A minute afterwards, Foster-father returning, found the children the
centre of a little crowd eager in enquiry whence they came, whither they
were going, and, ere he could get them safely to their quarters, the
attention of the Captain of the Escort had been arrested, he came out
frowning and fuming.
"We march again in an hour," he said angrily to Foster-father. "On thy
head be it if thou can'st not keep thy young fighting cock in
order--'twill be all over the town by midnight!"
Foster-father did not often let his temper get the better of his
prudence, but he could not resist saying mildly: "Kingship is like the
musk-bag, friend, that was broken at the royal child's birth. It
diffuses its perfume over the habitable world, and none can mistake it."
The Captain of the Escort shrugged his shoulders. "Then it shall smell
in the wilderness, friend; for I run no risks of rescue this side the
passes. So bid the women give the young crowing cockerel his supper and
prepare to start again. There will be a moon in another hour and we can
push on. Meanwhile I go to warn the other folk where to rejoin us."
It was a bitter cold night. The wind blew keenly from the snow before
them, and by the time they reached a miserable village, high up on the
slopes of the pass, every one save the two children was chilled to the
bone; but they, well happed in all the coverings the fugitives could
compass, were warm; Akbar, in Foster-father's arms, with Down, the cat,
cuddled up beside him, and acting as a hot bottle! Once more there was
plenty of fuel in the rude hut where they found shelter, and stiffened
limbs and half-frosted fingers soon began to thaw.
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