nderstand what they were going to do
with him, or where he was being taken; but he noticed that the servant
beside him looked very sad, and his eyes were all swollen with crying.

Curious to know the reason he said to him: 'Why are you so sad? and
where are you taking me?'

But the servant would say nothing. At last, moved by Bobino's
entreaties, he said: 'My poor boy, I am taking you to your death, and,
what is worse, I am doing so by the order of your father.'

'But why,' exclaimed Bobino, 'does he want me to die? What evil have I
done him, or what fault have I committed that he should wish to bring
about my death?'

'You have done him no evil,' answered the servant, 'neither have you
committed any fault; but he is half mad with anger because, in all these
years of study, you have learnt nothing but the language of animals. He
expected something quite different from you, that is why he is
determined you shall die.'

'If that is the case, kill me at once,' said Bobino. 'What is the use of
waiting, if it must be done?'

'I have not the heart to do it,' answered the servant. 'I would rather
think of some way of saving your life, and at the same time of
protecting ourselves from your father's anger. By good luck the dog has
followed us. We will kill it, and cut out the heart and take it back to
your father. He will believe it is yours, and you, in the meantime, will
have made your escape.'

When they had reached the thickest part of the wood, Bobino got out of
the carriage, and having said good-bye to the servants set out on his
wanderings.

On and on he walked, till at last, late in the evening, he came to a
house where some herdsmen lived. He knocked at the door and begged for
shelter for the night. The herdsmen, seeing how gentle a youth he
seemed, made him welcome, and bade him sit down and share their supper.

While they were eating it, the dog in the courtyard began to bark.
Bobino walked to the window, listened attentively for a minute, and then
turning to the herdsmen said: 'Send your wives and daughters at once to
bed, and arm yourselves as best you can, because at midnight a band of
robbers will attack this house.'

The herdsmen were quite taken aback, and thought that the youth must
have taken leave of his senses.

'How can you know,' they said, 'that a band of robbers mean to attack
us? Who told you so?'

'I know it from the dog's barking,' answered Bobino. 'I understand his
language, and if I