It is
my turn now. Before the sun stands there (pointing), you will be on
your way to the court of King Hudibras, while I remain, and make this
Hebrew lead me all over the country in search of--ha! ha!--my daughter.
We must search and search every hole and corner of the land; for we
must--we must find her--or perish!"

Again the chief exploded, but subdued himself immediately; and, going to
the entrance of the booth, summoned his lieutenant, who started forward
with the promptitude of an apparition, and with an expression of some
curiosity on his countenance, for he also had heard the laughter.

"Get ready forty men," said the chief; "to convey this lad in safety to
the court of King Hudibras. He is well known there. Say not that I
sent you, but that, in ranging the country, you found him lost in the
woods, and, understanding him to belong to the household of the king,
you brought him in."

Without a word the lieutenant withdrew, and the plotters looked at each
other with that peculiarly significant expression which has been the
characteristic of intriguers in all ages.

"Thou wilt know how to act, my little one," said the chief.

"Yes, better even than you imagine, my big one," replied Cormac.

"What! is there something beyond my ken simmering in thy noddle, thou
pert squirrel?"

"Perchance there is, father dear."

A sound at the root of Gadarn's nose betrayed suppressed laughter, as he
turned away.

Quarter of an hour later a band of foot-soldiers defiled out of the
camp, with Cormac in their midst, mounted on a small pony, and Gadarn,
calling another of his lieutenants, told him to let it be known
throughout the camp, that if any officer or man should allow his tongue
to wag with reference to the lad who had just left the camp, his tongue
would be silenced for all future time, and an oak limb be decorated with
an acorn that never grew on it.

"You know, and they know, that I'm a man of my word--away!" said the
chief, returning to the privacy of his booth.

While these events were happening at the camp, Bladud and Beniah were
discussing many subjects--religion among others, for they were both
philosophical as well as seriously-minded. But neither their philosophy
nor their religion were profound enough at that time to remove anxiety
about the youth who had just left them.

"I wish that I were clear of the whole business," remarked the Hebrew
uneasily, almost petulantly.

"Why, do you fear that a