d to and fro with merriment.

Straight up to the Prince marched the twain, and at John's command the
bear bowed and held out his hand politely.

"He salutes you, his brother," said John to the Prince. "He begs you
to be friends with him always."

The Prince bowed in return, with a bright flush in his cheeks. "I
salute you, brother," he replied. "Never again will I hunt you or any
animal, wherever I may be."

From the foremost of the crowd who heard these words came a loud
"Hurrah!" and caps were tossed in the air. Evidently the Prince's
sentiment was popular in the city.

"Tut, tut!" said the King, "we will see about that!" He bit his lip
and bent a frown upon the group before him. The Hermit saw him whisper
a word into the ear of one of his courtiers, who bowed and disappeared.

Now John put Brutus and the wolf through their tricks, which were
wonderful indeed; for the dog was very intelligent, and had learned all
that the best educated dog nowadays can do, and more beside. Then the
wolf's leaping was a thing to wonder at, he was so lithe and strong.
Over Brutus he leaped, over John's head, over the bear, over John
standing on the bear's broad back.

At the end the Prince applauded heartily, and calling up the dog and
the wolf, placed a golden collar about the neck of each.

"Good friends," said the Prince, "you helped to save my life, you and
your brothers, and your masters. I give you these. But them I never
can repay if I live to be as old as Noah, who was the first to gather
pets about him. I hope that in time there may be many pets throughout
the kingdom."

He glanced timidly at the King.

"Hurrah!" shouted the people. "Long live the Prince. Long live John
and his animals! Hurrah! Hurrah!"

"No more of this!" The King made a gesture, and the shouting stopped,
changing into sullen murmurs. The King was not popular, it seemed.
"Let the performance proceed!" he commanded. "I do not like these
interruptions."

Once more the Hermit saw him whisper to a servant, who went away
quickly on some mysterious errand.

Now, with a happy face, John himself stepped forward and showed his
skill and strength and grace. He turned somersaults backward and
forward; he stood upon his head and danced upon his hands. He did all
the old tricks which he had learned of the tumblers, and more of his
own invention, till the people shouted rapturously, "Bravo! Bravo!
Hurrah for our John!"

With his eye on