deadly disease."
On hearing this the hunter's softened look vanished, and his formerscowl returned.
"Go!" he said, sternly; "I can take care of the cattle myself, withouthelp. But stay, a man of your peaceful nature and humility may,perchance, not be too proud to take charge of pigs."
Bladud flushed--not so much because of the proposal as the tone ofcontempt in which it was uttered; but, remembering his condition and hisobject, he mastered his feelings.
"I am willing to take charge of your pigs," he said, in a quiet tone;"where do they feed?"
"A goodish bit from here. Not far from the Hot Swamp, that lies on theother side of the hill."
The man pointed to a high ridge, just visible beyond the gully in whichhis hut lay concealed, which was clothed from base to summit with denseforest.
"There are plenty of pigs there," he continued in a milder tone. "Howmany I don't know, and don't care. I brought the old ones here, andthey have multiplied. If you choose to keep them together, you arewelcome. I want only a few of them now and then. When I do, I huntthem together and drive them with my dogs. You may kill and eat of themas you please; but don't come nigh my hut, mind you, else will I put anarrow in your heart."
"Good, I will take care," returned the prince gravely. "And if you comenigh _my_ dwelling, is it understood that I am to put an arrow in _your_heart? I could easily do it, for I am a fair marksman."
Something approaching almost to a smile crossed the hunter's swartvisage at this reply. It did not last, however.
"Go!" he said. "Keep your jesting for the pigs, if they have a mind tolisten."
"I will try them. Mayhap they are more sociable than their owner. Andnow, master, might I ask for the loan of one of your dogs? It might beuseful in herding."
"None of them would follow you. Yet--yes, the pup might do so. It hasnot yet come to care for me much."
So saying, the man went to the rear of his hut, and, from the kennelthere, fetched a young but full-grown dog, somewhat resembling aretriever, which gambolled joyously at the prospect of being let out fora run.
"There, take him. He comes of a good breed. Keep the leash on his necktill you have given him his first feed; he'll follow you after that."
"What is his name?" asked the prince.
"No name. Like his master in that!"
Taking the leash in his hand, Bladud said farewell, and went away intothe woods, while the hunter of the Swamp, turning round, stooped as heentered his hut, and shut the door behind him.
It may seem strange that the prince should thus voluntarily seek formenial occupation, but, in truth, he shrank from the idea of livingabsolutely to himself alone, and felt a strong desire to have some sortof responsibility in connection with a human being, however short hislife on earth might be, or however uncouth the individual with whom hemight have to do--for man is intensely social, as only those who havedwelt in absolute solitude can thoroughly understand.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
PRINCE BLADUD TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS ESTATE AND BEGINS BUSINESS.
Pondering over the circumstances of the strange being from whom he hadjust parted, Bladud proceeded to the summit of the hill, or ridge ofhigh land, on the other side of which lay the region in which he hadmade up his mind to end his days.
It took him full two hours to make his way through the dense underwoodto the top; but when this point was reached, the magnificent panorama ofland and water which met his view was a feast to his eyes, which for atime caused him to forget his forlorn condition.
In all directions, wherever he gazed, ridges and knolls, covered withdense woods and richest vegetation, were seen extending from hiselevated outlook to the distant horizon. Cliffs, precipices, dells, andbright green open spaces varied the landscape; and in the bottom of thegreat valley which lay immediately beneath his feet there meandered abroad river, in whose waters were reflected here and there theoverhanging trees, or green patches of its flower-bespangled banks, orthe rich browns and yellows of spots where these banks had been brokenaway by floods; while, elsewhere, were seen glittering patches of theblue sky.
Far away in the extreme distance a soft cloud of thin transparent vapourhung steadily over a partially open space, which he rightly conjecturedto be the Hot Swamp, of which he had often heard wondrous stories in hisboyhood, but which he had not been permitted to visit, owing to thetribes living near the springs having been at war with his father.During his absence in the East, King Hudibras had attacked and almostexterminated the tribes in question, so that the Hot Swamp region, justat the time when the prince arrived, was a land of desolation.
