The slaves seemed struck with terror and amazement at her sudden appearance. They threw themselves down before her hiding their eyes. "Do not harm us," they cried. "We are only poor slaves."
"Why I'm not going to hurt you," said Ellen. "I couldn't, anyway. I'm only a little girl."
"But surely you must be a magician to ride through the air in this way," and one of the slaves raised his head a little.
Ellen felt like laughing. "No, I'm not anything but a child, and this is Mother Goose's gander."
The slaves now rose from the ground with a relieved look, "And you are really not a magician?"
"No, of course not. But what was all that we saw? We thought it was a parade."
"It was our master Aladdin with his slaves and guards riding away to pay a visit to his father-in-law, the sultan."
"_Aladdin!_ Do you mean the Aladdin who has the wonderful lamp?"
"Oh, I do wish I could see the lamp," and the child clasped her hands in her eagerness. "I never believed it was true before. Don't you think he would let me look at it?"
"He is away now, as we have just told you."
"But couldn't you let me see it? I've always wondered what it looked like, and thought what I'd wish for, if I had it."
The slaves looked at her suspiciously and began to whisper together. Then one of them turned to her again and spoke, "I cannot promise," he said, "but if you will be pleased to follow me it may be that the soldiers will allow you to see the lamp."