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diff --git a/old/orig1837-h/p6.htm b/old/orig1837-h/p6.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3d0500 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig1837-h/p6.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1299 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, By Mark Twain, Part 6.</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p5.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="1837-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p7.htm">Next Part</a> +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER</h1> +<br><br> +<h2>by Mark Twain +<br><br><br><br>Part Six +</h2> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="bookcover.jpg (148K)" src="images/bookcover.jpg" height="1018" width="948"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontispiece1.jpg (135K)" src="images/frontispiece1.jpg" height="1067" width="745"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontispiece2.jpg (123K)" src="images/frontispiece2.jpg" height="939" width="747"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="titlepage.jpg (62K)" src="images/titlepage.jpg" height="1083" width="815"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="greatseal.jpg (68K)" src="images/greatseal.jpg" height="438" width="711"> +<br>The Great Seal +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="dedication.jpg (21K)" src="images/dedication.jpg" height="420" width="663"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="inscription.jpg (16K)" src="images/inscription.jpg" height="219" width="601"> +</center> + + +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br> +<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote> +<b> +I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his +father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like +manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three +hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so +preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. +It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have +happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old +days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and +credited it.</b> +</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h2> +CONTENTS</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +XVIII. </td><td><a href="#c18">The Prince with the tramps.</a><br></td></tr><tr><td> +XIX. </td><td><a href="#c19">The Prince with the peasants.</a><br></td></tr><tr><td> +XX. </td><td><a href="#c20">The Prince and the hermit.</a><br></td></tr><tr><td> +XXI. </td><td><a href="#c21">Hendon to the rescue.</a><br></td></tr> + + + +</table> +</center> + + + + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + + +<a href="#18-221">THE PRINCE WITH THE TRAMPS</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-224">"TROOP OF VAGABONDS SET FORWARD"</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-225">"THEY THREW BONES AND VEGETABLES</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-227">"WRITHE AND WALLOW IN THE DIRT"</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-228">"KING FLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION"</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-230">"HE STUMBLED ALONG"</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-232">"WHAT SEEMED TO BE A WARM ROPE"</a><br><br> +<a href="#18-233">"CUDDLED UP TO THE CALF"</a><br><br> +<a href="#19-235">THE PRINCE WITH THE PEASANTS</a><br><br> +<a href="#19-239">"TOOK A GOOD SATISFYING STARE"</a><br><br> +<a href="#19-240">"MOTHER RECEIVED THE KING KINDLY"</a><br><br> +<a href="#19-242">"BROUGHT THE KING OUT OF HIS DREAMS"</a><br><br> +<a href="#19-244">"GAVE HIM A BUTCHER KNIFE TO GRIND"</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-245">THE PRINCE AND THE HERMIT</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-248">"HE TURNED AND DESCRIED TWO FIGURES"</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-249">"THE KING ENTERED AND PAUSED"</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-251">"I WILL TELL YOU A SECRET"</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-253">"CHATTING PLEASANTLY ALL THE TIME"</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-255">"DREW HIS THUMB ALONG THE EDGE"</a><br><br> +<a href="#20-256">"THE NEXT MOMENT THEY WERE BOUND"</a><br><br> +<a href="#21-257">HENDON TO THE RESCUE</a><br><br> +<a href="#21-260">"SUNK UPON HIS KNEES"</a><br><br> +<a href="#21-262">"GOD MADE EVERY CREATURE BUT YOU!"</a><br><br> +<a href="#21-264">"THE FETTERED LITTLE KING"</a><br><br> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + +<br><br><hr><br> +<br><br> +<a name="c18"></a> +<a name="18-221"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-221.jpg (75K)" src="images/18-221.jpg" height="614" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Chapter XVIII. The Prince with the tramps.</p> + +<p>The troop of vagabonds turned out at early dawn, and set forward on their +march. There was a lowering sky overhead, sloppy ground under foot, and +a winter chill in the air. All gaiety was gone from the company; some +were sullen and silent, some were irritable and petulant, none were +gentle-humoured, all were thirsty.</p> + +<p>The Ruffler put 'Jack' in Hugo's charge, with some brief instructions, +and commanded John Canty to keep away from him and let him alone; he also +warned Hugo not to be too rough with the lad.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="18-224"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-224.jpg (97K)" src="images/18-224.jpg" height="606" width="558"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>After a while the weather grew milder, and the clouds lifted somewhat. +The troop ceased to shiver, and their spirits began to improve. They +grew more and more cheerful, and finally began to chaff each other and +insult passengers along the highway. This showed that they were awaking +to an appreciation of life and its joys once more. The dread in which +their sort was held was apparent in the fact that everybody gave them the +road, and took their ribald insolences meekly, without venturing to talk +back. They snatched linen from the hedges, occasionally in full view of +the owners, who made no protest, but only seemed grateful that they did +not take the hedges, too.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="18-225"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-225.jpg (97K)" src="images/18-225.jpg" height="544" width="713"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>By-and-by they invaded a small farmhouse and made themselves at home +while the trembling farmer and his people swept the larder clean to +furnish a breakfast for them. They chucked the housewife and her +daughters under the chin whilst receiving the food from their hands, and +made coarse jests about them, accompanied with insulting epithets and +bursts of horse-laughter. They threw bones and vegetables at the farmer +and his sons, kept them dodging all the time, and applauded uproariously +when a good hit was made. They ended by buttering the head of one of the +daughters who resented some of their familiarities. When they took their +leave they threatened to come back and burn the house over the heads of +the family if any report of their doings got to the ears of the +authorities.