always glad to see him, and the
winter slipped by gaily for both of them.

The Prince was all the while secretly making plans for the next
campaign; he received private intelligence of the arrival of a strong
reinforcement of Spaniels, to whom he sent orders to post themselves
along the frontier without attracting attention, and as soon as he
possibly could he held a consultation with their Commander, who was an
old and experienced warrior. Following his advice, he decided to have a
pitched battle as soon as the enemy advanced, and this Brandatimor lost
not a moment in doing, as he was perfectly persuaded that he was now
going to make an end of the war and utterly vanquish Farda-Kinbras. But
no sooner had he given the order to charge than the Spaniels, who had
mingled with his troops unperceived, leaped each upon the horse nearest
to him, and not only threw the whole squadron into confusion by the
terror they caused, but, springing at the throats of the riders,
unhorsed many of them by the suddenness of their attack; then turning
the horses to the rear, they spread consternation everywhere, and
made it easy for Prince Mannikin to gain a complete victory. He met
Brandatimor in single combat, and succeeded in taking him prisoner; but
he did not live to reach the Court, to which Mannikin had sent him: his
pride killed him at the thought of appearing before Sabella under these
altered circumstances. In the meantime Prince Fadasse and all the others
who had remained behind were setting out with all speed for the conquest
of the Ice Mountain, being afraid that Prince Mannikin might prove
as successful in that as he seemed to be in everything else, and when
Mannikin returned he heard of it with great annoyance. True he had
been serving the Princess, but she only admired and praised him for his
gallant deeds, and seemed no whit nearer bestowing on him the love he
so ardently desired, and all the comfort Mousta could give him on the
subject was that at least she loved no one else, and with that he had to
content himself. But he determined that, come what might, he would delay
no longer, but attempt the great undertaking for which he had come so
far. When he went to take leave of the King and Queen they entreated
him not to go, as they had just heard that Prince Fadasse, and all
who accompanied him, had perished in the snow; but he persisted in his
resolve. As for Sabella, she gave him her hand to kiss with precisely
the same gr