hedo, greatly delighted at the idea of
visiting the city.

"Yes, I will take you," said Alberdin. "Your tutor don't seem
inclined to come for you, and, of course, I can't leave you here."

The next day, Alberdin on his horse, and Phedo on his donkey, set out
for the city, where they arrived late in the afternoon. After finding
a comfortable lodging, Alberdin sent messengers to the other side of
the mountain, where his opponent was supposed to be encamped, and
gave them power to arrange with him for a meeting. He particularly
urged them to try to see the old man who had come to him at first,
and who had seemed to be a very fair-minded and sensible person. In
two days, however, the messengers returned, stating that they had
found what they supposed to be the intrenched camp of the heavy
infantry man they had been sent in search of, but that it was
entirely deserted, and nobody could be seen anywhere near it.

"It is very likely," said Alberdin, "that he has watched my
manoeuvres and exercises from the top of the mountain, and has
concluded to run away. I shall give him a reasonable time to show
himself, and then, if he does not come forward, I will consider him
beaten, and claim the Autocracy."

"That is a good idea," said Phedo, "but I think, if you can, you
ought to find him and kill him, or drive him out of the country.
That's what I should do, if I were you."

"Of course I shall do that, if I can," said Alberdin; "but I could
not be expected to wait for him forever."

When his intention had been proclaimed, Alberdin was informed of
something which he did not know before, and that was that the late
Autocrat had left an only daughter, a Princess about twenty years
old. But although she was his daughter, she could not inherit his
crown, for the laws of the country forbade that any woman should
become Autocrat. A happy idea now struck Alberdin.

"I will marry the Princess," he said, "and then every one will think
that it is the most suitable thing for me to become Autocrat."

So Alberdin sent to the Princess to ask permission to speak with her,
and was granted an audience. With much courtesy and politeness he
made known his plans to the lady, and hoped that she would consider
it advisable to marry him.

"I am sorry to interfere with any of your arrangements," said the
Princess, "but as soon as I heard the terms of my father's will, I
made up my mind to marry the victor in the contest. As I cannot
inherit the t