l me at once,' said Bobino. 'What is the use of
waiting, if it must be done?'

'I have not the heart to do it,' answered the servant. 'I would
rather think of some way of saving your life, and at the same time of
protecting ourselves from your father's anger. By good luck the dog has
followed us. We will kill it, and cut out the heart and take it back to
your father. He will believe it is yours, and you, in the meantime, will
have made your escape.'

When they had reached the thickest part of the wood, Bobino got out of
the carriage, and having said good-bye to the servants set out on his
wanderings.

On and on he walked, till at last, late in the evening, he came to a
house where some herdsmen lived. He knocked at the door and begged
for shelter for the night. The herdsmen, seeing how gentle a youth he
seemed, made him welcome, and bade him sit down and share their supper.

While they were eating it, the dog in the courtyard began to bark.
Bobino walked to the window, listened attentively for a minute, and then
turning to the herdsmen said: 'Send your wives and daughters at once to
bed, and arm yourselves as best you can, because at midnight a band of
robbers will attack this house.'

The herdsmen were quite taken aback, and thought that the youth must
have taken leave of his senses.

'How can you know,' they said, 'that a band of robbers mean to attack
us? Who told you so?'

'I know it from the dog's barking,' answered Bobino. 'I understand his
language, and if I had not been here, the poor beast would have wasted
his breath to no purpose. You had better follow my advice, if you wish
to save your lives and property.'

The herdsmen were more and more astonished, but they decided to do as
Bobino advised. They sent their wives and daughters upstairs, then,
having armed themselves, they took up their position behind a hedge,
waiting for midnight.

Just as the clock struck twelve they heard the sound of approaching
footsteps, and a band of robbers cautiously advanced towards the house.
But the herdsmen were on the look-out; they sprang on the robbers from
behind the hedge, and with blows from their cudgels soon put them to
flight.

You may believe how grateful they were to Bobino, to whose timely
warning they owed their safety. They begged him to stay and make his
home with them; but as he wanted to see more of the world, he thanked
them warmly for their hospitality, and set out once more on his
wanderings. A