uld be so hard to bear."

"Why do you seek it, then, if you don't like it?" asked the hunter in
the same brusque, impatient manner which characterised all his words and
actions.

"I am forced to seek it by a Power which may not be resisted with
impunity."

"There is no such power!" exclaimed the hunter with a wild, demoniac
laugh. "I can resist any power--all powers. There is nothing that I
cannot resist and overcome."

The gigantic man, with his dishevelled locks and shaggy beard, looked so
fierce and powerful, as he sat on the opposite side of the fire glaring
at his host, that Bladud became impressed with a hope that the maniac--
for such he evidently was--would not attempt to prove his resistless
power there and then. In order to avert such a catastrophe, he assumed
an air of the most perfect ease and indifference to the boast, and asked
him with a bland smile if he would have another slice of venison.

The hunter seemed to be disconcerted by the question, but, being a
hungry man and a ravenous eater, he accepted the offer and began to eat
the slice in moody silence.

"Your good pup has been a real blessing to me," resumed the prince a few
minutes later, during which time he had devoted himself to his own
portion of food, "not only in the way of helping me to hunt and drive
the pigs, but as a companion who can do all but speak."

"He could speak if you would let him," returned the hunter. "I speak to
my dogs continually, and they always answer--not with their tongues, for
that is not dog-language, but with their eyes--and I know every word
they speak. You would wonder how clever they are, and what droll things
they say sometimes."

He burst into a wild hilarious laugh at this point, as if the thought of
the canine pleasantries were too much for him; then suddenly became
grave, and scowled furtively at his host, as if he felt that he had
committed himself.

"You are right," replied Bladud, affecting not to observe the scowl.
"My pup often speaks to me with his eyes, but I am not so good at
understanding the language as you appear to be. No doubt I shall
acquire it in time."

"Then you don't like being alone?" said the hunter, after a pause,
during which Bladud saw that he was eyeing him keenly, though he
pretended not to observe this.

"No, I don't like it at all, but it can't be helped."

"Well, it might have been helped, for I could have sent them to you."

"Sent whom?"

"A man and a boy.