f the Mystic Palace, but one which left its mark for always on
the mind of the child.

Despite his dislike to books as the only way of learning to be wise, he
never forgot the day in the Great Mosque, when, before all his
relations, he had to stand up dressed in his simple every day clothes
and take the Holy Book from the hands of the high priest. And he never
forgot the high priest's words:

"Read in the Name of Him who hath made all things in Heaven and earth,
and Who hath given men power to be wise."

"_Bismillah!_--_Irruhman-nirruheem!_" he had answered as in duty bound,
which means, "Thanks be to Him who is merciful in this world and
merciful in the next world."

In this way young Prince Akbar learned that every man has power to be
wise, and that the great mystery of birth and death is a merciful
mystery.

Thus the summer passed and in early autumn King Humayon, who had now
wasted nearly a whole year in amusement, found it necessary to quell
rebellion in a neighbouring province.

So the governorship of Kabul was made over to a trusted noble of the
Court, one Shurruf Khan by name, who was made as it were Regent for
little Prince Akbar, who was left with his attendants in regal state at
the palace in the Bala Hissar, while Queen Humeeda went back to India,
taking Bija with her, on a visit to her mother's relations.

Roy, whose story had become known in the Court, was now made equerry to
the young prince, and very handsome he looked in his chain armour, with
the noonday sun all rayed and shiny in gold on his breast, in token that
he claimed to be a Sun-hero. As, indeed, seemed likely, since the Afghan
sentry's old Suryamer friend had a tale about a young Rajah who had been
kidnapped and, it was supposed, left in the desert to die. But whether
Roy was the young Rajah or not, who could tell? They might send the
story to Suryamer and see what befell. Meanwhile Roy was happy, and
little Akbar and he became more and more like elder and younger brother.
How much in after years the prince owed to the companionship of this
friend of his childhood it is impossible to say. Perhaps it accounts for
the marvellous way in which the Great Emperor Akbar ruled his Hindoo
subjects.

Humayon had expected to return in a month's time, but luck was against
him. A King cannot waste a whole year in amusement and so let wicked men
have time to hatch plots without suffering for it. And Humayon did
suffer. He had to march and counter-