o his
specific duties as swine-herd; collected the animals from all quarters
into several large herds, counted them as well as he could, and drove
them to suitable feeding-grounds. On retiring each day from this work,
into which he threw all his power, he felt so fatigued as to be quite
ready for supper and bed.

Gradually he became accustomed to the life, and at length, after a
considerable time of it, a feeling of resignation to his fate began to
tell upon him.

The effect of prolonged solitude also began even to numb the powers of
his mind. He was fully aware of this, and tried to shake it off, for he
shuddered more at the thought of mental than of physical decay. Among
other things, he took to talking more frequently to Brownie, but
although the pup was, in many respects, a most valuable and sympathetic
companion, he could not prevent the conversation from being rather
one-sided.

By degrees the summer merged into autumn; the foliage assumed the tints
of green and gold. Then it became russet, and finally the cold bleak
winds of a northern winter shrieked through the valley and swept the
leaves away.

During all this time no human being had gone near that region, or paid
the forlorn prince a visit, except once when the hunter of the Hot Swamp
made his appearance.

The rebellious tribes retained too vivid a recollection of the slaughter
that had taken place during and after the fight with King Hudibras, to
risk a second encounter with that monarch, so that the place was at that
time absolutely deserted by human beings--though it was sufficiently
peopled by the lower animals. On the occasion when the hunter
unexpectedly appeared, he demanded of Bladud an account of his
stewardship. The report was so satisfactory that the hunter became, for
him, quite amiable; commended his swine-herd and drove off a number of
the pigs to market. On his return, laden with the few household goods
for which he had bartered them, he paid the prince another visit, and
even condescended to accept an invitation to enter his hut and partake
of a roast of venison which was at the time being prepared for the
mid-day meal. He was still, however, very brusque and taciturn.

"No one has been near me during the whole summer or autumn but
yourself," observed Bladud with an involuntary sigh.

"You must be pleased at that," returned the hunter, sharply; "you said
you came here for solitude."

"Truly I did; but I had not thought it wo