r Scurvilegs) they set out with no luggage and no clear idea of
where they were going to sleep at night. This, after all, is the best
spirit in which to start a journey. It is the Gladstone bag which has
killed romance.

They started on a perfect summer day, and they rode past towers and
battlements, and by the side of sparkling streams, and came out into
the sunlight again above sleepy villages, and, as they rode, Coronel
sang aloud and Udo tossed his sword into the air and caught it again.
As evening fell they came to a woodman's cottage at the foot of a high
hill, and there they decided to rest for the night. An old woman came
out to welcome them.

"Good evening, your Royal Highness," she said.

[Illustration: _As evening fell they came to a woodman's cottage at
the foot of a high hill_]

"You know me?" said Udo, more pleased than surprised.

"I know all who come into my house," said the old woman solemnly, "and
all who go away from it."

This sort of conversation made Coronel feel creepy. There seemed to
be a distinction between the people who came to the house and the
people who went away from it which he did not like.

"Can we stay here the night, my good woman?" said Udo.

"You have hurt your hand," she said, taking no notice of his question.

"It's nothing," said Udo hastily. On one occasion he had caught his
sword by the sharp end by mistake--a foolish thing to have done.

"Ah, well, since you won't want hands where you're going, it won't
matter much."

It was the sort of thing old women said in those days, and Udo did not
pay much attention to it.

"Yes, yes," he said; "but can you give my friend and myself a bed for
to-night?"

"Seeing that you won't be travelling together long, come in and
welcome."

She opened the door and they followed her in.

As they crossed the threshold, Udo half turned round and whispered
over his shoulder to Coronel,

"Probably a fairy. Be kind to her."

"How can one be kind to one's hostess?" said Coronel. "It's she who
has to be kind to _us_."

"Well, you know what I mean; don't be rude to her."

"My dear Udo, this to _me_--the pride of Araby, the favourite courtier
of his Majesty, the----"

"Oh, all right," said Udo.

"Sit down and rest yourselves," said the old woman. "There'll be
something in the pot for you directly."

"Good," said Udo. He looked approvingly at the large cauldron hanging
over the fire. It was a big fireplace for such a sm