86 THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE HEMPSEED.

The two children stopped.
They gave no answer;—but how their hearts did
beat ! :

The soldier turned, and went to sleep again. All dan-
ger was not however over.

‘ What is the plan you spoke of?” asked Olympia, ina
low whisper.

‘¢ Now is the time to execute it!”

' And with wonderful care, prudence, and precaution,
did Prince Hempseed, who had now reached the end of the
terrace spread with sleeping soldiers, take the donkey out
of the stable. This done, he unchained the dog, on whom
he imposed silence with a wave of his hand: then, taking
from their pegs the cages of the twé canaries and the mag-
pie, with which latter he
placed the pigeons, he fast-
ened the two cages upon the
donkey, whom he led down
a narrow and dark walk into. .
the middle of the park. There
he told his sister to wait for
him, as he would soon come
back.

Then Prince Hempseed
took off his shoes to make less
noise, and again sought the
castle.

Having reached the ter-
race, he stopped a moment to
rest himself; for he was now
about to enter upon a task a
hundred times more difficult
and more dangerous than the
first. He had determined to
make his way into the great S
room where the banquet had j—~——= _-