for we men of the southern parts of Albion are not
prone to speak of our feelings, whatever you of the north may be. But
surely you must know, chief, that the eyes, the tones, and the actions,
have a language of their own which one can well understand though the
tongue be silent. Besides, I do not see it to be a very daring act for
one man to tell another that he is fond of him. And you would not
wonder at my regard, if you only knew what a pure-minded, noble fellow
this Cormac is,--so thoughtful, so self-sacrificing, for, you know, it
must have cost him--it would cost any one--a terrible effort of
self-denial to dwell in such a solitude as this for the sole purpose of
nursing a stranger, and that stranger a doomed leper, as I thought at
first, though God has seen fit to restore me."

"Nevertheless, I counsel you to come with me, prince, for I have no
intention of giving up the search for my child, though I mean to carry
it on in a more likely region; and who knows but we may find Cormac--
ha!" (here there was a peculiar catch in Gadarn's throat which he
sought to conceal with a violent sneeze)--"ha! find Cormac in the same
region!"

"That is not likely. I see no reason why two people who were lost at
different times, and not, as far as we know, in exactly the same place,
should be found"--(here the chief had another fit of sneezing)--"be
found together. At any rate, I remain here, for a time at least. My
old friend Dromas will remain with me, and some of my father's men."

As Gadarn could not induce the prince to alter his decision, and, for
reasons of his own, did not choose to enlighten him, they parted there--
the chief setting off with his troops in the direction of Hudibras'
town, and the prince returning to his booth, accompanied by Captain
Arkal, little Maikar, the hunter of the Hot Swamp, and about thirty of
his father's men, who had elected to stay with him.

"As I am now cured, good Konar," said Bladud to the hunter, while
returning to the booth, "and as I have enough to do in searching for my
lost friend, I fear that I must end my service with you, and make over
the pigs to some other herd."

"As you please, prince," returned the eccentric hunter with the utmost
coolness, "the pigs were well able to look after themselves before you
came, and, doubtless, they will be not less able after you go."

Bladud laughed, and, putting his hand kindly on the man's shoulder,
assured him that he would find fo