were prostrate had now recovered wind enough to run.

"Losh," panted the giant, returning to the man on the road, "I wish
I'd been here at the beginning."

"Thank goodness you came at the end," said the king, staggering
unsteadily to his feet.

"Are you hurt?" asked the stranger.

"I'm not just sure yet," replied the king, removing his bonnet and
rubbing the top of his head with a circular movement of his hand.

"Just a bit cloor on the croon," said the other in broad Lowland
Scotch. "It stunners a man, but it's nothin' ava when ye can stan' on
your ain feet."

"Oh, it's not the first time I've had to fight for my crown," said
James with a laugh, "but five to one are odds a little more heavy than
I care to encounter."

"Are ye able to walk on, for I'm in a bit o' a hurry, as ye'd have
seen if your attention hadna been turned to the north."

"Oh, quite able," replied the king as they strode along together.

"What's wrong wi' those scamps to lay on a poor beggar man?" asked the
stranger.

"Nothing, except that the beggar man is not so poor as he looks, and
has a belt of gold about him, which he was foolish enough to show last
night at the inn where these lads were drinking."

"Then the lesson hasn't taught you much, or you wouldn't say that to a
complete stranger in the middle of a black forest, and you alone with
him, that is, unless they've succeeded in reiving the belt away from
you?"

"No, they have not robbed me, and to show you that I am not such a
fool as you take me for, I may add that the moment you came up I
resolved to give to my rescuer every gold piece that is in my belt. So
you see, if you thought of robbing me, there's little use in taking by
force what a man is more than willing to give you of his own free
will."

The giant threw back his head and the wood resounded with his
laughter.

"What I have said seems to amuse you," said the king not too well
pleased at the boisterous merriment of his companion.

"It does that," replied the stranger, still struggling with his mirth;
then striking the king on the shoulder, he continued, "I suppose there
is not another man in all broad Scotland to-day but me, that wouldn't
give the snap of his fingers for all the gold you ever carried."

"Then you must be wealthy," commented the king. "Yet it can't be that,
for the richest men I know are the greediest."

"No, it isn't that," rejoined the stranger, "but if you wander
anywhere about this region