o was known as the medicine-man to the royal
household, but his services were not often in request, because people
were seldom ill, save when they were going to die, and when that time
came it was generally thought best to let them die in peace. This
medicine-man, though a quack in regard to physic, was, however, a true
man, as far as his knowledge went in surgery--that is to say, he was
expert at the setting of broken bones, when the fractures were not too
compound; he could bandage ordinary wounds; he had even ventured into
the realm of experimental surgery so far as to knock out a decayed back
tooth with a bronze chisel and a big stone. But his knowledge of drugs
was naturally slight, and his power of diagnosis feeble. Still,
unworthy though he may be of the title, we will for convenience style
him the doctor.

"My poor boy," said the queen, in answer to his question, and laying her
hand on his hot brow, "I am so sorry that we cannot have the services of
our doctor, for he is away hunting just now--you know he is very fond of
the bow and line. Perhaps he may--"

"Oh, never mind the doctor, mother," said Bladud impatiently, with that
slighting reference to the faculty which is but too characteristic of
youth; "what do _you_ think ought to be done? You were always doctor
enough for me when I was little; you'll do equally well now that I am
big."

"Be not hasty, my son. You were always hot-headed and--"

"I'm hot-headed _now_, at all events, and argument won't tend to cool
it. Do what you will with it, for I can stand this no longer. Cut it
off if you like, mother, only use a sharp knife and be quick about it."

In those days, far more than in this our homeopathic era, it was the
habit of the mothers of families to keep in store certain herbs and
roots, etcetera, which, doubtless, contained the essences now held in
modern globules. With these they contrived decoctions that were
unquestionably more or less beneficial to patients when wisely applied.
To the compounding of something of this sort the queen now addressed
herself. After swallowing it, the prince fell asleep.

This was so far well; but in the morning he was still so far from well,
that the visit to Branwen's father had to be postponed. Several days
elapsed before the doctor returned from his hunting expedition. By that
time the fever had left the prince. He began to get somewhat better,
and to go about, but still felt very unlike his old sel