40 THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE HEMPSEED.

« With pleasure, my good friend,” answered the tutor,
filling a glass, which he emptied at a draught, although it.
was not his favourite drink.

“ Well and good,” said the soldier, leaving the cellar,
and closing the door upon the tutor.

«“ What do they want with me next?” thought Doubt-
less: “the trial has been made; why should they leave
me here? perhaps it is an error.”

A second soldier made his appearance.

“ Taste that water,” said he, brandishing a lance over
the tutor’s head.

“ But I have already done so.”

“ Taste that water, I say.”

The tutor could not resist an order so politely given;
and he drank a second glass of water.

“ Capital!” cried the soldier, going away as the first
had done, after shutting the door of the cellar.

“What does this mean?” murmured the tutor: “ he
also shuts me in! When shall I be able to go away ?”

A third soldier came, armed with a pistol; and the
same command was repeated. Se

“ Taste that water !”

* T shall doubtless be suf-
focated, if this continue.”

© Will you taste it?”

Doubtless the tutor swal-
lowed his third glass of water
with a thousand grimaces and
contortions.

The water was indeed as
cold as ice!

And now came a fourth
soldier—then a fifth—then a
sixth,—and so on up to a
dozen !