Part 5 (2/2)

”The old fox is too wary,” he said ”We et at the child soered it, half idly ”He has a large-sized head for his years,” he remarked; ”if it be full of brains, hereafter he may do well”

CHAPTER VI

AT COURT

Of course, theHuood-natured man and did not boast of his wisdom to Head-nurse, who, however, remained wonderfullythey saw, against the blue of the distant valley, the white do above them Then, with the chance of a court before her onceof ceremonials and titles and etiquettes

”Praise be!” she shrilled in her high voice ”No s on camel back I shall be on my own feet once iven to the Great-in-Po of titles ”So that they harht She was always thinking of his safety, always alarled fro behind them

”Dadda, Amma 'ay mountains,” he repeated once more; then added cheerfully, ”Akka 'way, too”

”It is a prophecy!” said Old Faithful, overhearing the reift, and this babe may have inherited it”

”May have,” echoed Head-nurse indignantly ”He has inherited it, and has much of his own besides Mark rant--he will be the King of Kings! Not two summers old and he talks as one of three”

”Aye!” assented Foster-mother, ”but he does not walk yet”

Head-nurse sniffed ”Thou are a foolish soul, woue ue

Any babe can walk!”

And Foster-

Their last camp was pitched just outside the city of Kandahar, so that Prince Askurry couldand let everybody see with their own eyes that he had coe

But this did not suit Head-nurse at all She had no notion that her Heir-to-Eh she started froe caate of the city with Prince Askurry well ahead of them in the narrow streets, than out she whipped the Royal Umbrella which she had patched up with an old scarlet silk petticoat, and there was Baby Akbar under its shadow; and, having--young as he was--been taught to salute to a crowd, he began waving his little fat hand with ape whispered a's son”

”And that is what he is,” said a bold voice in the crowd; but though folk turned to see who spoke, there was no sign of the speaker For loyal men had to hide their loyalty in those days Still the populace were pleased with the little Prince's bearing, and many a hand was raised to welco palace, indeed, where Prince Askurry kept a right royal court as Governor of Kandahar, Head-nurse's s she intended to insist upon for the honour and dignity of her se Meanwhile she had to obey the order to take him at once into Princess Sultanam's apartments Now Princess Sultanam was Prince Askurry's wife, and she had a boy of her oas about three years older than Baby Akbar, and a little daughter who had just been born about acushi+ons at the farther end of the long room, with Prince Askurry, who had hurried to see his wife on his return, beside her, she looked suspiciously at the child which Head-nurse put down on the Persian carpet as soon as she caht carry hi to do so, when _they_ were clearly bound to come humbly to the Heir-to-Empire and prostrate themselves before hi hi bold and big and brave

Now Princess Sultanaiven to i little boy made her think instantly what a fine ht which htedly and clap her hands

”I have it, rand idea! We will betroth our little A and they will be the handsoe as this may sound to my readers, Prince Askurry, as accusto that quite little boys and girls should rew up, could not help at once seeing that his wife's suggestion was not such a bad one It would help hi Huive, and if he did not, why! it would prevent cruel brother ku all, since as father-in-law to the young king he, Askurry, would be Regent

Still, taken aback, he hummed and hawed