rs. But, come, sit down and tell me how you fell into their power.
This bout has winded me a little. I will sit down on this bank; do you
sit on the bank opposite to me."

"The explanation is simple and short," replied the boy; "I wanted to
have my own way, like most other boys, so I left home without leave, or
saying farewell."

"That was bad," said the prince, shaking his head. He was on the point
of advancing some profitable reflections on this head, but the memory of
his own boyhood checked him.

"I know it was bad, and assuredly I have been well punished," returned
the boy, "for these robbers caught me and have kept me with them for a
long time, so long that I have quite lost count of the days now."

"Does your father live far from here?"

"Yes, very, very far, and I know not where to go or what to do,"
answered the boy, with a pitiful look.

"Never mind, you are safe at present, and no doubt I shall find means of
having you sent safe home--though I see not the way just yet."

"Is that blood on your coat?" asked the lad anxiously, as he pointed to
the prince's breast.

"It is. The arrow-heads must have gone through the breastplate and
scratched the skin. I will look to it."

"Let me help you," said the boy, rising and approaching.

"Back! you know not what you do," said the prince sternly. "You must
not touch me. You have done so once to-day. It may cost you your life.
Ask not why, but obey my orders."

Not less surprised at the nature of these remarks than at the severe
tone in which they were uttered, the boy re-seated himself in silence,
while Bladud removed the breastplate and examined his wounds.

They were deeper than he had imagined, the three arrow-heads being half
imbedded in his flesh.

"Nothing serious," he said, drawing out the heads and stanching the flow
of blood with a little moss. "Come, now, I will show you my home, and
give you something to eat before you tell me more of your history. You
shall have a couch in one of my outhouses. Have a care as you walk with
me that you do not come against me, or touch me even with a finger. My
reasons you may not know, but--remember what I say."

Bladud spoke the last words with the severity that he had assumed
before; then, dismissing the subject, he commented on the beauty of the
landscape, the wickedness of robbers, the liveliness of animated nature
and things in general with the cheerful air that had been habitual to
him before h