Part 4 (2/2)

ON THE ROAD

Naturally when, after an uneventful journey with the shepherd as guide, they reached Prince Askurry's ca, they ca of Head-nurse The whole tissue ofhis life--and that he had been spared was si on a Royal Procession But for that, both she and the child would have gone comfortably on a cae animals and none of the distressful events would have happened It should not, however, happen again Of course, Head-nurse tried to brazen it out and assert that the Heir-to-Empire could always count on a miracle in his favour; but in her heart-of-hearts she knew that Foster-father was right

So nextwhen she saw a ca in front of the tent, ready for its load _That_ had to be endured, but she revenged herself by objecting to the black dog and the white cat, who sat expectantly one on either side, evidently prepared for a start

”Whose are those uncouth beasts?” she asked of Roy angrily ”Did I not tell those ghosts of the desert who call theht? Why have they come back? Take them away! Catch theht to attend the Mighty-in-Poht,” etc, etc

She rolled out the titles sonorously, deternity in one way she would have it in another

Noas not very hard to catch the big black golliwog of a dog, even though he did snarl and snap and try to bite There were a lot of calad to have the a him, so, after a very short space poor ”Tu dragged off at the end of a long rope to hisvery sad, with his tail between his legs

But it was quite different with ”Down,” the cat She had made up her mind to stay where she was, and it is very hard, indeed, to e its ently, fro as mild as milk, her blue eye--for real Persian cats often have their eyes of different colours and one of theing to be picked up

Only the very tip of her bushy tail swayed a little, and that is a sure sign that a cat is contrary And contrary Doas The very instant any one tried to pick her up--why! she was so joined in the chase, saying all the rest didn't understand cats But she soon lost patience and declaring that she had never been done by a dumb animal yet, started capture by force A circle was forht, and shawls and veils were held up to make it complete Then step by step they advanced towards the cat, who, in truth, viewed the enclosing ith polite indifference It was really rather a funny sight to see stout Head-nurse without her veil tip-toeing in line towards pussy and shrilling out her orders to the others to close in and be sure to leave no loopholes Step by step her voice became more and more triuht this ti until she was actually hidden fro cloths

”Now then! quick!” shrilled Head-nurse ”Close in--close----”

But her order ended in a screa leap on her bare head, scrabbling up her scanty hair, and with another away up the hillside leaving nothing but claw-ry tears; but Foster-father, always sensible, said ”Enough! cry on the camel if you will, but now is the time to slip away before the obstinate animal can return”

There isdom in this; therefore Head-nurse composed herself cohter, settled into the other with Baby Akbar So off they set at the dignified lollop which caratulate herself on having successfully evaded the ”uncouth beasts”

But there is no counting on cats If they are here one one oneunder a thorn tree about half afroht in Head-nurse's broad lap And there was Mistress Down looking as if butter wouldn'taway like a kettle on the boil

Head-nurse gave in _altogether_ then ”When a cat really makes up its mind,” she said with forced wisdo up theirs!”

So pussy sat in her lap, and after a while the warhness of the sue that licked her hand, as half-unconsciously she began to stroke the long soft fur, made her say suddenly:

”Who knows but it is the Will of the Creator! This ht-of-the-World, the Observed-of-all-Observers,” etc, etc, etc

And her words were to coreat use to her little round, a great big black golliwog of a dog with a gnawed end of rope still round his neck was seen cal them at the door of the tent that was pitched for their reception, Head-nurse becaain and said that if Providence intended to send all the wild beasts of the field to look after Baby Akbar, there was no need for her; so she would give up her place

But the little Prince hihted He plued it, calling it ”Dear Tuainst his little fat person he hugged her too and called her ”Darling Down”

”Hark to the Lord-of-the-Universe giving his creatures names!” said Foster- dog Tu of a whole week on cah thethe fate of King Humayon and Queen Humeeda

Still the sky was as blue as blue could be, the sun shone bright and the air was crisp with co and s of titles in one pannier, while Down slept and purred on her lap In the other pannier were Foster-mother and Baby Akbar The little fellow did not sleepover the pannier side to see everything there was to be seen But what amused hiambol for hours to attract his little master's attention

Whereat Doould become impatient and come over the caainst the little Prince and watch, too, with a sort of dignified conteushi+ng; but it didn't mean much Tumbu, for instance, despite his display of affection, would leave his post to run after every wild thing he saw; and though he always came back to it, he was so helplessly breathless, with half a yard of red tongue hanging out, that he would have been little use had an enemy turned up and his protection been needed