e no very clear account of himself.

The apprentices, putting on an air of mock respect, declared it was
quite impossible to go to see the princess with that little pig as a
companion, genteel a pig as he seemed to be. They could take care of
him, and Nono could call for him on the way home. They lived, they
said, in a house at which they pointed in the distant fields. Then
they started off in that direction as fast as their feet could carry
them, with Blackie held fast in the strong arms of the tallest of the
party.

It was in vain that Nono called upon the retiring enemy. They shook
their fists at him and laughed mockingly, and called out that they
would "give it to him" if he undertook to follow them now. He could
call for piggie when he had seen the princess; and again they pointed
out the house towards which they seemed to be hastening.

Nono felt inclined to sit down and cry by the roadside. It suddenly
struck him that these were Philistines, quite of the scoffing, Goliath
sort; but he was not to be discouraged by them, not he! It would have
been rather awkward to appear before the princess, in her beautiful
home, with Blackie beside him. There was truth in that at least.
Perhaps those wild fellows meant well after all. They might have been
just teasing him, as "the little boys" teased Decima sometimes, though
they really loved her at the bottom. Yes, Decima! he must not forget
that it was for her he had undertaken it all. In such a good cause no
"Philistines" should make him afraid. He was so far safely on his way.
He must thank God and take courage. And he did.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PRINCESS.

Jan had given Nono the strictest injunctions to ask questions only of
policemen when he had once entered the great city. Of course Nono
implicitly obeyed, and so was soon able to find the palace. What a
grand building he thought it, and how beautiful the bright water about
it! He was sure the world could show nothing more charming than the
home of the Swedish king.

Nono would have trembled at the idea of entering the royal palace if he
had not remembered that the good princess, his princess, was there. He
had a friend within the castle. Not that the palace looked at all like
a fortified castle. Its plain, square sides were pierced by long rows
of rectangular windows, while on the water-front two long white wings
shut in a quiet garden. In one of these wings, he had been told, the
princess