e
Lion-Hearted, and Blondel?" asked Phil plaintively.

Miss Jones was thinking of something else. "What was it, Phyllis?" she
asked abstractedly.

"Once when Richard Coeur de Leon was on his way home to England from
one of his crusades in the Holy Land, he was cast into prison. There he
stayed a long, long time," narrated Phil mournfully, as though the
story of the unfortunate king weighed on her mind. "Blondel, Richard's
faithful servant and friend, wandered all over the world looking for
his master. One day he came outside the very prison that held his king.
He began to sing an old song that he and King Richard had sung together
many times. Richard Coeur de Leon recognized the song and knew that
Blondel waited outside the fortress to save him. He managed to let
Blondel know where he was, and the loyal servant helped his friend and
king to make his escape."

Madge guessed what Phil's story meant, but Miss Jenny Ann refused to
see it.

"Do you think, Miss Jenny Ann," Phil inquired after a pause, "that it
would do any harm if Madge and I were to sing outside this prison house
to-day? Surely it would be a comfort to the poor man inside to hear the
sound of friendly voices!"

Miss Jones frowned. "Perhaps it would not do any harm, Phil, but it
certainly would not do the prisoner any good. You have promised me not
to try to interfere with this stranger's troubles." Then Miss Jenny
Ann's soft heart relented. "Sing, if you like, Phil. I shall be glad to
hear you. It will help make the time pass more quickly."

"What shall we sing, Phil?" demanded Madge.

Phil thought for a while. "'America'," she suggested. "If I were put in
prison unfairly, I would like to think that I was an American and
should some day have my liberty again."

"All right," agreed Madge. "Let's begin."

Sitting on the ground at Miss Jenny Ann's feet the girls sang the
splendid song. They forgot the story that had suggested their music.
Their voices rang true and sweet. Madge sang the soprano part and Phil
the alto. The tune inspired the two girls and gave Miss Jenny Ann fresh
courage for the unpleasant interview which she thought lay ahead of
her.

It was good for the lost travelers to believe that they were still
under the protection of the American Flag. The "Merry Maid" had
certainly not drifted away from the Stars and Stripes.

Phil wanted a drink of water at the close of the song. She went up near
the house to get it. The bucket stood und