Part 13 (1/2)

”I will follow as fast as I can!” panted the Rajput lad breathlessly, as Foster-father, Meroo, and Old Faithful, haht, ran up ”It is a bear; but they cannot catch it--and Tumbu will tire--then he always comes back Follow you on my tracks with the women”

With that he was off like an arrow froe, the Heir-to-Eum, who by this time had all disappeared behind the hilly horizon

CHAPTER XIV

IN THE VALLEY

Roy ran and ran and ran until he was breathless; yet still he ran, until little by little he recovered his breath again as wild ani or standing still, panting and waiting for the others to co away as far as the eye could reach, a smooth, not over steep, snowy slope So far there was little fear of the sledge being overset

Then, after he had run a long way, he paused, for there were noo tracks instead of one The marks of the bear went up a little side valley, the e went down the slope What could have happened? Had Tumbu in his hastecoo on? That was not likely either, unless the children had urged hi Mirak's bold, adventurous spirit, this see again, knowing that no matter what had happened he must follow his little master, and follow fast

But as he ran doard and doard the frost fil now, and even its earliest rays seean to sink at every step The sledge, however, appeared from the faint marks it left to have slid on without difficulty No doubt, he thought, because of the children's light weight, and because the platform between the swords and scabbards which supported theer than his own feet!

Why, even Tumbu's four broad, furry paws had sunk into the snow a little, and would doubtless have sunk

The sledge was the thing! How clever it was of Old Faithful to re his horse; but after all, when one came to think of it, the thanks were due to Babar the brave for being a real King, kind-hearted to anierous as well as hard, for every moment lessened the fir down a shallow valley, which was completely blocked up by drift, except in the very li--hollowing its way doard; but for thea roar, a tremble beneath your feet Thus he was, as it were, on a snow bridge, of which the surface ive way And that meant certain death in the dark pools below In one place, indeed, he was all but lost; however, a wild leap landed hiasp of fear, not for himself, but for the children ahead of hi on and on

After a while he had to cease running fro himself that even half an hour would have er, the children ht have found safety; and always before hie showed hione well

And then, as he turned a sharp curve in the shallow, snow-covered valley, he saw a little below hi that e, elance, however, showed him that it was not overset Those who had been in it must have left it of their own accord; and the cause of this was soon made clear

Within a few yards the snow ended and a rocky descent began, dohich the sledge could not have gone So either Tumbu or the children had been wise; and they were still in front of hih, hours must have passed since he first started in chase; but now that they were on foot there was so dreadful happened

In his hurry Roy al himself from rock to rock down the descent; but he had to pause to take off his fur coat, for in this sheltered spot the sun beat shadelessly, the snow melted as he passed, the stones ran with s were everywhere starting into growth The past storun And now the rushi+ng torrent, escaping finally from its snowy blanket, dashed over the boulders beside hi snow

On and on he went, thinking the descent would never end, till at a turn he saw below hih which the strea in the sunshi+ne The banks were still brown, but they were patched with great beds of rose-pink pri pansies And on a perfect carpet of these sat three dark figures! Never in his life was Roy so overjoyed He forgot his fatigue, and ran on until he could plainly see Princess Bakshee Bani Begu cowslip balls out of the pink pri a cold hearth cake, and giving bits of it to Tumbu, ith his head cocked on one side, had evidently heard Roy's distant step The next instant a furious barking showed that he was on the alert to defend his young charges, and Roy had to call to hiain before he was satisfied that the newco ti,” said the Heir-to-Empire caler You can't have come as fast as you could No more would Tumbu, only we made him not be lazy, 'cos Head-nurse says--what is it she says, Bija?”

The little girl looked sole as quick as ever they can So we shouted at Tumbu and pulled his tail just a liddly-wee bit like the bullock drivers do And then we had the loveliest ride, and Tuo down the rocks and growled So we had to get out and walk And then we came here, and first of all we picked flowers; then I had hearth cakes and popcorn in my veil, and so we ate our breakfast, and then you came--and that's all, thank you!” She had just finished a lovely soft ball and she flung it full at the Heir-to-Empire It hit hi else

”But where,” he began, and his little lip went down, ”is Head-nurse--and Foster-father--and Foster-mother--and Old Faithful--and Meroo--and Down?

What have you done with thery, half ready to cry, so Roy, though his own heart failed hiers of the road, had to soothe and co, as cheerfully as he could, that they would co the children were safe was over, poor Roy began to see the difficulties before him

If those others did not come, ould he, a mere lad, do? How could he care for his little master and ot he had had none himself!--but what could they have for supper? He could not even think, he felt too giddy and tired even to sleep; so, after he had rolled his fur coat into a soft pillow for the little Prince and Princess, ere drowsy for their mid-day rest, and covered them over with their own, he sat with his head between his hands, his eyes closed, wishi+ng he were not so stupid, wishi+ng he could only think of so to do; for in reality he was quite wearied out If the others did not coht come at any moment; and yet the moments passed to minutes, the minutes to hours, while the children slept in the sunshi+ne, and Roy felt that he was a fool

And then so cold touched his hand He opened his eyes and saw that it was Tue in hislike a rabbit and yet like a squirrel!

In reality it was a fresh-killed young marmot, an anihest hills Tuone off on his own hunting, found a colony of the quaint creatures, and, as usual, brought ho! Roy did not in the least knohat theto eat! The relief was toohis ar with choking sobs that he, Roy, had been foolish, but Tuie And so he was!

After this Roy felt better, and having, as all Indian boys used to have in those days, a flint and steel with hiht a fire and cook the supper There were, of course, no trees and no bushes; but right away at the farther end of the long valley there were so, but he would go and see They proved to be a creeping sort of evergreen plant that trailed its stiff branches right on the very ground He picked a bit, and on trying to light it, found to his surprise, that it blazed up in a fierce flame For it was juniper, and so full of resin