Though desolate, however, it was, as we have tried to show, exceedinglovely, so that our wanderer was ravished with the prospect, and seatedhimself on a bank near the top of the ridge to contemplate its beautiesin detail.
His canine companion sat down beside him, and looked up inquiringly inhis face.
During the first part of the journey the pup had strained a good deal atthe leash, and had displayed a strong desire to return to its formermaster, as well as a powerful objection to follow its new one. It hadalso, with that perversity of spirit not uncommon in youth, exhibited aproneness to advance on the other side of bushes and trees from itscompanion, thus necessitating frequent halts and numerousdisentanglements. On all of these occasions Bladud had remonstrated intones so soft, and had rectified the error so gently, that the pup wasevidently impressed. Possibly it was an observant pup, and appreciatedthe advantages of human kindness. Perhaps it was a sagacious pup, andalready recognised the difference between the old master and the new.
Be this as it may, Bladud had not been long seated there in a state ofdreamy abstraction, when he became conscious of the inquiring look.Returning it with interest, but without speaking, he gazed steadily intothe soft brown eyes that were turned up to his. At last the princeopened his lips, and the dog, turning his head slightly to one side witha look of expectancy, cocked his ears.
"Browneyes," he said, "you'll grow to be a fine dog if you live."
There was the slightest possible tremor in the pup's tail. Of coursethere might have been more than a tremor if the caudal appendage hadbeen at liberty instead of being sat upon. It was enough, however, toindicate a tendency to goodwill.
"Come here, Browneyes," said Bladud, holding out his hand.
But the pup was hardly prepared for such a complete and suddenconcession as the invitation implied. He repeated the tremor, however,and turned his head to the other side, by way of a change, but satstill.
A happy thought occurred to the prince--justifying the remark of Solomonthat there is nothing new under the sun. He opened his wallet, took outa small piece of meat, and held it out.
"Here, Brownie, have a bit." Another justification of Solomon, for thenatural abbreviation of names is not new!
The pup advanced with confidence, ate the morsel, and looked inquiringlyfor more, at the same time wagging its tail with unqualifiedsatisfaction.
"Yes, Brownie, you shall have more."
The second morsel was bestowed; the tail wagged effusively; the name ofBrownie became irrevocably associated with food, and a loving look andtone with favours to come. Thus a title and a friendship wereestablished which endured through life and was terminated only by death.So trivial sometimes are the incidents on which the great events oflife are hinged!
We pause here to deprecate the idea that this fine animal's affectionwas gained through its stomach. Many a time had its old master thrownit savoury junks and bones of food; but a scowl and sometimes a growl,had often been thrown into the mess, thereby robbing the gift of allgrace, and checking the outflow of affection. Bladud's charactersimilarly, was as clearly perceived by the manner of his gifts. Indeed,it would have been a poor compliment to the intelligence of Brownie--orof any dog, young or old--to suppose it capable of misunderstanding thegentle tone, the kindly glance, and the patting hand of Bladud. At allevents, the result was that Brownie, with an express
ive wag and bark,vowed fidelity from that date to the prince, and, in the same act,renounced allegiance to the hunter of the Hot Swamp.
From that date, too, the master and the dog entered upon, and kept up atfrequent though brief intervals, a species of conversation or mentalintercourse which, if not profound, was equal to much that passes forintercourse among men, and was, at all events, a source of eminentsatisfaction to both.
Removing the leash, Bladud descended the hill, with Brownie gambollingdelightedly round him.
That night they slept together under the spreading branches of amagnificent oak.
There was no need to keep watch against wild beasts, for Brownie slept,as it were, with one eye open, and the slightest symptom of curiosityamong the wild fraternity was met by a growl so significant that thewould-be intruder sheered off.
The sun was high when the prince awoke and arose