They were not together, but came to my hut at
different times inquiring for you, but, knowing your desire for
solitude, I turned them away on the wrong scent."

"I'm glad you did," returned the prince, "for I want to be troubled by
neither man nor boy. Yet I wonder who they could be. Did they say why
they wanted to find me?"

"No, they did not say, and I would not ask; what cared I about their
reasons?"

"Yet you care enough for me, it appears, to say you would have sent them
to me if you knew I had been lonely. What was the appearance of the
man?"

"He was old, but very strong, though not so big as me--or you. His hair
was long and white; so was his beard. He wore a long dark robe, and
carried a very big staff."

Bladud had no difficulty in recognising the description of his friend
the Hebrew.

"And the boy; what was he like?"

"Like all boys, active and impudent."

"I am afraid," returned the prince with a slight smile, "that your
acquaintance with boys cannot have been extensive--they are not all
active and impudent."

"Most of those that have crossed my path are so. At all events, this
one was, for when I pointed out the direction you had gone--which was
just the opposite way from here--he said, `I don't believe you!' and
when I leaped on him to give him his deserts, he dodged me, and fled
into the woods like a squirrel. It was as well, for I should have
killed him."

"I am not sorry he escaped you, then," said Bladud, with a laugh,
"though I scarcely think you would have killed the poor lad even if you
had caught him."

"Oh yes, I would. And I'll kill _you_ if you venture to doubt my word."

As he said this the hunter sprang to his feet, and, drawing his knife,
seemed about to leap upon his host, who, however, sat perfectly still.

"I should be sorry that you should die," said Bladud in a calm voice,
while he kept his eyes steadily fixed on those of the maniac. "_You_
have heard, have you not, of that terrible disease of the East, called
leprosy?"

"Yes--the ship-captains have often spoken of it," said the madman, whose
mind, like that of a child, could be easily turned into new channels.

"Look! I have got that disease. The Power which you profess to despise
has sent it to me. If you so much as touch me, your doom is fixed."

He uncovered his shoulder as he spoke and displayed the white spot.

Bladud felt quite uncertain how this would be received by the madman,
but he was scarce