e got out of range of the boy's eyes, however, his careless
air vanished, and he sped through the underwood with the quietness and
something of the gait of a panther--stooping low and avoiding to tread
on dead twigs. Making a wide circle, he came round behind the spot
where the watcher was hid. But, trained though he had been in the art
of savage warfare, the boy was equal to him. From the first he had
observed in Bladud's acting the absence of that "touch of nature which
makes the whole world kin," and kept a bright look-out to his rear as
well as in his front, so that when Bladud, despite his care, trod on a
dry stick the boy heard it. Next moment he was off, and a moment after
that he was seen bounding down the hill like a wild-cat.

The prince, knowing the danger of letting the boy escape and carry
information to his friends, dashed after him at full speed--and the rate
of his running may be estimated when it is remembered that many a time
he had defeated men who had been victors at the Olympic games. But the
young savage was nearly his match. Feeling, however, that he was being
slowly yet surely overtaken, the boy doubled like a hare and made for a
ridge that lay on his left. By that time the chase was in full view of
the two men in camp, who rose and craned their necks in some excitement
to watch it.

"He's after something," said the captain.

"A boy!" said Maikar.

"Ay, and running him down, hand over hand."

"There seems to be no one else in sight, so we don't need to go to his
help."

"If he needs our help he'll come for it," returned the captain with a
laugh, "and it will puzzle the swiftest runner in the land to beat his
long legs. See, he's close on the lad now."

"True," responded the other, with a sigh of disappointment, "but we
shan't see the end of it, for the boy will be over the ridge and out of
sight before he is caught."

Maikar was right. Even while he spoke the youthful savage gained the
summit, where his slim, agile figure was clearly depicted against the
sky. Bladud was running at full speed, not a hundred yards behind him,
yet, to the amazement of the spectators, the boy suddenly stopped,
turned round, and waved his hand with a shout of defiance. Next moment
he was over the ridge and gone. A few seconds later the prince was seen
to halt at the same point, but instead of continuing the pursuit, he
remained immovable for a few minutes gazing in front of him. Then he
returned