louder, pointing at John with
his skinny hand. "He is our boy," he said. "We taught him his trade;
let him deny it. Now he is robbing us of our fair dues. He is a
runaway. Give him back to us!"

Still John stared at him, too dazed to answer. But the Hermit took
another step forward, and said sternly:--

"He is your boy, you say. How did you come by him?"

"We bought him for a gold piece," they said in chorus. "That was years
ago. For ten years he traveled with us. And then he ran away. His
life is ours; let him deny it if he can!"

John stood silent, horrified at the fate which seemed to confront him.
For in those days children who were bought and sold in this cruel way
were the slaves of the masters who had purchased them.

The Prince had fallen back, pale and trembling. But the King now spoke
again, gazing with malicious eyes upon the two wood-folk whom he hated.

"What have you to say for yourselves?" he asked. "You who do not deny
that you are a runaway; you, old man, who stole the lad and must be
punished most severely therefor, have you any reason why I should not
give the one of you up to these mountebanks, his lawful masters, and
the other of you to punishment and death? Speak!" The King's voice
was harsh and cruel. His eyes glittered fiercely.

Still John was silent.

"Seize him!" commanded the King. "Seize them both! Off with them to
prison!"

The guards stepped forward, unwillingly enough. But at that moment
John drew himself up. His eyes flashed; he grasped in both hands the
staff over which he had made the wolf leap, and braced himself for
defense.

"They shall not take me!" he cried. "I will not go with them. I will
die sooner. To me, my brothers!" and he gave a shrill, peculiar cry by
which he and the Hermit were wont to call their pets.

[Illustration: To me, my brothers!]

Instantly the Hermit ranged himself at John's side. At the same moment
Brutus placed himself, barking and growling, before the twain.
Breaking from the leash by which he was held, the wolf came leaping
towards them, and stood bristling beside the dog, showing his terrible
fangs. With a savage growl Bruin burst his chain and came lumbering to
the defense of his friends, and the three devoted animals made a stout
and terrible wall about them. But this was not all. From the corners
where they were crouched came running the other, gentler pets. Here
scampered the cat and her kittens, mewing piti