</p> + +<p>About noon, after a long and weary tramp, the gang came to a halt behind +a hedge on the outskirts of a considerable village. An hour was allowed +for rest, then the crew scattered themselves abroad to enter the village +at different points to ply their various trades—'Jack' was sent with +Hugo. They wandered hither and thither for some time, Hugo watching for +opportunities to do a stroke of business, but finding none—so he finally +said—</p> + +<p>"I see nought to steal; it is a paltry place. Wherefore we will beg."</p> + +<p>"WE, forsooth! Follow thy trade—it befits thee. But _I_ will not beg."</p> + +<p>"Thou'lt not beg!" exclaimed Hugo, eyeing the King with surprise. +"Prithee, since when hast thou reformed?"</p> + +<p>"What dost thou mean?"</p> + +<p>"Mean? Hast thou not begged the streets of London all thy life?"</p> + +<p>"I? Thou idiot!"</p> + +<p>"Spare thy compliments—thy stock will last the longer. Thy father says +thou hast begged all thy days. Mayhap he lied. Peradventure you will +even make so bold as to SAY he lied," scoffed Hugo.</p> + +<p>"Him YOU call my father? Yes, he lied."</p> + +<p>"Come, play not thy merry game of madman so far, mate; use it for thy +amusement, not thy hurt. An' I tell him this, he will scorch thee finely +for it."</p> + +<p>"Save thyself the trouble. I will tell him."</p> + +<p>"I like thy spirit, I do in truth; but I do not admire thy judgment. +Bone-rackings and bastings be plenty enow in this life, without going out +of one's way to invite them. But a truce to these matters; _I_ believe +your father. I doubt not he can lie; I doubt not he DOTH lie, upon +occasion, for the best of us do that; but there is no occasion here. A +wise man does not waste so good a commodity as lying for nought. But +come; sith it is thy humour to give over begging, wherewithal shall we +busy ourselves? With robbing kitchens?"</p> + +<p>The King said, impatiently—</p> + +<p>"Have done with this folly—you weary me!"</p> + +<p>Hugo replied, with temper—</p> + +<p>"Now harkee, mate; you will not beg, you will not rob; so be it. But I +will tell you what you WILL do. You will play decoy whilst _I_ beg. +Refuse, an' you think you may venture!"</p> + +<p>The King was about to reply contemptuously, when Hugo said, interrupting—</p> + +<p>"Peace! Here comes one with a kindly face. Now will I fall down in a +fit. When the stranger runs to me, set you up a wail, and fall upon your +knees, seeming to weep; then cry out as all the devils of misery were in +your belly, and say, 'Oh, sir, it is my poor afflicted brother, and we be +friendless; o' God's name cast through your merciful eyes one pitiful +look upon a sick, forsaken, and most miserable wretch; bestow one little +penny out of thy riches upon one smitten of God and ready to +perish!'—and mind you, keep you ON wailing, and abate not till we bilk him of his +penny, else shall you rue it."</p> + +<p>Then immediately Hugo began to moan, and groan, and roll his eyes, and +reel and totter about; and when the stranger was close at hand, down he +sprawled before him, with a shriek, and began to writhe and wallow in the +dirt, in seeming agony.</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="18-227"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-227.jpg (143K)" src="images/18-227.jpg" height="794" width="722"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"O, dear, O dear!" cried the benevolent stranger, "O poor soul, poor +soul, how he doth suffer! There—let me help thee up."</p> + +<p>"O noble sir, forbear, and God love you for a princely gentleman—but it +giveth me cruel pain to touch me when I am taken so. My brother there +will tell your worship how I am racked with anguish when these fits be +upon me. A penny, dear sir, a penny, to buy a little food; then leave me +to my sorrows."</p> + +<p>"A penny! thou shalt have three, thou hapless creature,"—and he fumbled +in his pocket with nervous haste and got them out. "There, poor lad, take +them and most welcome. Now come hither, my boy, and help me carry thy +stricken brother to yon house, where—"</p> + +<p>"I am not his brother," said the King, interrupting.</p> + +<p>"What! not his brother?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, hear him!" groaned Hugo, then privately ground his teeth. "He denies +his own brother—and he with one foot in the grave!"</p> + +<p>"Boy, thou art indeed hard of heart, if this is thy brother. For +shame!—and he scarce able to move hand or foot. If he is not thy brother, who +is he, then?"</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="18-228"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-228.jpg (137K)" src="images/18-228.jpg" height="782" width="713"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"A beggar and a thief! He has got your money and has picked your pocket +likewise. An' thou would'st do a healing miracle, lay thy staff over his +shoulders and trust Providence for the rest."</p> + +<p>But Hugo did not tarry for the miracle. In a moment he was up and off +like the wind, the gentleman following after and raising the hue and cry +lustily as he went. The King, breathing deep gratitude to Heaven for his +own release, fled in the opposite direction, and did not slacken his pace +until he was out of harm's reach. He took the first road that offered, +and soon put the village behind him. He hurried along, as briskly as he +could, during several hours, keeping a nervous watch over his shoulder +for pursuit; but his fears left him at last, and a grateful sense of +security took their place. He recognised, now, that he was hungry, and +also very tired. So he halted at a farmhouse; but when he was about to +speak, he was cut short and driven rudely away. His clothes were against +him.</p> + +<p>He wandered on, wounded and indignant, and was resolved to put himself in +the way of like treatment no more. But hunger is pride's master; so, as +the evening drew near, he made an attempt at another farmhouse; but here +he fared worse than before; for he was called hard names and was promised +arrest as a vagrant except he moved on promptly.</p> + +<p>The night came on, chilly and overcast; and still the footsore monarch +laboured slowly on. He was obliged to keep moving, for every time he sat +down to rest he was soon penetrated to the bone with the cold. All his +sensations and experiences, as he moved through the solemn gloom and the +empty vastness of the night, were new and strange to him. At intervals +he heard voices approach, pass by, and fade into silence; and as he saw +nothing more of the bodies they belonged to than a sort of formless +drifting blur, there was something spectral and uncanny about it all that +made him shudder. Occasionally he caught the twinkle of a light—always +far away, apparently—almost in another world; if he heard the tinkle of +a sheep's bell, it was vague, distant, indistinct; the muffled lowing of +the herds floated to him on the night wind in vanishing cadences, a +mournful sound; now and then came the complaining howl of a dog over +viewless expanses of field and forest; all sounds were remote; they made +the little King feel that all life and activity were far removed from +him, and that he stood solitary, companionless, in the centre of a +measureless solitude.