Beetle (2 page)

Before long, news spread that Beetle had a gift for finding lost things. He began to enjoy his fame. One day, a royal page from the queen’s court came to the door of his shack.

“You must come to the palace at once,” said the page. “The queen has lost a golden ring and she is very upset.”

Beetle was so surprised he forgot himself for a moment. “What has that to do with me?” he asked.

“Are you not Beetle the Magician?” said the page. “Surely you can find the queen’s ring.”

Beetle blinked in alarm. He did not have special powers at all. How was he to find something he had not taken? He trembled in his boots as he trotted behind the royal page. The queen was a cruel woman. If he failed this task, he would be punished in a most terrible way.

Beetle was still trembling when he arrived at the palace. He did not notice that three people were watching him from behind a bush. The head cook, the footman and the gardener had stolen the ring, and now they were gazing at Beetle with growing alarm.

“The queen has sent for a magician,” said the head cook.

“They say he can find anything,” said the footman.

“The game’s up!” cried the gardener. The ring was in his pocket and he was sure that Beetle would know straightaway. He was about to dash forward and confess when the head cook held him back.

“Wait,” she said. “He might be a fraud.”

“We will keep a close eye on him,” said the footman.

Meanwhile, Beetle bowed low before the queen.

“I hear you have special powers,” said the queen. “Can you find my lost ring?”

“I will do my best,” said Beetle, thinking quickly, “b-but I need some time.”

“You have until the morning,” said the queen, looking stern.

Beetle was led to a room at the very back of the palace. There he sat on the bed and stared out the window.

“Ah, Beetle,” he said to himself, “this is very bad indeed.”

Beetle tossed and turned all night. There was no way he could find the queen’s ring. What terrible punishment would she give him? “There is only one thing to do,” he said at last. “I must run away before the sun comes up.” While it was still dark, Beetle rose from his bed and peered out into the garden. Just then, a rooster crowed from the stable yards.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

“That must be a sign,” said Beetle to himself.

“When that rooster has crowed three times, I will sneak away.”

A short time later, the head cook crept up to Beetle’s door. She listened through the keyhole, wondering what Beetle was up to. At that very moment, the rooster crowed from the stable yards.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

“That is the first one,” said Beetle out loud.

Hearing this, the head cook grew pale with fright. She rushed off to tell the others what she had heard.

“He is a magician for sure,” said the head cook. “I heard him say, ‘That is the first one.’”

“We are doomed!” cried the footman. He crept to Beetle’s door just as the rooster crowed again.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

“That is the second one,” said Beetle loudly.

The footman rushed away in a panic. “That magician can see through doors,” he told the others. “While I stood there he said, ‘That is the second one.’”

The gardener listened at the keyhole next, and soon the rooster crowed again.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

“That is the third one,” said Beetle in a firm voice. He knew he must get away before the palace guards took up their posts. Creeping to the door, he slowly pushed it open. Then he gasped in surprise. Huddled in a corner were the head cook, the footman and the gardener. Before Beetle could say a word, they fell to their knees.

“O Great Magician,” cried the head cook.

“Please don’t tell the queen what we have done.”

“We will never steal anything again,” cried the footman.

“Here is her ring,” said the gardener, and he thrust it into Beetle’s hands.

Beetle scratched his head as the three hurried away. He did not understand what had happened but he was very pleased.

“Ah, Beetle,” he said to himself, “you may be saved yet.”