kings, but when Richard arrived it gave way almost
at once.

Because of his bravery, and his many victories, all men praised King
Richard, and this made some of the other kings hate him, for they were
jealous that he should have more honour than they. When he was on his
way back to England, one of these envious men seized him secretly, and
threw him into prison.

And now poor Richard could fight no more, nor could he see the blue sky,
and the green fields which he loved. One day, as he sat sad and lonely
in his prison, he heard a voice singing, beneath the window. He started.
"Surely," said he, "that is the voice of my old friend Blondel, and that
is the song we used to sing together." When the song was ended, the king
sang it again in a low voice. Then there was a joyful cry from the man
outside, and Richard knew that it was indeed his friend.

Blondel had journeyed many days seeking his lost master. Now he hastened
to England, and told the people where to find their king, and very soon
Richard was set free, and went back to his own land.

[Illustration: BLONDEL SINGS BENEATH RICHARD'S WINDOW]

=The White Ship=

The night was dark, and a stormy wind was blowing, when the _White Ship_
set sail from the shore of France. Prince William of England and his
sister and their young friends were going back to their own land, after
a visit to the French king.

The English king, Henry I, with his courtiers, had sailed earlier, and
had now almost reached home. But the prince would not go with them, he
wished to make merry before starting.

There had been eating, and drinking, and dancing, and singing on board
the _White Ship_, and everyone was merry.

But the sailors had drunk so much wine that they could not see to steer
aright. Soon there was a crash, and the ship trembled. It had struck a
rock, and was sinking.

Then the sounds of merriment were changed to cries of fear. "Save us!"
shrieked the terrified people. "Save the prince," cried the captain,
"the rest of us must die!" There was only one small boat on the ship,
and Prince William was put into this, and rowed away. But he had not
gone far, when he heard his sister crying to him to save her.

"Go back!" shouted he. The boat was rowed back, but when it came near
the ship, so many people jumped into it, that it was overturned and all
in it were drowned.

Soon the _White Ship_ sank also, and of all the gay company upon it only
one man was saved.

Whe