1] THE LOST PRINCE. 7

Robbers were almost unknown in the kingdom, which
possessed an organised police, with staffs, helmets and
all complete, and was consequently very little troubled
with marauders of any description. It was very
unlikely that the Prince had run away of his own
accord: such an idea was at once negatived by the
consideration of his tender age, his lively and affection-
ate disposition, and the entire want of probable motive
on his part for any such a proceeding.

All, therefore, was enveloped in mystery, and the
more his ‘parents thought over the affair the more
completely puzzled did they become. The soldier
and the nursery-maid were closely cross-questioned
as to the affair, and both persistently adhered to
the same story. The Prince, they said, had been
playing about near them when they first sat down,
and had never asked them to walk on, or expressed
the slightest annoyance at their remaining where they
were. They owned, with sincere penitence, that they
had been grossly careless in not keeping watch over
the precious child, and the soldier readily admitted that
he had no business to have been in the forest at all. But
they both vowed and declared that they would have
given their lives for Prince Merry, and were utterly and
completely surprised and -horrified at his disappear-
ance, of which they could give no account whatever.

The King, when he thought quietly and soberly
over such matters, was not inclined to be severe upon
offenders generally, and retracted the sentence which,
in the first moments of his wrath, he had passed upon
these two individuals. As, however, it was impossible
to overlook the matter altogether, he directed that a