56 THE ADVENTURES /OF .PRINCE HEMPSERD.

thong. An .unseen torrent moaned beneath the rock on
which they had lost themselves. Oh! how cold—how dark
it was! And how frightened were the poor children!

They were now. compelled to stop !

Olympia began to cry; and the poor animals, chilled
and shivering, huddled, together in a mass.

Then poor Prince. Hempseed fell upon
_ his ‘knees, clasped his frozen little
<=, hands together, and cried aloud, “O
== God! have mercy upon us, for we
= are about to die! -O Lord, ‘have
mercy.upon .my sister, whom I have
led into this peril !”
_His prayer being ended, he rose; and
he found his mind more easy, now
that.he had besought the aid of heaven. He spread his
cloak upon the ground,.underneath the donkey’s feet, and
bade: his-sister stretch herself to. rest upon it. When she had
done this, he covered her with her own cloak, and placed the
monkey and cat upon her feet, so that she might be less cold.

By these means Zug and Coco had their share in the
singular mode of shelter which he had thus contrived. The
three cages were also placed close by Olympia. The young
prince next unfolded the great thick, cloth which was placed
between the saddle and the donkey’s back, and threw it
entirely over the docile comrade of their misfortunes, so
thatit fell round him on all sides. Thanks to this ingenuity,
those who were ‘beneath the cloth were concealed, and
protected -from.the cold.

“But what will you do, dear brother?” asked Olympia.

‘“T shall keep watch along with Turnspit. Sleep, dear
Sister,” was the reply.

‘Silence at length prevailed on that rock which was
white with the snow, moist with the fog, and bleak .with
the icy chill. The torrent alone was heard.

Standing close to Patience, who did not stir, little