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="18-230"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-230.jpg (152K)" src="images/18-230.jpg" height="848" width="697"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>He stumbled along, through the gruesome fascinations of this new +experience, startled occasionally by the soft rustling of the dry leaves +overhead, so like human whispers they seemed to sound; and by-and-by he +came suddenly upon the freckled light of a tin lantern near at hand. He +stepped back into the shadows and waited. The lantern stood by the open +door of a barn. The King waited some time—there was no sound, and +nobody stirring. He got so cold, standing still, and the hospitable barn +looked so enticing, that at last he resolved to risk everything and +enter. He started swiftly and stealthily, and just as he was crossing the +threshold he heard voices behind him. He darted behind a cask, within +the barn, and stooped down. Two farm-labourers came in, bringing the +lantern with them, and fell to work, talking meanwhile. Whilst they +moved about with the light, the King made good use of his eyes and took +the bearings of what seemed to be a good-sized stall at the further end +of the place, purposing to grope his way to it when he should be left to +himself. He also noted the position of a pile of horse blankets, midway +of the route, with the intent to levy upon them for the service of the +crown of England for one night.</p> + +<p>By-and-by the men finished and went away, fastening the door behind them +and taking the lantern with them. The shivering King made for the +blankets, with as good speed as the darkness would allow; gathered them +up, and then groped his way safely to the stall. Of two of the blankets +he made a bed, then covered himself with the remaining two. He was a +glad monarch, now, though the blankets were old and thin, and not quite +warm enough; and besides gave out a pungent horsey odour that was almost +suffocatingly powerful.</p> + +<p>Although the King was hungry and chilly, he was also so tired and so +drowsy that these latter influences soon began to get the advantage of +the former, and he presently dozed off into a state of +semi-consciousness. Then, just as he was on the point of losing himself +wholly, he distinctly felt something touch him! He was broad awake in a +moment, and gasping for breath. The cold horror of that mysterious touch +in the dark almost made his heart stand still. He lay motionless, and +listened, scarcely breathing. But nothing stirred, and there was no +sound. He continued to listen, and wait, during what seemed a long time, +but still nothing stirred, and there was no sound. So he began to drop +into a drowse once more, at last; and all at once he felt that mysterious +touch again! It was a grisly thing, this light touch from this noiseless +and invisible presence; it made the boy sick with ghostly fears. What +should he do? That was the question; but he did not know how to answer +it. Should he leave these reasonably comfortable quarters and fly from +this inscrutable horror? But fly whither? He could not get out of the +barn; and the idea of scurrying blindly hither and thither in the dark, +within the captivity of the four walls, with this phantom gliding after +him, and visiting him with that soft hideous touch upon cheek or shoulder +at every turn, was intolerable. But to stay where he was, and endure +this living death all night—was that better? No. What, then, was there +left to do? Ah, there was but one course; he knew it well—he must put +out his hand and find that thing!</p> + +<p>It was easy to think this; but it was hard to brace himself up to try it. +Three times he stretched his hand a little way out into the dark, +gingerly; and snatched it suddenly back, with a gasp—not because it had +encountered anything, but because he had felt so sure it was just GOING +to. But the fourth time, he groped a little further, and his hand +lightly swept against something soft and warm. This petrified him, +nearly, with fright; his mind was in such a state that he could imagine +the thing to be nothing else than a corpse, newly dead and still warm. +He thought he would rather die than touch it again. But he thought this +false thought because he did not know the immortal strength of human +curiosity. In no long time his hand was tremblingly groping +again—against his judgment, and without his consent—but groping persistently +on, just the same. It encountered a bunch of long hair; he shuddered, +but followed up the hair and found what seemed to be a warm rope; +followed up the rope and found an innocent calf!—for the rope was not a +rope at all, but the calf's tail.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="18-232"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-232.jpg (88K)" src="images/18-232.jpg" height="371" width="704"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The King was cordially ashamed of himself for having gotten all that +fright and misery out of so paltry a matter as a slumbering calf; but he +need not have felt so about it, for it was not the calf that frightened +him, but a dreadful non-existent something which the calf stood for; and +any other boy, in those old superstitious times, would have acted and +suffered just as he had done.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="18-233"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="18-233.jpg (109K)" src="images/18-233.jpg" height="575" width="708"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>The King was not only delighted to find that the creature was only a +calf, but delighted to have the calf's company; for he had been feeling +so lonesome and friendless that the company and comradeship of even this +humble animal were welcome. And he had been so buffeted, so rudely +entreated by his own kind, that it was a real comfort to him to feel that +he was at last in the society of a fellow-creature that had at least a +soft heart and a gentle spirit, whatever loftier attributes might be +lacking. So he resolved to waive rank and make friends with the calf.</p> + +<p>While stroking its sleek warm back—for it lay near him and within easy +reach—it occurred to him that this calf might be utilised in more ways +than one. Whereupon he re-arranged his bed, spreading it down close to +the calf; then he cuddled himself up to the calf's back, drew the covers +up over himself and his friend, and in a minute or two was as warm and +comfortable as he had ever been in the downy couches of the regal palace +of Westminster.</p> + +<p>Pleasant thoughts came at once; life took on a cheerfuller seeming. He +was free of the bonds of servitude and crime, free of the companionship +of base and brutal outlaws; he was warm; he was sheltered; in a word, he +was happy. The night wind was rising; it swept by in fitful gusts that +made the old barn quake and rattle, then its forces died down at +intervals, and went moaning and wailing around corners and +projections—but it was all music to the King, now that he was snug and comfortable: +let it blow and rage, let it batter and bang, let it moan and wail, he +minded it not, he only enjoyed it. He merely snuggled the closer to his +friend, in a luxury of warm contentment, and drifted blissfully out of +consciousness into a deep and dreamless sleep that was full of serenity +and peace. The distant dogs howled, the melancholy kine complained, and +the winds went on raging, whilst furious sheets of rain drove along the +roof; but the Majesty of England slept on, undisturbed, and the calf did +the same, it being a simple creature, and not easily troubled by storms +or embarrassed by sleeping with a king.