Now the little nag preferred roads to beelines over copses and ditches, and she turned back and ambled along the highway so very lamely that it became impossible even for her preoccupied rider not to perceive that she had cast all her four shoes. “Poor beast!” he cried dismayed, “how has this happened, and where? Oh, Pepper, how could you be so careless? I have not a penny in my purse to buy you new shoes, my poor Pepper. Do you not remember where you lost them?” The little nag licked her master’s hand (for he had dismounted to examine her trouble), and looked at him with great eyes full of affection, and then she flung up her head and whinnied louder than ever. The sound of it was like nothing so much as laughter. Then she went on, hobbling as best she could, and the King walked by her side with his hand on her neck. In this way they came to a small village, and here the nag turned up a by-road and halted outside the blacksmith’s forge. The smith’s Lad stood within, clinking at the anvil, the smuttiest Lad smith ever had. “Lad!” cried the King. The Lad looked up from his work and came at once to the door, wiping his hands upon his leather apron. “Where am I?” asked the King. “In the village of Washington,” said the Lad. “What! Under the Ring?” cried the King. “Yes, sir,” said the Lad. “A blessing on you!” said the King joyfully, and clapped his hand on the Lad’s shoulder. “Pepper, you have solved the problem and led me to my destiny.” “Is Pepper your nag’s name?” asked the blacksmith’s Lad. “It is,” said the King; “her only one.” “Then she has one more name than she has shoes,” said the Lad. “How came she to lose them?” “I didn’t notice,” confessed the King. “You must have been thinking very deeply,” remarked the Lad. “Are you in love?” “I am not quite twenty-one,” said the King. “I see. Do you want your nag shod?” “I do. But I have spent my last penny.” “Earn another then,” said the Lad. “I did not even earn the last one,” said the King shamefacedly. “I have never worked in my life.” “Why, where have you lived?” exclaimed the Lad. “In a Barn.” “But one works in a Barn----” “Stop!” cried the King, putting his fingers in his ears. “One prays in a Barn.” “Very likely,” said the Lad, looking at him curiously. “Are you going to pray in one?” “Yes,” said the King. “When is the New Moon?” “Next Saturday.” “Hurrah!” cried the King. “That settles it. But what’s to-day?” “Monday, sir.” “Alas!” sighed William, wondering how he should make shift to live for five days. “I don’t know what you mean, sir,” said the Lad. “I would tell you my meaning,” said the King, “but am pledged not to.”