THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE HEMPSEED. 73

The pigeon was very high, but the king’s gun was a

: good one. He took aim,

> fired, and missed the bird,

s- which flew farther on.

=== The king was determined

to follow it. He ap-

proached very gently to

=== ——————— the tree, where it had

now perched itself, and was just on the point of firing a

second time, when he stopped short. His eye had caught

sight of a square white object tied to the pigeon’s neck.

He looked again, and was now convinced that the white
object was a letter.

J will have that white pigeon, and the letter which it
carries,” exclaimed the king.

With these words he fired again; but the pigeon was
not killed. A few drops of blood, however, fell:—the bird
was only wounded! And in spite of that wound, the poor
thing rose joyously up in the heavens.

“J will wager the crown of France,” cried the king,
greatly disappointed, “ that I will have that white pigeon.

The courtiers heard these words, which were the same
as an order to them.

They therefore all set out after the bird.

The king leapt upon his best horse; and the courtiers
followed him.

The white pigeon passed over Senart forest, crossed the
river Seine, and soared above the corn-fields, which he also
soon left behind him. The royal party pursued the sport
with eagerness ;—the pigeon was not lost sight of.

“What is it?” cried all the peasants and country-
people, in surprise.

“‘It is the king, who is after that enchanted white
pigeon,” replied the courtiers.

At last the white pigeon alighted in spite of the cries,
upon the dark walls of Bicétre, and settled himself on one