; a yard
or two of the fringed turban, which had become unrolled, trailing behind
him like a royal robe.

It was a quainter little figure than before, but nobody laughed now.
They looked at each other, then at the child staggering along under the
Prince's plumed turban, then at Prince Askurry himself standing
bareheaded before his nephew.

It was an ill omen. And yet as Head-nurse said proudly when they got
back to the rooms that had been given them in a frowning bastion of the
palace, Baby Akbar had once more scored off his uncle.

Indeed, she was so cock-a-hoop about it that she stickled for this, and
she stickled for that until the attendants, who were at first inclined
to be civil, began to look askance, and Foster-father had to bid her
hold her tongue.

"Wise folk leave steel traps alone," he said; "fiddling with them lets
off the spring. Then--pouf!"

He shook his head significantly.

"Steel traps?" echoed Head-nurse sniffily, "who is talking of steel
traps?"

"I am, woman!" replied Foster-father sternly. "I tell you this Kandahar
is as a steel trap ready to snap on us at any moment."

Head-nurse was silent, even though he also had ventured to call her
"woman"; but she was beginning to learn that nine times out of ten
Foster-father was right.

CHAPTER VII

WINTER

The winter settled in early that year, and with the passes of the hills
blocked by snow, the caravans of laden camels which, in addition to
merchandise of all sorts, brought news from the world to the east and
the world to the west of mountain-clipped Kandahar, ceased to come into
the big bazaar. And the cold kept most people at home, or shivering
beside the glowing braziers set outside the shops. It was not the season
for active work, and so Prince Askurry let it slip by without really
making up his mind what he was to do with Baby Akbar. Meanwhile the
child could live in the bastion of the palace, and play with his little
cousins. Whether he was to be betrothed to Baby Amina or not could be
decided in the spring; this was the time for rest and home comfort
without fear of any disturbing, since none could cross the passes in
winter.

Princess Sultanam, however, to whom in her seclusion winter and summer
were much alike, grew fond of the little lad, and never ceased to urge
on her husband the wisdom of so treating Prince Akbar, that should King
Humayon by good luck--and he _had_ a knack of being lucky--find himself
again with an