Part 8 (1/2)

A lad had slipped in, carrying the end of a rope, to which was attached a network bag And now, since it was dark, he was striking a light A feeble little gli nurses and the comfy little nest of quilts between them But it was empty!

The boy seemed puzzled, and went into the inner rooht Then he stole into the outer room, but caan to peer about hiht in front of him Whereupon Down, apparently to satisfy herself that her kitten really was safe in the corner of the charcoal bunker where she had left it, retreated for abut the low, round arch The next he gave a stifled yell, for soht in his face, over he went and out went his light

”I look noas, after fivethose who had sent hio; but I tell you the child is not there”

But one of the crafty, cruel men had sharp wits ”Could he have crept into the charcoal bunker?” he suggested, and the faces round him lit up

But the lad's remained sullen, as he wiped the blood froo not near that cat again!_”

So, as no one else was sh the narrow slits of s, the conspirators could only curse their bad luck

Thus it came to pass that the hours passed by without further attempt at baby-theft, while Foster-father snored and Head-nurse dreamed the most heavenly dreams of wonderful court ceremonials, and all the others rapped in the profoundest slumbers

But they all woke at last, and once more there was the most terrible hullabaloo until Foster-mother recollected the kitten in the charcoal bunker Whereupon every one in turn flattened theot his head and one shoulder in; but no one could feel anything or find out how big it was or anything about it Whereupon the toan mutual recriminations and the men stood helpless, when suddenly Down appeared with the kitten in her mouth, and Baby Akbar, who had evidently been co after his new pet

”So far so good!” said Foster-father, who, noticing a fallen piece ofcertain signs and scratches both without and within, ”but if I be not ht And that ere all drugged ye must know if the inside of your mouths be like mine! So we have to thank Heaven and the cat for an escape!”

And so they had, though it was a sore trial once o upon

”I wish I knew,” murmured poor Foster-mother mournfully, as she watched Baby Akbar, and Down, and the kitten, and Tuether before the fire

But once more Baby Akbar was silent, and Down told nobody--unless it was Tumbu Perhaps he _did_ know, because he allowed Down's kitten to play with his tail!

CHAPTER IX

SPRING

Winter passed to spring and spring to early su Huave up hope, yet he said little, though he took counsel with Old Faithful, and he in his turn consulted the old e had been the first to cry, ”Long live the Heir-to-Empire”

But the old man shook his head The times were new, he said; very few people res But for the sake of Babar the brave they ht always count on his sword and the sabres of fifty or more of his followers So, if the worst cale's eyrie of a fortress, where at any rate they could all die together fighting for the King; and what more did any brave man want?

This was not much consolation to Foster-father, who felt that there was nothing to be done, save by every means in his power, to curry favour with the Princess Sultanum

But, indeed, the little Heir-to-Empire made hi the frank little felloho spoke to thenity of his own For by the tiardens around Kandahar lay like clouds of pink and white about the old domed city, little Prince Akbar was in looks and ways a child of three or even four; so big and strong was he He spoke perfectly in his childish ith great emphasis and a curious, soft burr over his r's and h's And he actually tried to wrestle with his cousin Ibrahim, as, however, rather a puny boy, despite the fact that he was three years older than the little Heir-to-Ean all sorts of gaarden not far froo; and there, during the long sunny hours, the Rajput lad, to whoht the child how to ride on Tumbu's back, and how to hold a spear Aye! and to take a tent peg, too; the peg being only a soft carrot stuck in the earth! But the great ga with a bow and arrow, and in this, before spring passed to suth; for, froht as a shot; so it is no wonder he grew up to be the finestto tell all the games they played, all the manly sports which the little prince learned without any difficulty There was a shallow arden, where he took to the water like a duck, and would lie on his back and kick and shout with laughter as the tank got rough aves, till Foster- hih in the air

But Foster-father always reproved her for her fears ”Leave the lad to learn King's ways,” he said, ”and thank Heaven the Rajput foundling is here to teach him Think you _I_ could tu on one leg?”

”No, indeed!” would reply Head-nurse, who stifled her terrors froure, friend, would ask so rew tired, Roy would sit leaning his back against a peach tree so as to make a soft pillow for his little ainst him and listen to endless stories while the soft fresh breeze stole over the garden wall, and sent showers of pink peach petals on both the boys And sometimes the little Prince, outwearied, would fall asleep, and then Roy would sit still as aaith the end of his muslin turban the blossohts would be busy, wondering above other things why it was that, do what he would, he could not help when they were alone at play so the Heir-to-E of hihtly cuff his ears if she overheard it!

Then Akbar would wake and call imperiously for some favourite story, and as often as not it would be the tale of ”How Rajah Rasalu swung the Seventy Maidens”

And Roy would reply subin: