The stars were paling out, and by this time Florimel was very tired, so that when he saw a hay-stack in a field he quickly sought it, and burrowing from sight down into the sweet-smelling mass was soon asleep.
The sun was up when he awoke refreshed. He heard the cooling trickle of a brook hard by, and drank thirstily, and laved his face and hands. Some distance off upon a dew-spangled hillside thin smoke curled lazily up from the thatched roof of a farmer's cottage. Florimel who felt the qualms of hunger drew nigh to it resolved to ask for food.
As he approached the cottage a dog stretched out in the doorway to enjoy the first genial rays of the sun jumped up and started to bark, but almost instantly his barks ceased, and he wagged his tail instead with friendly violence.
A stout, middle-aged woman with a kerchief on her head came to the open door and eyed him questioningly.
"Good mother," he said, with a winning smile, "may I trespass upon your hospitality? I would fain break my fast, and this coin will pay my way."
"Food have we a-plenty, and to spare," said the kind-hearted woman, "so that you are welcome to it. But who are you, and whence came you? You do not speak like a peasant's child."
"Nay, I have some knowledge of fair speech," said Florimel. "Yet do I count myself one of the people. And I fare from the city in quest of adventure. See, I have brought this bow and quiver of arrows with me!"
[Illustration]
"Then most surely you will find it," said the dame, "for we live almost on the edge of the kingdom, and beyond that line of deep woods there is a strange country with adventure enough, I warrant you. But come with me, and sit you at the board. My good man has gone to loose the sheep from the fold, and will be back very soon."
So Florimel followed his hostess into the plain kitchen, and took his place at a bare wooden table while she busied herself in the preparation of the meal. And, as he sat there, and she was occupied with her task, there rose from outside a sudden hub-bub, made up of the gallop of many horses' hoofs, the clank and rattle of swords and uniforms, and the jargon of excited human voices.
The woman in great curiosity rushed from the oven to the door, and Florimel jumped down from his chair, running after her, and peering out from behind her.
"Soldiers!" she cried, astounded beyond measure. "What are they doing here, I wonder?"
[Illustration: LOOKING FOR BROWNIES]
The farmer with cap in hand looked up at them, awed and confused by their fine airs and magnificence, and while they volleyed questions at him silently and stupidly shook his head, until at last in their impatience and disgust they put spurs to their horses' flanks and galloped off in clouds of dust.
Then the good man ran toward the house, suddenly finding voice, and shouting at his wife:
"Here's a great to do! The young Prince Florimel has disappeared in the night, and the whole kingdom is aroused!"
Then noticing Florimel for the first time he asked:
"But who is this?"
"A chance guest to break his fast with us," said his wife. "But let us eat before the food grows cold."
So Florimel partook heartily of the plain fare of the farmer and his wife, and throughout the meal the talk of his hosts was of the missing prince.
"Poor lad!" said the woman with a sigh.
[Illustration]
"I hope that all is well with him. Yet much I fear this search for him is vain. His uncle, the duke, could tell, I warrant, what has happened to him. But he will never be heard of more, and the wicked duke will now be king." "You who have come from the city," said the farmer to Florimel, "no doubt some time have seen the poor prince. What kind of a young lad was he? A likely one, so I have heard." "He had his faults,"
admitted Florimel. "He was very small of build--no taller than I. When last I saw him he looked not unlike me. I doubt if he weighed a penny weight more."
[Illustration]
"Was he handsome?" asked the woman.
"Am I handsome?" asked Florimel in return.
"Candor compels me to tell you you are not," she frankly said, "though you are not ill-favored, either."
"Still if I wore the prince's attire," said Florimel, "I would be as handsome as he. But let us change the subject. You spoke but a while ago of that strange country which lies adjacent to this. In what manner is it strange?"
"But little is known of it," said the woman, "for, in truth, it is a place to be avoided. There are few humans bold enough to penetrate its mysteries, for in the forests and dense undergrowth are savage beasts that wreak harm. Often we can hear their wild cries at night, and our hearts are chilled. And, even if one escape the beasts, there are Brownies and fairies to weave their mystic charm."
"Are the Brownies there too?" asked Florimel, with interest.
[Illustration]
"Aye, that they are!" said the woman. "But it is not the Brownies that would hurt you. They are kind little creatures who would help instead of harm you."
"I would like to see them," said Florimel reflectively. "Many a night as I lay in my bed have I dreamed of the Brownies."
"See them you cannot," said the woman decidedly, "since you have not second sight. Many have tried to see the Brownies, but they have failed through lack of supernatural vision. But there are Brownies nevertheless, and they go everywhere. Of that we have abundant proof, have we not, husband?"
"Aye!" said the farmer. "Once when I lay flat upon my back, and the grain in the field was in danger of rot, the Brownies came one night and harvested it. In the morning it was all cut and stacked."
"Yes," the good wife hastened to add, "and that very same night they churned the cream to butter."
[Illustration]
"Are you sure the Brownies did it?" asked Florimel, in surprise. "Who else but the Brownies?" said the farmer positively. "We had set a bowl of cream for that is all they ask, and next morning the cream was gone.
Wife, show him the bowl!"
The woman thereupon exhibited an empty blue delf bowl, and Florimel was convinced. He rose with his hosts from the table, and went to the doorway from which he gazed to the far line of woods that now held such charm for him.
"Let me pay you my faring, good people," he said, "for I would be on my way."
"Nay, there is naught you owe us," said the farmer, "for you have been a welcome guest. You are a fine young lad, and I have a fancy for you. You had better bide here with us. There is work for you to do for your board and lodging. I need someone to tend the sheep."
"I thank you, my good man," said Florimel, "but I must leave you."
"Whither would you go?"
"To that strange country of which your good wife spoke."
"Say not so, young master," implored the woman earnestly. "There are wild beasts there waiting to devour you."
"And there are wild beasts of men sometimes even more terrible," said Florimel. "I will take my chances with the beasts. All that I have loved I have lost, so there is naught to keep me. Each moment I tarry but adds to the danger that encompasses me."
"Master, can it be?--yes, it must be!" cried the man, with a great light breaking upon him. "You are the prince!"
"Yes, I am indeed he!" said Florimel. "Convey word to my uncle that I am gone, and that the child of the brother who trusted in him will never trouble him again. If the people choose him for their ruler, let the consequences be on their own heads. And now farewell!"
With this last word on his lips he broke into a run. The man with the best of intentions tried to follow in the hope of dissuading him from his rash purpose, while his wife frantically shouted for the young prince to come back.