Hotspur by the bridle, and finding long saplings, she
twisted them into the bridle on the other side and so made the horse
fast as she could to a stout but slim tree.

Then she felt that the hardest part of all was before her.

"You must be brave," said her Fairy. "You are tired, and excited, but
wide awake. Make no mistakes. Remember, Hotspur is close by. The Fairy
Prince may yet reach his friends in good time. But beware. He is no
doubt a prisoner. Be sharp!"

CHAPTER XX.

IN CAMPAIGN

Sally's soft tread was heard only by a great dog who rushed out as she
crept toward the hay sheds at the Hinds farmlands.

She easily made friends with the dog, who trotted quietly away after
being patted and quieted.

It was plain that some of the house servants were already astir, but
Sally kept out of sight as best she could.

One thing she did that pleased her greatly.

She got into the barn and filled the front of the coat with hay. This
she carried to Hotspur, who enjoyed the crisp breakfast greatly.

"I wish I could bring you water, dear," she said, "but how am I to get
my own breakfast?"

For with all her shrewdness, the maiden had given not one thought to
food when she started out, and a healthy maid of fourteen could not long
be unmindful of hunger after a four hours' ride.

In a few moments however, she was to be glad of having made friends with
the great dog. For a colored boy put a pan with meat bones, cold
biscuit, and a basin of water by the shed, for the dog's breakfast.

As the boy slouched away, up crept Sally, and snatched two of the
biscuit, and oh, what luck! a good doughnut, long and twisted, was close
against the biscuit. She snatched that too.

"Surely I may have part of the dog's food without stealing," she said.

Then she cast about in her mind how next to proceed. Time was precious.

Now it may well be supposed that during her long ride so bright a maid
as Sally would have tried to think of some plan that might help her once
she reached her journey's end. And she had not forgotten that all she
had heard and learned about the present condition of her Fairy Prince
had come to her as she sat by a tree.

"Might not a tree help me again?" she asked. "Could I but make a sound,
or give a sign, it surely would help me, if only the young Prince came
near enough. I can think of no other way unless I hide about the house
and watch my chance for a quick word."

Ah, but with others around, ho