</p> + + +<br><br><hr><br> +<br><br> +<a name="c19"></a> +<a name="19-235"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="19-235.jpg (57K)" src="images/19-235.jpg" height="559" width="505"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Chapter XIX. The Prince with the peasants.</p> + +<p>When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but +thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy +bed for itself in his bosom. Being disturbed now, it scampered away. +The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful? I am as forlorn as +thou. 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so +helpless. Moreover, I owe you thanks for a good omen; for when a king +has fallen so low that the very rats do make a bed of him, it surely +meaneth that his fortunes be upon the turn, since it is plain he can no +lower go."</p> + +<p>He got up and stepped out of the stall, and just then he heard the sound +of children's voices. The barn door opened and a couple of little girls +came in. As soon as they saw him their talking and laughing ceased, and +they stopped and stood still, gazing at him with strong curiosity; they +presently began to whisper together, then they approached nearer, and +stopped again to gaze and whisper. By-and-by they gathered courage and +began to discuss him aloud. One said—</p> + +<p>"He hath a comely face."</p> + +<p>The other added—</p> + +<p>"And pretty hair."</p> + +<p>"But is ill clothed enow."</p> + +<p>"And how starved he looketh."</p> + +<p>They came still nearer, sidling shyly around and about him, examining him +minutely from all points, as if he were some strange new kind of animal, +but warily and watchfully the while, as if they half feared he might be a +sort of animal that would bite, upon occasion. Finally they halted +before him, holding each other's hands for protection, and took a good +satisfying stare with their innocent eyes; then one of them plucked up +all her courage and inquired with honest directness—</p> + +<p>"Who art thou, boy?"</p> + +<p>"I am the King," was the grave answer.</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="19-239"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="19-239.jpg (71K)" src="images/19-239.jpg" height="453" width="546"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The children gave a little start, and their eyes spread themselves wide +open and remained so during a speechless half minute. Then curiosity +broke the silence—</p> + +<p>"The KING? What King?"</p> + +<p>"The King of England."</p> + +<p>The children looked at each other—then at him—then at each other +again—wonderingly, perplexedly; then one said—</p> + +<p>"Didst hear him, Margery?—he said he is the King. Can that be true?"</p> + +<p>"How can it be else but true, Prissy? Would he say a lie? For look you, +Prissy, an' it were not true, it WOULD be a lie. It surely would be. +Now think on't. For all things that be not true, be lies—thou canst +make nought else out of it."</p> + +<p>It was a good tight argument, without a leak in it anywhere; and it left +Prissy's half-doubts not a leg to stand on. She considered a moment, +then put the King upon his honour with the simple remark—</p> + +<p>"If thou art truly the King, then I believe thee."</p> + +<p>"I am truly the King."</p> + +<p>This settled the matter. His Majesty's royalty was accepted without +further question or discussion, and the two little girls began at once to +inquire into how he came to be where he was, and how he came to be so +unroyally clad, and whither he was bound, and all about his affairs. It +was a mighty relief to him to pour out his troubles where they would not +be scoffed at or doubted; so he told his tale with feeling, forgetting +even his hunger for the time; and it was received with the deepest and +tenderest sympathy by the gentle little maids. But when he got down to +his latest experiences and they learned how long he had been without +food, they cut him short and hurried him away to the farmhouse to find a +breakfast for him.</p> + +<p>The King was cheerful and happy now, and said to himself, "When I am come +to mine own again, I will always honour little children, remembering how +that these trusted me and believed in me in my time of trouble; whilst +they that were older, and thought themselves wiser, mocked at me and held +me for a liar."</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="19-240"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="19-240.jpg (103K)" src="images/19-240.jpg" height="557" width="729"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The children's mother received the King kindly, and was full of pity; for +his forlorn condition and apparently crazed intellect touched her womanly +heart. She was a widow, and rather poor; consequently she had seen +trouble enough to enable her to feel for the unfortunate. She imagined +that the demented boy had wandered away from his friends or keepers; so +she tried to find out whence he had come, in order that she might take +measures to return him; but all her references to neighbouring towns and +villages, and all her inquiries in the same line went for nothing—the +boy's face, and his answers, too, showed that the things she was talking +of were not familiar to him. He spoke earnestly and simply about court +matters, and broke down, more than once, when speaking of the late King +'his father'; but whenever the conversation changed to baser topics, he +lost interest and became silent.</p> + +<p>The woman was mightily puzzled; but she did not give up. As she +proceeded with her cooking, she set herself to contriving devices to +surprise the boy into betraying his real secret. She talked about +cattle—he showed no concern; then about sheep—the same result: so her +guess that he had been a shepherd boy was an error; she talked about +mills; and about weavers, tinkers, smiths, trades and tradesmen of all +sorts; and about Bedlam, and jails, and charitable retreats: but no +matter, she was baffled at all points. Not altogether, either; for she +argued that she had narrowed the thing down to domestic service. Yes, +she was sure she was on the right track, now; he must have been a house +servant. So she led up to that. But the result was discouraging. The +subject of sweeping appeared to weary him; fire-building failed to stir +him; scrubbing and scouring awoke no enthusiasm. The goodwife touched, +with a perishing hope, and rather as a matter of form, upon the subject +of cooking. To her surprise, and her vast delight, the King's face +lighted at once! Ah, she had hunted him down at last, she thought; and +she was right proud, too, of the devious shrewdness and tact which had +accomplished it.