eart is comforted also by the presence of Faithful, who was with the
great king in his battle with snow and ice."

The Heir-to-Empire dropped his cat's cradle and went over to the old
trooper and stood before him with grave, questioning eyes.

"Is it so, slave? Were you with Grand-dad in the snow?"

"Most-Honourable! I was," replied the old man boastfully, "and I
remember as if 'twas yesterday----"

"Tell us the tale, trooper," interrupted Head-nurse. "'Twill hearten us
all up ere we sleep, since there is naught else to be done."

"That will I, mother," replied Old Faithful with alacrity, "and in the
very words of my revered master as written in that book of books, his
Memoirs, which doubtless the most Learned-of-the-Universe will read
some day."

Mirak, who was back at his cat's cradle, looked up with grave
superiority.

"Nay, slave! They shall read it to Akbar. He will be King."

"Hark to him!" ejaculated Foster-mother, delighted. "His words are all
fortunate."

"We have need of more fortune by works, not words, woman," said
Foster-father sternly. "So proceed, friend Faithful; the recitation of
brave deeds can never come amiss."

Old Faithful settled himself by the fire and began. "First you must know
that Firdoos Gita Makani, or Babar the brave, had to get back to Kabul,
because wicked men were waiting to be punished. Now, it was winter time,
and none dreamed of travelling over the passes at that season. But
Firdoos Gita Makani was not one to hold back when a thing had to be
done. So we started, and this is what happened, in his own words:

"From the time we left Herat it snowed incessantly; the farther we
advanced the deeper it became. After three days it reached above the
stirrups. In places the horses' feet did not reach the ground; yet the
snow continued to fall. One Bishai was our guide. I do not know whether
it was from old age, or from his heart failing him, but having once lost
the road, he never could find it again; so, as it was not to be found
with all our exertions, we were brought to a complete stand. Seeing no
other remedy, we returned back to a place where there was abundance of
firewood, and despatched sixty or seventy chosen men to retrace our
footsteps and find on lower ground any people who might be wintering
there, and bring back another guide. We halted thus for three or four
days awaiting the return of our messengers; but when they did appear it
was without any one to show the way.