Some threw themselves into the sea , trusting that the current might carry them to other shores -- they had no boats -- and a few , still more impatient , put themselves to death on the spot . The rest submitted blindly to their destiny . Perhaps the worst part of the enchantment was , that the change from one age to another was so rapid that the person had no time to prepare himself for it . It would not have mattered so much if the man who stood up in the assembly of the nation , to give his advice as to peace or war , had looked like a baby , as long as he spoke with the knowledge and sense of a full-grown man . But , alas ! with the outward form of an infant , he had taken on its helplessness and foolishness , and there was no one who could train him to better things . The end of it all was , that before a month had passed the population had died out , and the fairy Dindonette , ashamed and grieved at the effects of her folly , had left the island for ever . Many centuries after , the fairy Selnozoura , who had fallen into bad health , was ordered by her doctors to make the tour of the world twice a week for change of air , and in one of these journeys she found herself at Fountain Island . Selnozoura never made these trips alone , but always took with her two children , of whom she was very fond -- Cornichon , a boy of fourteen , bought in his childhood at a slave-market , and Toupette , a few months younger , who had been entrusted to the care of the fairy by her guardian , the genius Kristopo . Cornichon and Toupette were intended by Selnozoura to become husband and wife , as soon as they were old enough . Meanwhile , they travelled with her in a little vessel , whose speed through the air was just a thousand nine hundred and fifty times greater than that of the swiftest of our ships . Struck with the beauty of the island , Selnozoura ran the vessel to ground , and leaving it in the care of the dragon which lived in the hold during the voyage , stepped on shore with her two companions . Surprised at the sight of a large town whose streets and houses were absolutely desolate , the fairy resolved to put her magic arts in practice to find out the cause . While she was thus engaged , Cornichon and Toupette wandered away by themselves , and by-and-by arrived at the fountain , whose bubbling waters looked cool and delicious on such a hot day . Scarcely had they each drunk a deep draught , when the fairy , who by this time had discovered all she wished to know , hastened to the spot . ` Oh , beware ! beware ! ' she cried , the moment she saw them . ` If you drink that deadly poison you will be ruined for ever ! ' ` Poison ? '
answered XXXXX .
Island Kristopo Selnozoura Toupette left month months slave-market war week