</p> + +<p>Her tired tongue got a chance to rest, now; for the King's, inspired by +gnawing hunger and the fragrant smells that came from the sputtering pots +and pans, turned itself loose and delivered itself up to such an eloquent +dissertation upon certain toothsome dishes, that within three minutes the +woman said to herself, "Of a truth I was right—he hath holpen in a +kitchen!" Then he broadened his bill of fare, and discussed it with such +appreciation and animation, that the goodwife said to herself, "Good +lack! how can he know so many dishes, and so fine ones withal? For these +belong only upon the tables of the rich and great. Ah, now I see! ragged +outcast as he is, he must have served in the palace before his reason +went astray; yes, he must have helped in the very kitchen of the King +himself! I will test him."</p> + +<p>Full of eagerness to prove her sagacity, she told the King to mind the +cooking a moment—hinting that he might manufacture and add a dish or +two, if he chose; then she went out of the room and gave her children a +sign to follow after. The King muttered—</p> + +<p>"Another English king had a commission like to this, in a bygone time—it +is nothing against my dignity to undertake an office which the great +Alfred stooped to assume. But I will try to better serve my trust than +he; for he let the cakes burn."</p> + +<p>The intent was good, but the performance was not answerable to it, for +this King, like the other one, soon fell into deep thinkings concerning +his vast affairs, and the same calamity resulted—the cookery got burned. +The woman returned in time to save the breakfast from entire destruction; +and she promptly brought the King out of his dreams with a brisk and +cordial tongue-lashing. Then, seeing how troubled he was over his +violated trust, she softened at once, and was all goodness and gentleness +toward him.</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="19-242"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="19-242.jpg (145K)" src="images/19-242.jpg" height="793" width="726"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The boy made a hearty and satisfying meal, and was greatly refreshed and +gladdened by it. It was a meal which was distinguished by this curious +feature, that rank was waived on both sides; yet neither recipient of the +favour was aware that it had been extended. The goodwife had intended to +feed this young tramp with broken victuals in a corner, like any other +tramp or like a dog; but she was so remorseful for the scolding she had +given him, that she did what she could to atone for it by allowing him to +sit at the family table and eat with his betters, on ostensible terms of +equality with them; and the King, on his side, was so remorseful for +having broken his trust, after the family had been so kind to him, that +he forced himself to atone for it by humbling himself to the family +level, instead of requiring the woman and her children to stand and wait +upon him, while he occupied their table in the solitary state due to his +birth and dignity. It does us all good to unbend sometimes. This good +woman was made happy all the day long by the applauses which she got out +of herself for her magnanimous condescension to a tramp; and the King was +just as self-complacent over his gracious humility toward a humble +peasant woman.</p> + +<p>When breakfast was over, the housewife told the King to wash up the +dishes. This command was a staggerer, for a moment, and the King came +near rebelling; but then he said to himself, "Alfred the Great watched +the cakes; doubtless he would have washed the dishes too—therefore will +I essay it."</p> + +<p>He made a sufficiently poor job of it; and to his surprise too, for the +cleaning of wooden spoons and trenchers had seemed an easy thing to do. +It was a tedious and troublesome piece of work, but he finished it at +last. He was becoming impatient to get away on his journey now; however, +he was not to lose this thrifty dame's society so easily. She furnished +him some little odds and ends of employment, which he got through with +after a fair fashion and with some credit. Then she set him and the +little girls to paring some winter apples; but he was so awkward at this +service that she retired him from it and gave him a butcher knife to +grind. </p> + +<br><br> +<a name="19-244"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="19-244.jpg (129K)" src="images/19-244.jpg" height="842" width="724"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +Afterwards she kept him carding wool until he began to think he +had laid the good King Alfred about far enough in the shade for the +present in the matter of showy menial heroisms that would read +picturesquely in story-books and histories, and so he was half-minded to +resign. And when, just after the noonday dinner, the goodwife gave him a +basket of kittens to drown, he did resign. At least he was just going to +resign—for he felt that he must draw the line somewhere, and it seemed +to him that to draw it at kitten-drowning was about the right thing—when +there was an interruption. The interruption was John Canty—with a +peddler's pack on his back—and Hugo.</p> + +<p>The King discovered these rascals approaching the front gate before they +had had a chance to see him; so he said nothing about drawing the line, +but took up his basket of kittens and stepped quietly out the back way, +without a word. He left the creatures in an out-house, and hurried on, +into a narrow lane at the rear.</p> + + +<br><br><hr><br> +<br><br> +<a name="c20"></a> +<a name="20-245"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-245.jpg (42K)" src="images/20-245.jpg" height="375" width="655"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Chapter XX. The Prince and the hermit.</p> + +<p>The high hedge hid him from the house, now; and so, under the impulse of +a deadly fright, he let out all his forces and sped toward a wood in the +distance. He never looked back until he had almost gained the shelter of +the forest; then he turned and descried two figures in the distance. +That was sufficient; he did not wait to scan them critically, but hurried +on, and never abated his pace till he was far within the twilight depths +of the wood. Then he stopped; being persuaded that he was now tolerably +safe. He listened intently, but the stillness was profound and +solemn—awful, even, and depressing to the spirits. At wide intervals his +straining ear did detect sounds, but they were so remote, and hollow, and +mysterious, that they seemed not to be real sounds, but only the moaning +and complaining ghosts of departed ones. So the sounds were yet more +dreary than the silence which they interrupted.</p> + +<p>It was his purpose, in the beginning, to stay where he was the rest of +the day; but a chill soon invaded his perspiring body, and he was at last +obliged to resume movement in order to get warm. He struck straight +through the forest, hoping to pierce to a road presently, but he was +disappointed in this. He travelled on and on; but the farther he went, +the denser the wood became, apparently. The gloom began to thicken, +by-and-by, and the King realised that the night was coming on. It made him +shudder to think of spending it in such an uncanny place; so he tried to +hurry faster, but he only made the less speed, for he could not now see +well enough to choose his steps judiciously; consequently he kept +tripping over roots and tangling himself in vines and briers.