ing my best to make little
noise, for fear of awaking you. Have you been bathing at the springs?
I see the hound's coat is muddy."

"Thanks for your care, Cormac. Ay, we have indeed had a bath--Brownie
and I. You see I have taken your advice, and am trying the pigs' cure."

"Right, Bladud. Wiser men have learned lessons from pigs."

"Are you not presumptuous, my lad, to suggest that there may be a wiser
man than I?"

"Truly, no, for taking the advice of a mere stripling like me, is not a
sign of wisdom in a man."

"In the present case you are perhaps right, but there are some
striplings whose wisdom is sufficient to guide men. However, I will
hope that even you, with all your presumption, may be right this time."

"That encourages me to offer additional advice," retorted the lad with a
laugh, "namely, that you should devote your attention to these ribs, for
you will find them excellent, and even a full-grown man can hardly fail
to know that without food no cure can be effected."

"You are right, my boy. Sit down and set me an example, for youth, not
less than age, must be supported."

Without more words they set to work, first throwing a bone to the hound,
in order, as Bladud remarked, that they might all start on equal terms.

From that day the health of the prince began to mend--slowly but
steadily the spot on his arm also began to diminish and to assume a more
healthy aspect. Brownie also became convalescent, and much to the joy
of Bladud, Cormac showed no symptoms of having caught the disease.
Still, as a precaution, they kept studiously apart, and the prince
observed--and twitted the boy with the fact--that the more he gained in
health, and the less danger there was of infection, the more anxious did
he seem to be to keep away from him!

Things were in this state when, one evening, they received a visit--
which claims a new chapter to itself.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

IN WHICH VERY PERPLEXING EVENTS OCCUR.

The visitor referred to in the last chapter was a tall, broad-shouldered
old man with a snowy head of hair and a flowing white beard, a long,
loose black garment, and a stout staff about six feet long.

Cormac had gone to a spring for water at the time he arrived, and Bladud
was lying on his back inside his hut.

"Is any one within?" demanded the stranger, lifting a corner of the
curtain.

"Enter not here, whoever you are!" replied the prince quickly, springing
up--"stay--I will come out