e across an old woman who was being chased by a wild
bull. Her flight would have been short-lived in any case, for there
chanced to be a steep precipice not far from her, towards which she ran
in her terror and scrambled hastily down until she reached a spot where
she could go no further without losing her foothold. To the rock she
clung and screamed in her despair.

It was her screams that first attracted Bladud's attention. Rushing
forward, he was just in time to see the bull--which could not check its
mad career--plunge over the cliff, at the bottom of which it was killed
by the fall.

Bladud at once began to descend to the help of the poor woman. As he
did so, the words "unclean! unclean!" met his ear. The woman was a
leper, and, even in her dire extremity, the force of habit caused her to
give the usual warning which the Eastern law requires. A shudder passed
through the prince's frame, for he knew well the meaning of the cry--but
as he looked down and saw the disfigured face and the appealing eyes
turned towards him, a gush of intense pity, and of that disregard of
self which is more or less characteristic of all noble natures, induced
him to continue his descent until he reached the poor creature.
Grasping her tightly round the waist, he assisted her up the perilous
ascent, and finally placed her in safety at the top of the cliff.

For a time Bladud felt some anxiety as to the result of the risk he had
run, but did not mention his adventure to any one. Gradually the fear
wore off, and at length that feeling of invulnerability which is so
strong in youth, induced him to dismiss the subject from his thoughts
altogether. He had quite forgotten it until the doctor's statement fell
upon him with the stunning violence of a thunder-clap.

It is usually when deep sorrows and great difficulties are sent to them,
that men and women find out the quality of their natures. Despair,
followed by listless apathy, might well have seized on one who, a few
days before, possessed all the advantages of great physical strength and
manly beauty, with what appeared to be sound health and a bright life
before him. But, instead of giving way, he silently braced himself for
a lifelong conflict. He did not turn, in his extremity, to the gods of
his fathers--whatever these might be--for he did not believe in them,
but he did believe in one good supreme Being. To Him he raised his
heart, offered an unspoken prayer, and felt com