</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="20-248"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-248.jpg (160K)" src="images/20-248.jpg" height="849" width="708"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>And how glad he was when at last he caught the glimmer of a light! He +approached it warily, stopping often to look about him and listen. It +came from an unglazed window-opening in a shabby little hut. He heard a +voice, now, and felt a disposition to run and hide; but he changed his +mind at once, for this voice was praying, evidently. He glided to the +one window of the hut, raised himself on tiptoe, and stole a glance +within. The room was small; its floor was the natural earth, beaten hard +by use; in a corner was a bed of rushes and a ragged blanket or two; near +it was a pail, a cup, a basin, and two or three pots and pans; there was +a short bench and a three-legged stool; on the hearth the remains of a +faggot fire were smouldering; before a shrine, which was lighted by a +single candle, knelt an aged man, and on an old wooden box at his side +lay an open book and a human skull. The man was of large, bony frame; +his hair and whiskers were very long and snowy white; he was clothed in a +robe of sheepskins which reached from his neck to his heels.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="20-249"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-249.jpg (139K)" src="images/20-249.jpg" height="839" width="762"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>"A holy hermit!" said the King to himself; "now am I indeed fortunate."</p> + +<p>The hermit rose from his knees; the King knocked. A deep voice +responded—</p> + +<p>"Enter!—but leave sin behind, for the ground whereon thou shalt stand is +holy!"</p> + +<p>The King entered, and paused. The hermit turned a pair of gleaming, +unrestful eyes upon him, and said—</p> + +<p>"Who art thou?"</p> + +<p>"I am the King," came the answer, with placid simplicity.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, King!" cried the hermit, with enthusiasm. Then, bustling about +with feverish activity, and constantly saying, "Welcome, welcome," he +arranged his bench, seated the King on it, by the hearth, threw some +faggots on the fire, and finally fell to pacing the floor with a nervous +stride.</p> + +<p>"Welcome! Many have sought sanctuary here, but they were not worthy, and +were turned away. But a King who casts his crown away, and despises the +vain splendours of his office, and clothes his body in rags, to devote +his life to holiness and the mortification of the flesh—he is worthy, he +is welcome!—here shall he abide all his days till death come." The King +hastened to interrupt and explain, but the hermit paid no attention to +him—did not even hear him, apparently, but went right on with his talk, +with a raised voice and a growing energy. "And thou shalt be at peace +here. None shall find out thy refuge to disquiet thee with supplications +to return to that empty and foolish life which God hath moved thee to +abandon. Thou shalt pray here; thou shalt study the Book; thou shalt +meditate upon the follies and delusions of this world, and upon the +sublimities of the world to come; thou shalt feed upon crusts and herbs, +and scourge thy body with whips, daily, to the purifying of thy soul. +Thou shalt wear a hair shirt next thy skin; thou shalt drink water only; +and thou shalt be at peace; yes, wholly at peace; for whoso comes to seek +thee shall go his way again, baffled; he shall not find thee, he shall +not molest thee."</p> + +<p>The old man, still pacing back and forth, ceased to speak aloud, and +began to mutter. The King seized this opportunity to state his case; and +he did it with an eloquence inspired by uneasiness and apprehension. But +the hermit went on muttering, and gave no heed. And still muttering, he +approached the King and said impressively—</p> + +<p>"'Sh! I will tell you a secret!" He bent down to impart it, but checked +himself, and assumed a listening attitude. After a moment or two he went +on tiptoe to the window-opening, put his head out, and peered around in +the gloaming, then came tiptoeing back again, put his face close down to +the King's, and whispered—</p> + +<p>"I am an archangel!"</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="20-251"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-251.jpg (65K)" src="images/20-251.jpg" height="645" width="331"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The King started violently, and said to himself, "Would God I were with +the outlaws again; for lo, now am I the prisoner of a madman!" His +apprehensions were heightened, and they showed plainly in his face. In a +low excited voice the hermit continued—</p> + +<p>"I see you feel my atmosphere! There's awe in your face! None may be in +this atmosphere and not be thus affected; for it is the very atmosphere +of heaven. I go thither and return, in the twinkling of an eye. I was +made an archangel on this very spot, it is five years ago, by angels sent +from heaven to confer that awful dignity. Their presence filled this +place with an intolerable brightness. And they knelt to me, King! yes, +they knelt to me! for I was greater than they. I have walked in the +courts of heaven, and held speech with the patriarchs. Touch my hand—be +not afraid—touch it. There—now thou hast touched a hand which has been +clasped by Abraham and Isaac and Jacob! For I have walked in the golden +courts; I have seen the Deity face to face!" He paused, to give this +speech effect; then his face suddenly changed, and he started to his feet +again saying, with angry energy, "Yes, I am an archangel; A MERE +ARCHANGEL!—I that might have been pope! It is verily true. I was told +it from heaven in a dream, twenty years ago; ah, yes, I was to be +pope!—and I SHOULD have been pope, for Heaven had said it—but the King +dissolved my religious house, and I, poor obscure unfriended monk, was +cast homeless upon the world, robbed of my mighty destiny!" Here he began +to mumble again, and beat his forehead in futile rage, with his fist; now +and then articulating a venomous curse, and now and then a pathetic +"Wherefore I am nought but an archangel—I that should have been pope!"</p> + +<p>So he went on, for an hour, whilst the poor little King sat and suffered. +Then all at once the old man's frenzy departed, and he became all +gentleness. His voice softened, he came down out of his clouds, and fell +to prattling along so simply and so humanly, that he soon won the King's +heart completely. The old devotee moved the boy nearer to the fire and +made him comfortable; doctored his small bruises and abrasions with a +deft and tender hand; and then set about preparing and cooking a +supper—chatting pleasantly all the time, and occasionally stroking the lad's +cheek or patting his head, in such a gently caressing way that in a +little while all the fear and repulsion inspired by the archangel were +changed to reverence and affection for the man.