54 THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE HEMPSEED.:

“No doubt; and we must immediately o ,

“It is most likely to avoid the hands of justice that they
have put on those mean clothes,” interrupted the first
speaker; “for all the family is to be proceeded against.
There are plenty of diamonds concealed in the linings of
their garments.”

‘* Well, then; let us seize on the two children, since
they are close by.”

* Not now,” said the captain of the robbers: there are
too many travellers about here at present; and we should
be surprised. You don’t want to be hung before next
spring? Then listen tome. The two children, to-night,
take the road across Mount Cenis, in order to reach Lans-
de-burgh. I know they will; because it was I myself who
told Prince Hempseed at Ivry which path to follow. We
will. waylay them, and rob them ; and to destroy all traces
of the deed, we will roll them down some precipice, at the
bottom of which they can cry at their ease.”

« Well, then—to-night !”

«Yes, to-night, comrades. Let us now hasten on, and
lay in wait for them on the Mount Cenis road.”

And the robbers went their ways.

When Prince Hempseed rose from the ground, he was
much troubled: his own life and that of his sister were in
danger at the hands of those wretches. He did not how-
ever lose his presence of mind.

“ My dear sister,” said he to Olympia, “the sky grows
darker and darker, and if we stay here much longer, I shall
not know how to find the road which I have been advised
to take. Let us then at once continue our journey, and
reach by night-fall the beginning of the Mount Cenis road.”

Olympia obeyed; and the little party left the hill,
which was the last place in Italy whereat they stopped.

But Prince Hempseed was very silent: he was plunged
into deep thought. He said to himself, “ Since the robbers
are waiting for us on the Mount Cenis road, we must take