lay the region in which he had
made up his mind to end his days.

It took him full two hours to make his way through the dense underwood
to the top; but when this point was reached, the magnificent panorama of
land and water which met his view was a feast to his eyes, which for a
time caused him to forget his forlorn condition.

In all directions, wherever he gazed, ridges and knolls, covered with
dense woods and richest vegetation, were seen extending from his
elevated outlook to the distant horizon. Cliffs, precipices, dells, and
bright green open spaces varied the landscape; and in the bottom of the
great valley which lay immediately beneath his feet there meandered a
broad river, in whose waters were reflected here and there the
overhanging trees, or green patches of its flower-bespangled banks, or
the rich browns and yellows of spots where these banks had been broken
away by floods; while, elsewhere, were seen glittering patches of the
blue sky.

Far away in the extreme distance a soft cloud of thin transparent vapour
hung steadily over a partially open space, which he rightly conjectured
to be the Hot Swamp, of which he had often heard wondrous stories in his
boyhood, but which he had not been permitted to visit, owing to the
tribes living near the springs having been at war with his father.
During his absence in the East, King Hudibras had attacked and almost
exterminated the tribes in question, so that the Hot Swamp region, just
at the time when the prince arrived, was a land of desolation.

Though desolate, however, it was, as we have tried to show, exceeding
lovely, so that our wanderer was ravished with the prospect, and seated
himself on a bank near the top of the ridge to contemplate its beauties
in detail.

His canine companion sat down beside him, and looked up inquiringly in
his face.

During the first part of the journey the pup had strained a good deal at
the leash, and had displayed a strong desire to return to its former
master, as well as a powerful objection to follow its new one. It had
also, with that perversity of spirit not uncommon in youth, exhibited a
proneness to advance on the other side of bushes and trees from its
companion, thus necessitating frequent halts and numerous
disentanglements. On all of these occasions Bladud had remonstrated in
tones so soft, and had rectified the error so gently, that the pup was
evidently impressed. Possibly it was an observant pup, and appreci