s despair the thought
of the great King of heaven and earth came to him.

"Dear God," he murmured breathlessly, "what now? What did I wrong, that you
did not take care of Topaz and me?"

The breeze in the treetops was his only answer; so after listening for a
minute to the soothing sound, he took the Book of Life from his blouse and
opened it.

Oh, wonderful were the words he saw. How they glowed and seemed to live
upon the gray page.

"_Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the
Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee: He will not fail thee nor
forsake thee_."

Gabriel caught his trembling lip between his teeth. He knew no one in this
crowded city. He had no home, no friends, no money except the few coppers
in his pocket. How, then, was help to come?

"Dear God," he whispered, "I have no one now in all the world but you.
Topaz is gone and I am grieved sore, for he is wretched. Let me save him. I
am not afraid, dear God, not afraid of anything. I trust you."

Comforted by a little blind hope that crept into his heart, the boy looked
up; and the first thing that his swollen eyes rested upon was a large
poster affixed to the opposite wall, with letters a foot high. "REWARD!" it
said. "H.R.H. the princess has lost her golden dog. A full reward for his
return to the palace!"

Gabriel's heart gave a great bound. What golden dog was there anywhere but
Topaz? The color that had fled from his cheeks came back. But would an
organ-grinder dare claim for his own a dog that belonged to a princess of
the country? And yet--and yet--the little dog's joy and light-heartedness
with himself showed that he had been well treated by whomever taught him
his pretty tricks. The organ-grinder did not treat him well, and who that
really knew Topaz would dream of taking a whip to force him to his work!

Gabriel, young as he was, saw that there was some mystery here, and beside,
there had been the glowing words in the Book of Life, telling him again not
to be afraid, and promising him that the greatest of all kings would not
fail him or forsake him.

He started up from the seat, but forced himself back and opened the small
bundle of dry bread and meat; for there was no knowing when he should eat
again. He took all that remained, and when he had swallowed the last
crumbs, arose with a determined heart and hurried up the street.

He asked the first man he met if he could direct him to the palace.

T