after a few minutes' contemplation, and rushed outside in the vain hope
of escaping from his misery by energetic action.

"This will drive me mad," he thought, as he paused and stood for a few
minutes irresolute. "Better far to return to the East where tyrants
reign and people dare not call body and soul their own, and die fighting
in the front rank for liberty--but--but--who would let me join them,
knowing my disease? `Unclean!' I may not even come within touch of my
kind--"

His head sank on his breast and he tried to banish thought altogether.
At the same moment his eyes met the meek, patient look of Brownie.

"Ah, pup," he exclaimed, stooping to fondle the soft brown head as he
muttered to himself, "you teach me a lesson and put me to shame, despite
your want of speech. You are awaiting my commands, ready to give
unquestioning obedience--whether to go to the right, or left, or to lie
down. And here am I, not only a prince, but supposed to be a reasoning
man, rebelling against the decree of my Maker--my Spirit-Father! Surely
there must be One who called my spirit into being--else had I never
been, for I could not create myself, and it must be His will that I am
smitten--and for a _good_ end, else He were not good!"

For a few minutes longer he continued to meditate in silence. Then he
turned quickly and picked up the axe which lay at the entrance of the
hut.

"Come, pup," he cried, cheerfully, "you and I must build another house.
You see, we shall have plenty of game and venison soon to guard from the
wolves, and it would be disagreeable to keep it in the palace along with
ourselves--wouldn't it? So, come along, Brownie."

Thus appealed to, the pup gave its assent by some violent tail
activities, and, in a few minutes, had resumed its former post as
superintendent of the works, while its master toiled like a second
Samson in the hope of driving mental distress away through the pores of
his skin.

He was not indeed altogether unsuccessful, for so intimate is the
mysterious connection between spirit and matter that he felt comparative
relief--even to the extent of cheerfulness--when the muscles were in
violent action and the perspiration was streaming down his brow; but
when the second hut, or larder, was completed his depression returned in
greater power than before.

Then he took to hunting with tremendous energy, a plan which was highly
approved of by his canine companion. He also devoted himself t