to be one of his servitors.’ ’Naturally, however, you cannot help feeling a certain amount of sympathy for these outlaws, who are your own countrymen, and who have been driven, as you think, perhaps unjustly, into exile, eh?’ queried Alondra, eying the other keenly. ’It may be so—deep down in my mind,’ was the quiet answer. ’Certainly, however, I have no sympathy with tales of robbery and murder such as are related of these bands. But, of course, they may not be true, or they may be very much exaggerated. We only hear one side, that told by Agrando’s people; and from my own experience I can tell you that it is not safe to believe all they assert.’ ’But how do you know where we are, if, as you say, you only know of all these things by hearsay?’ was Alondra’s shrewd query. ’Oh, I have been in these parts before as a boy, and I know that those plants yonder are peculiar to this region. You do not find them anywhere else.’ ’I see. Well, if they are good to eat, let us try them as soon as we can. For my part, I am hungry enough to devour anything that is fairly eatable.’ ’We must have a fire. It is the root which is good to eat; and it requires cooking,’ Malto returned. ’I have dug these roots up and cooked them many times when picnicking out here with other youngsters. If you others will get some wood together, and start a fire, I will soon have a first-rate supper ready for you.’ The young fellow proved as good as his word, and some half-hour later, just as darkness fell, they were all sitting round a cheerful fire, discussing a very agreeable meal off something which had a flavour not unlike baked potatoes. ’Humph! Not a bad thing to fall back upon in a wilderness like this!’ Jack declared. ’And what are we going to do afterwards? How are we to get back to our friends?’ ’That is not easy to say,’ Malto answered soberly. ’We must have passed right over my country to get here, and that alone means two or three hundred miles. It is a land which is full of Agrando’s followers, and you may be sure that his airships will, by this time, be cruising about in search of us.’ ’That sounds cheerful! Looks as if we shall have to stay here and do a bit of outlaw business on our own account!’ cried Jack. Malandris glanced at him with a very grave expression in his eyes. ’Your remark exactly describes the position, young sir, though spoken, doubtless, half in jest. I am sorry to have to say it, for it is not a trifling matter. For myself, I accept it as preferable to the fate from which you all so pluckily aided to rescue me. But it grieves me that I should live to see the son of the good and wise King Ivanta in the position of a hunted fugitive!’ Alondra started and flushed up at these plain words. But there was in the elder man’s eyes a look so thoroughly honest and kindly that it was impossible to take offence.