MIRANDA for the loss of the Moor and of the ape, her dog¢
Tintin exclaimed: ‘If you had accepted my offer,
there would have been none to regret but myself,
and real service would have been done you.’
Miranda was so overwhelmed with grief, that she
fainted away; and when she came to herself, the
captain was gone, and the little dog was lying dead
beside the ape and the Moor.

Having buried her three favourites in a hole under
a tree, she began to think what she must do for
herself.

As the forest was not far from her father’s court,
and she might easily have been discovered and so
bring destruction not only on herself but also on
the captain, she travelled as fast as she could walk,
though in an opposite direction, till at last she was
almost ready to expire with weariness.

Then hearing the bleating of sheep, she supposed
that she was approaching some shepherds with
their flocks, and she exerted all her remaining
strength to reach the place, in hopes of finding
some relief.

But how great was her surprise, when she came toa
spacious plain, to see a large ram, as white as snow,
with gilded horns, and a garland of flowers about
his neck, lying on a bed of orange blossom, and
shaded from the sun by a tent of cloth of gold. A
hundred sheep richly adorned were in attendance
on him.

Miranda became motionless with astonishment,
and looked about for the shepherd of so extra-
ordinary a flock, when the noble Ram approached
her, and said—

‘Draw near, lovely princess, and be not afraid of
such gentle creatures as are we.’

‘What! exclaimed the princess, starting back, ‘is
it possible that you can speak ?’

‘Why not, madam,’ answered the Ram, ‘when your

dog and your ape spoke? They did it because

154