same
alacrity of spirit that had heretofore supported her. Her weight was
heavier upon his arm.

Before setting out, Cadmus helped Thasus build a bower; while
Telephassa, being too infirm to give any great assistance, advised them
how to fit it up and furnish it, so that it might be as comfortable as
a hut of branches could. Thasus, however, did not spend all his days in
this green bower. For it happened to him, as to Phoenix and Cilix,
that other homeless people visited the spot, and liked it, and built
themselves habitations in the neighborhood. So here, in the course of a
few years, was another thriving city, with a red freestone palace in
the center of it, where Thasus sat upon a throne, doing justice to the
people, with a purple robe over his shoulders, a sceptre in his hand,
and a crown upon his head. The inhabitants had made him king, not for
the sake of any royal blood (for none was in his veins), but because
Thasus was an upright, true-hearted, and courageous man, and therefore
fit to rule.

But when the affairs of his kingdom were all settled, King Thasus laid
aside his purple robe and crown, and sceptre, and bade his worthiest
subjects distribute justice to the people in his stead. Then, grasping
the pilgrim's staff that had supported him so long, he set forth again,
hoping still to discover some hoof-mark of the snow-white bull, some
trace of the vanished child. He returned after a lengthened absence, and
sat down wearily upon his throne. To his latest hour, nevertheless, King
Thasus showed his true-hearted remembrance of Europa, by ordering that
a fire should always be kept burning in his palace, and a bath steaming
hot, and food ready to be served up, and a bed with snow-white sheets,
in case the maiden should arrive, and require immediate refreshment.
And, though Europa never came, the good Thasus had the blessings of many
a poor traveler, who profited by the food and lodging which were meant
for the little playmate of the king's boyhood.

Telephassa and Cadmus were now pursuing their weary way, with no
companion but each other. The queen leaned heavily upon her son's arm,
and could walk only a few miles a day. But for all her weakness and
weariness, she would not be persuaded to give up the search. It
was enough to bring tears into the eyes of bearded men to hear the
melancholy tone with which she inquired of every stranger whether he
could not tell her any news of the lost child.

"Have you seen a