</p> + + +<br><br> +<a name="20-253"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-253.jpg (131K)" src="images/20-253.jpg" height="756" width="730"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>This happy state of things continued while the two ate the supper; then, +after a prayer before the shrine, the hermit put the boy to bed, in a +small adjoining room, tucking him in as snugly and lovingly as a mother +might; and so, with a parting caress, left him and sat down by the fire, +and began to poke the brands about in an absent and aimless way. +Presently he paused; then tapped his forehead several times with his +fingers, as if trying to recall some thought which had escaped from his +mind. Apparently he was unsuccessful. Now he started quickly up, and +entered his guest's room, and said—</p> + +<p>"Thou art King?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the response, drowsily uttered.</p> + +<p>"What King?"</p> + +<p>"Of England."</p> + +<p>"Of England? Then Henry is gone!"</p> + +<p>"Alack, it is so. I am his son."</p> + +<p>A black frown settled down upon the hermit's face, and he clenched his +bony hands with a vindictive energy. He stood a few moments, breathing +fast and swallowing repeatedly, then said in a husky voice—</p> + +<p>"Dost know it was he that turned us out into the world houseless and +homeless?"</p> + +<p>There was no response. The old man bent down and scanned the boy's +reposeful face and listened to his placid breathing. "He sleeps—sleeps +soundly;" and the frown vanished away and gave place to an expression of +evil satisfaction. A smile flitted across the dreaming boy's features. +The hermit muttered, "So—his heart is happy;" and he turned away. He +went stealthily about the place, seeking here and there for something; +now and then halting to listen, now and then jerking his head around and +casting a quick glance toward the bed; and always muttering, always +mumbling to himself. At last he found what he seemed to want—a rusty +old butcher knife and a whetstone. Then he crept to his place by the +fire, sat himself down, and began to whet the knife softly on the stone, +still muttering, mumbling, ejaculating. The winds sighed around the +lonely place, the mysterious voices of the night floated by out of the +distances. The shining eyes of venturesome mice and rats peered out at +the old man from cracks and coverts, but he went on with his work, rapt, +absorbed, and noted none of these things.</p> + +<p>At long intervals he drew his thumb along the edge of his knife, and +nodded his head with satisfaction. "It grows sharper," he said; "yes, it +grows sharper."</p> + +<p>He took no note of the flight of time, but worked tranquilly on, +entertaining himself with his thoughts, which broke out occasionally in +articulate speech—</p> + +<p>"His father wrought us evil, he destroyed us—and is gone down into the +eternal fires! Yes, down into the eternal fires! He escaped us—but it +was God's will, yes it was God's will, we must not repine. But he hath +not escaped the fires! No, he hath not escaped the fires, the consuming, +unpitying, remorseless fires—and THEY are everlasting!"</p> + +<p>And so he wrought, and still wrought—mumbling, chuckling a low rasping +chuckle at times—and at times breaking again into words—</p> + +<p>"It was his father that did it all. I am but an archangel; but for him I +should be pope!"</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="20-255"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-255.jpg (128K)" src="images/20-255.jpg" height="755" width="719"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>The King stirred. The hermit sprang noiselessly to the bedside, and went +down upon his knees, bending over the prostrate form with his knife +uplifted. The boy stirred again; his eyes came open for an instant, but +there was no speculation in them, they saw nothing; the next moment his +tranquil breathing showed that his sleep was sound once more.</p> + +<p>The hermit watched and listened, for a time, keeping his position and +scarcely breathing; then he slowly lowered his arms, and presently crept +away, saying,—</p> + +<p>"It is long past midnight; it is not best that he should cry out, lest by +accident someone be passing."</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="20-256"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="20-256.jpg (69K)" src="images/20-256.jpg" height="464" width="734"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>He glided about his hovel, gathering a rag here, a thong there, and +another one yonder; then he returned, and by careful and gentle handling +he managed to tie the King's ankles together without waking him. Next he +essayed to tie the wrists; he made several attempts to cross them, but +the boy always drew one hand or the other away, just as the cord was +ready to be applied; but at last, when the archangel was almost ready to +despair, the boy crossed his hands himself, and the next moment they were +bound. Now a bandage was passed under the sleeper's chin and brought up +over his head and tied fast—and so softly, so gradually, and so deftly +were the knots drawn together and compacted, that the boy slept +peacefully through it all without stirring.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr><br> +<br><br> +<a name="c21"></a> +<a name="21-257"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="21-257.jpg (51K)" src="images/21-257.jpg" height="386" width="651"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Chapter XXI. Hendon to the rescue.</p> + +<p>The old man glided away, stooping, stealthy, cat-like, and brought the +low bench. He seated himself upon it, half his body in the dim and +flickering light, and the other half in shadow; and so, with his craving +eyes bent upon the slumbering boy, he kept his patient vigil there, +heedless of the drift of time, and softly whetted his knife, and mumbled +and chuckled; and in aspect and attitude he resembled nothing so much as +a grizzly, monstrous spider, gloating over some hapless insect that lay +bound and helpless in his web.</p> + +<p>After a long while, the old man, who was still gazing,—yet not seeing, +his mind having settled into a dreamy abstraction,—observed, on a +sudden, that the boy's eyes were open! wide open and staring!—staring up +in frozen horror at the knife. The smile of a gratified devil crept over +the old man's face, and he said, without changing his attitude or his +occupation—</p> + +<p>"Son of Henry the Eighth, hast thou prayed?"</p> + +<p>The boy struggled helplessly in his bonds, and at the same time forced a +smothered sound through his closed jaws, which the hermit chose to +interpret as an affirmative answer to his question.</p> + +<p>"Then pray again. Pray the prayer for the dying!"</p> + +<p>A shudder shook the boy's frame, and his face blenched. Then he +struggled again to free himself—turning and twisting himself this way +and that; tugging frantically, fiercely, desperately—but uselessly—to +burst his fetters; and all the while the old ogre smiled down upon him, +and nodded his head, and placidly whetted his knife; mumbling, from time +to time, "The moments are precious, they are few and precious—pray the +prayer for the dying!"</p> + +<p>The boy uttered a despairing groan, and ceased from his struggles, +panting. The tears came, then, and trickled, one after the other, down +his face; but this piteous sight wrought no softening effect upon the +savage old man.