Part 16 (1/2)

Even so, with the daily content of knowing that all were at least safe, the tireeeks, the weeks to e Denied, as he was, the outdoor life, the fresh air to which he had been accustorew pale and thin But his spirits did not flag, and he would laugh over the tale of how Rajah Rasalu swung the Seventy Maidens as heartily as ever, though soo down and he would say, ”If Bija were only here I'd never ask her to tu till she wanted me to stop”

So the winter came on, but still Dearest-Lady did not return A letter had co she had reached Kandahar in safety--that she was staying in the Kar Garden outside the tohich her father had planted--that King Huiven Prince Askurry--that ku to fear if he only kept to his pro of this letter, but the effect of it showed in a greater freedoeon and Bija, Head-nurse and Foster-o and see the Heir-to-Eined, and even Tumbu shared in the joy, for, when he was refused ad the sentries and barked furiously at the door to be let in And thebetween him and Mirak was so pretty that the sentry had not the heart to insist on poor doggie going down again And this, in its as a good thing, for it was the beginning of a sort of friendshi+p between the young Prince and this particular Afghan sentry Sometimes, after he had been relieved, he would come up to the little captive's room for a bit, and listen to Roy's stories, or tell a few in his turn; for he had wandered about, over half India, giving the use of his sword to any one ould pay him well for it

”Lo! I have not heard that tale since I was in Rajputana!” he said one day after Roy had been singing an old-world legend of fighting days ”It was an old Brahman of Suryamer told it me of the Sun-Heroes”

Roy's face flushed up in a second ”Suryamer is mine!” he said proudly; ”I am of the Sun-Heroes!”

Then he started to his feet, pale as ashes ”I have remembered! I have remembered at last,” he said almost with a cry ”It is true! I was Rajah of Suryamer! It has come back to ain and covered his face with both hands

”Roy!” said little Prince Akbar gravely ”Why should you cry because you are a King? I don't”

The sentry laughed ”By s!”

”Of course there is,” assented the Heir-to-Enity ”I have been one ever since I was born, and I always knew Roy belonged to me!” Then in quick i his arlad you aresir,” objected the sentry, as hugely a of this, stripling?”

Roy lifted a scared face; then hung his head

”None, save my memory, and this mark upon my breast My mother said we all had the staed his shoulders ”That is not much in this wicked world,” he said carelessly ”And anyhow it s, since ye are in cruel kumran's power”

”Not till ravely

”Head-nurse said so; and if cruel Uncle kuet me, Dearest-Lady _won't_ come back I _know_ she won't--so there!”

And, as events turned out, the Heir-to-Eer, bearing a blue handkerchief in his hand--the sign of death tidings to the Royal Family--appeared in hot haste before the nobles assembled in the Audience Hall

”News! News!” he cried breathlessly ”Cover your heads with dust, ye people, while ye thank the Merciful One that Khanzada Khanu and Godly life she hath found rest and peace Bis through the Hall, while kumran stood stunned by the suddenness of his aunt's death And yet itfor one of her years

And she had risked it--for what?

With a rush kuood, and for the e swept away his regret Yet even he could not fail to be touched by the letter his brother Huer Dearest-Lady had, he said, pled his, kuive for the sake of the dead woman who had loved them both, whom they both loved, and who had died with a ser long in aBefore a day had passed the feeling that he had been tricked onto an oath he dared not break caain Foster-father was ordered back to his daeon, the little Heir-to-Eiven over to the charge of a man noted for his hardness of heart Only the wo of no account, were turned out into the streets to beg or starve as they chose

Then followed a terrible month in which the little party were cut off fro over roofs and Heaven knohere and how, looked in here and there to settle on some one's lap and purr

”Cats,” said poor Head-nurse, as she sat opposite Foster- for all they orth at a stone hand-, ”are of all God's creatures the most contented; and so little pleases them Hark! to Do she purrs, just because she has found us poor miserable women”

”Allah!” replied Foster-? I think not, and Down hath seenOf that I feel sure; she would not come and purr otherwise”