only a prince, but supposed to be a reasoningman, rebelling against the decree of my Maker--my Spirit-Father! Surelythere must be One who called my spirit into being--else had I neverbeen, for I could not create myself, and it must be His will that I amsmitten--and for a _good_ end, else He were not good!"
For a few minutes longer he continued to meditate in silence. Then heturned quickly and picked up the axe which lay at the entrance of thehut.
"Come, pup," he cried, cheerfully, "you and I must build another house.You see, we shall have plenty of game and venison soon to guard from thewolves, and it would be disagreeable to keep it in the palace along withourselves--wouldn't it? So, come along, Brownie."
Thus appealed to, the pup gave its assent by some violent tailactivities, and, in a few minutes, had resumed its former post assuperintendent of the works, while its master toiled like a secondSamson in the hope of driving mental distress away through the pores ofhis skin.
He was not indeed altogether unsuccessful, for so intimate is themysterious connection between spirit and matter that he felt comparativerelief--even to the extent of cheerfulness--when the muscles were inviolent action and the perspiration was streaming down his brow; butwhen the second hut, or larder, was completed his depression returned ingreater power than before.
Then he took to hunting with tremendous energy, a plan which was highlyapproved of by his canine companion. He also devoted himself to hisspecific duties as swine-herd; collected the animals from all quartersinto several large herds, counted them as well as he could, and drovethem to suitable feeding-grounds. On retiring each day from this work,into which he threw all his power, he felt so fatigued as to be quiteready for supper and bed.
Gradually he became accustomed to the life, and at length, after aconsiderable time of it, a feeling of resignation to his fate began totell upon him.
The effect of prolonged solitude also began even to numb the powers ofhis mind. He was fully aware of this, and tried to shake it off, for heshuddered more at the thought of mental than of physical decay. Amongother things, he took to talking more frequently to Brownie, butalthough the pup was, in many respects, a most valuable and sympatheticcompanion, he could not prevent the conversation from being ratherone-sided.
By degrees the summer merged into autumn; the foliage assumed the tintsof green and gold. Then it became russet, and finally the cold bleakwinds of a northern winter shrieked through the valley and swept theleaves away.
During all this time no human being had gone near that region, or paidthe forlorn prince a visit, except once when the hunter of the Hot Swampmade his appearance.
The rebellious tribes retained too vivid a recollection of the slaughterthat had taken place during and after the fight with King Hudibras, torisk a second encounter with that monarch, so that the place was at thattime absolutely deserted by human beings--though it was sufficientlypeopled by the lower animals. On the occasion when the hunterunexpectedly appeared, he demanded of Bladud an account of hisstewardship. The report was so satisfactory that the hunter became, forhim, quite amiable; commended his swine-herd and drove off a number ofthe pigs to market. On his return, laden with the few household goodsfor which he had bartered them, he paid the prince another visit, andeven condescended to accept an invitation to enter his hut and partakeof a roast of venison which was at the time being prepared for themid-day meal. He was still, however, very brusque and taciturn.
"No one has been near me during the whole summer or autumn butyourself," observed Bladud with an involuntary sigh.
"You must be pleased at that," returned the hunter, sharply; "you saidyou came here for solitude."
"Truly I did; but I had not thought it would be so hard to bear."
"Why do you seek it, then, if you don't like it?" asked the hunter inthe same brusque, impatient manner which characterised all his words andactions.
"I am forced to seek it by a Power which may not be resisted withimpunity."
"There is no such power!" exclaimed the hunter with a wild, demoniaclaugh. "I can resist any power--all powers. There is nothing that Icannot resist and overcome."
The gigantic man, with his dishevelled locks and shaggy beard, looked sofierce and powerful, as he sat on the opposite side of the fire glaringat his host, that Bladud became impressed with a hope that the maniac--for such he evidently was--would not attempt to prove his resistlesspower there and then. In order to avert such a catastrophe, he assumedan air of the most perfect ease and indifference to the boast, and askedhim with a bland smile if he would have another slice of venison.
The hunter seemed to be disconcerted by the question, but, being ahungry man and a ravenous eater, he accepted the offer and began to eatthe slice in moody silence.
"Your good pup has been a real blessing to me," resumed the prince a fewminutes later, during which time he had devoted himself to his ownportion of food, "not only in the way of helping me to hunt and drivethe pigs, but as a companion who can do all but speak."
"He could speak if you would let him," returned the hunter. "I speak tomy dogs continually, and they always answer--not with their tongues, forthat is not dog-language, but with their eyes--and I know every wordthey speak. You would wonder how clever they are, and what droll thingsthey say sometimes."
He burst into a wild hilarious laugh at this point, as if the thought ofthe canine pleasantries were too much for him; then suddenly becamegrave, and scowled furtively at his host, as if he felt that he hadcommitted himself.
"You are right," replied Bladud, affecting not to observe the scowl."My pup often speaks to me with his eyes, but I am not so good atunderstanding the language as you appear to be. No doubt I shallacquire it in time."
"Then you don't like being alone?" said the hunter, after a pause,during which Bladud saw that he was eyeing him keenly, though hepretended not to observe this.
"No, I don't like it at all, but it can't be helped."
"Well, it might have been helped, for I could have sent them to you."
"Sent whom?"
"A man and a boy. They were not together, but came to my hut atdifferent times inquiring for you, but, knowing your desire forsolitude, I turned them away on the wrong scent."
"I'm glad you did," returned the prince, "for I want to be troubled byneither man nor boy. Yet I wonder who they could be. Did they say whythey wanted to find me?"
"No, they did not say, and I would not ask; what cared I about theirreasons?"
"Yet you care enough for me, it appears, to say you would have sent themto me if you knew I had been lonely. What was the appearance of theman?"
"He was old, but very strong, though not so big as me--or you. His hairwas long and white; so was his beard. He wore a long dark robe, andcarried a very big staff."
Bladud had no difficulty in recognising the description of his friendthe Hebrew.
"And the boy; what was he like?"
"Like all boys, active and impudent."
"I am afraid," returned the prince with a slight smile, "that youracquaintance with boys cannot have been extensive--they are not allactive and impudent."
"Most of those that have crossed my path are so. At all events, thisone was, for when I pointed out the direction you had gone--which wasjust the opposite way from here--he said, `I don't believe you!' andwhen I leaped on him to give him his deserts, he dodged me, and fledinto the woods like a squirrel. It was as well, for I should havekilled him."
"I am not sorry he escaped you, then," said Bladud, with a laugh,"though I scarcely think you would have killed the poor lad even if youhad caught him."
"Oh yes, I would. And I'll kill _you_ if you venture to doubt my word."
As he said this the hunter sprang to his feet, and, drawing his knife,seemed about to leap upon his host, who, however, sat perfectly still.
"I should be sorry that you should die," said Bladud in a calm voice,while he kept his eyes steadily fixed on those of the maniac. "_You_have heard, have you not, of that terrible dise
ase of the East, calledleprosy?"
"Yes--the ship-captains have often spoken of it," said the madman, whosemind, like that of a child, could be easily turned into new channels.
"Look! I have got that disease. The Power which you profess to despisehas sent it to me. If you so much as touch me, your doom is fixed."
He uncovered his shoulder as he spoke and displayed the white spot.
Bladud felt quite uncertain how this would be received by the madman,but he was scarcely prepared for what followed. No sooner did thehunter see the spot and realise what it meant, than without a word heturned, caught up his bundle, uttered a yell of terror, and fled fromthe spot, closely followed by his dogs, which howled as if in sympathy.
CHAPTER TWENTY