</p> + +<p>The dawn was coming now; the hermit observed it, and spoke up sharply, +with a touch of nervous apprehension in his voice—</p> + +<p>"I may not indulge this ecstasy longer! The night is already gone. It +seems but a moment—only a moment; would it had endured a year! Seed of +the Church's spoiler, close thy perishing eyes, an' thou fearest to look +upon—"</p> + +<p>The rest was lost in inarticulate mutterings. The old man sank upon his +knees, his knife in his hand, and bent himself over the moaning boy.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="21-260"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="21-260.jpg (111K)" src="images/21-260.jpg" height="669" width="727"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Hark! There was a sound of voices near the cabin—the knife dropped from +the hermit's hand; he cast a sheepskin over the boy and started up, +trembling. The sounds increased, and presently the voices became rough +and angry; then came blows, and cries for help; then a clatter of swift +footsteps, retreating. Immediately came a succession of thundering +knocks upon the cabin door, followed by—</p> + +<p>"Hullo-o-o! Open! And despatch, in the name of all the devils!"</p> + +<p>Oh, this was the blessedest sound that had ever made music in the King's +ears; for it was Miles Hendon's voice!</p> + +<p>The hermit, grinding his teeth in impotent rage, moved swiftly out of the +bedchamber, closing the door behind him; and straightway the King heard a +talk, to this effect, proceeding from the 'chapel':—</p> + +<p>"Homage and greeting, reverend sir! Where is the boy—MY boy?"</p> + +<p>"What boy, friend?"</p> + +<p>"What boy! Lie me no lies, sir priest, play me no deceptions!—I am not +in the humour for it. Near to this place I caught the scoundrels who I +judged did steal him from me, and I made them confess; they said he was +at large again, and they had tracked him to your door. They showed me +his very footprints. Now palter no more; for look you, holy sir, an' +thou produce him not—Where is the boy?"</p> + +<p>"O good sir, peradventure you mean the ragged regal vagrant that tarried +here the night. If such as you take an interest in such as he, know, +then, that I have sent him of an errand. He will be back anon."</p> + +<p>"How soon? How soon? Come, waste not the time—cannot I overtake him? +How soon will he be back?"</p> + +<p>"Thou need'st not stir; he will return quickly."</p> + +<p>"So be it, then. I will try to wait. But stop!—YOU sent him of an +errand?—you! Verily this is a lie—he would not go. He would pull thy +old beard, an' thou didst offer him such an insolence. Thou hast lied, +friend; thou hast surely lied! He would not go for thee, nor for any +man."</p> + +<p>"For any MAN—no; haply not. But I am not a man."</p> + +<p>"WHAT! Now o' God's name what art thou, then?"</p> + +<p>"It is a secret—mark thou reveal it not. I am an archangel!"</p> + +<p>There was a tremendous ejaculation from Miles Hendon—not altogether +unprofane—followed by—</p> + +<p>"This doth well and truly account for his complaisance! Right well I +knew he would budge nor hand nor foot in the menial service of any +mortal; but, lord, even a king must obey when an archangel gives the word +o' command! Let me—'sh! What noise was that?"</p> + +<p>All this while the little King had been yonder, alternately quaking with +terror and trembling with hope; and all the while, too, he had thrown all +the strength he could into his anguished moanings, constantly expecting +them to reach Hendon's ear, but always realising, with bitterness, that +they failed, or at least made no impression. So this last remark of his +servant came as comes a reviving breath from fresh fields to the dying; +and he exerted himself once more, and with all his energy, just as the +hermit was saying—</p> + +<p>"Noise? I heard only the wind."</p> + +<p>"Mayhap it was. Yes, doubtless that was it. I have been hearing it +faintly all the—there it is again! It is not the wind! What an odd +sound! Come, we will hunt it out!"</p> + +<p>Now the King's joy was nearly insupportable. His tired lungs did their +utmost—and hopefully, too—but the sealed jaws and the muffling +sheepskin sadly crippled the effort. Then the poor fellow's heart sank, +to hear the hermit say—</p> + +<p>"Ah, it came from without—I think from the copse yonder. Come, I will +lead the way."</p> + +<p>The King heard the two pass out, talking; heard their footsteps die +quickly away—then he was alone with a boding, brooding, awful silence.</p> + +<p>It seemed an age till he heard the steps and voices approaching +again—and this time he heard an added sound,—the trampling of hoofs, +apparently. Then he heard Hendon say—</p> + +<p>"I will not wait longer. I CANNOT wait longer. He has lost his way in +this thick wood. Which direction took he? Quick—point it out to me."</p> + +<p>"He—but wait; I will go with thee."</p> + +<p>"Good—good! Why, truly thou art better than thy looks. Marry I do not +think there's not another archangel with so right a heart as thine. Wilt +ride? Wilt take the wee donkey that's for my boy, or wilt thou fork thy +holy legs over this ill-conditioned slave of a mule that I have provided +for myself?—and had been cheated in too, had he cost but the indifferent +sum of a month's usury on a brass farthing let to a tinker out of work."</p> + +<p>"No—ride thy mule, and lead thine ass; I am surer on mine own feet, and +will walk."</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="21-262"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="21-262.jpg (97K)" src="images/21-262.jpg" height="562" width="728"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>"Then prithee mind the little beast for me while I take my life in my +hands and make what success I may toward mounting the big one."</p> + +<p>Then followed a confusion of kicks, cuffs, tramplings and plungings, +accompanied by a thunderous intermingling of volleyed curses, and finally +a bitter apostrophe to the mule, which must have broken its spirit, for +hostilities seemed to cease from that moment.</p> + +<p>With unutterable misery the fettered little King heard the voices and +footsteps fade away and die out. All hope forsook him, now, for the +moment, and a dull despair settled down upon his heart. "My only friend +is deceived and got rid of," he said; "the hermit will return and—" He +finished with a gasp; and at once fell to struggling so frantically with +his bonds again, that he shook off the smothering sheepskin.</p> + +<p>And now he heard the door open! The sound chilled him to the +marrow—already he seemed to feel the knife at his throat. Horror made him close +his eyes; horror made him open them again—and before him stood John +Canty and Hugo!</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="21-264"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="21-264.jpg (96K)" src="images/21-264.jpg" height="560" width="728"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>He would have said "Thank God!" if his jaws had been free.</p> + +<p>A moment or two later his limbs were at liberty, and his captors, each +gripping him by an arm, were hurrying him with all speed through the +forest.</p> + + + +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p5.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="1837-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p7.htm">Next Part</a> +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +</body> +</html> |