oused by neglected duty they knew too well that their lives
would hang on a thread. What was to be done? To go forward or backward
seemed to involve death! One only resource was left, namely, for the
whole band to go off on its own account and take to the woods as
independent robbers--or hunters--or both combined.

In an unenviable frame of mind the lieutenant and his sub sat down to
the discussion of these knotty points and their mid-day meal.

Meanwhile the witch, who had been the occasion of all this distress,
having got out of sight in the woods, assumed a very upright gait and
stepped out with a degree of bounding elasticity that would have done
credit to a girl of nineteen.

The sun was just rising in a flood of glorious light when she entered
the suburbs of King Hudibras' town--having previously resumed her stoop
and hobbling gait.

The king was lazy. He was still a-bed snoring. But the household was
up and at breakfast, when the witch--passing the guards who looked upon
her as too contemptible to question--knocked at the palace door. It was
the back-door, for even at that time palaces had such convenient
apertures, for purposes, no doubt, of undignified retreat. A menial
answered the knock--after wearisome delay.

"Is the Princess Hafrydda within?"

"She is," answered the menial, with a supercilious look, "but she is at
breakfast, and does not see poor people at such an hour."

"Would she see rich people if they were to call at such an hour?"
demanded the witch, sharply.

"Per--perhaps she would," replied the menial with some hesitation.

"Then I'll wait here till she has finished breakfast. Is the king up?"

"N-no. He still slumbers."

"Hah! Like him! He was always lazy in the mornings. Go fetch me a
stool."

The manner of the old woman with her magnificent dark eyes and deep
metallic voice, and her evident knowledge of the king's habits, were too
much for the menial--a chord of superstition had been touched; it
vibrated, and he was quelled. Humbly but quickly he fetched a stool.

"Won't you step in?" he said.

"No, I'll stop out!" she replied, and sat herself doggedly down, with
the air of one who had resolved never more to go away.

Meanwhile, in the breakfast room of the palace, which was on the ground
floor--indeed, all the rooms of the palace were on the ground floor, for
there was no upper one--the queen and her fair daughter Hafrydda were
entertaining a stranger who had arr