The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-01-23

put up a nag at the bottom and took
possession. They're mine."
"Really!' said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto. quite delighted. He
would never have thought Of such .
thing.
A door Of iron bars at the foot Of
four Of them-stood open. Here day
light, which had been growing fainter.
entirely ceased. And here Bobby. hav-
ing replaced his nnAAk. placed an air
rife over his shoulder. and lighted a
candle and held 1t out to the crown
prince.
"You can carry It," he said. "Only
don't lie. 1t drip on you. You'll spoil
your clothes" There was q family
scornful note in his voice. and Ferdi-
nand William Otto was quick to hear
It.
II don't care at all about my
Clothes" he protested. And to prove
It he deliberately tilted the candle and
his short Jacket.
you're q pretty good sport" Bobby
observed. And from that time on he
addressed his royal highness as "old
sport"
When they reached the old dungeon
the candle was about done. There was
only time to fashion another black
mask out Of piece Of cloth that bore
q strange resemblance to q black
waistcoat. Tho crown prince donned
this with q wildly beating heart. Never
In all his life had he been so excited.
"We can get another candle, and
come back and cook something" said
the senior pirate, tying the mask on
with pieces Of brown string. "It gets
pretty smoky. but I can cook, you'd
better believe"
| So this wonderful boy could cook.
alsoi The crown prince had never
met any one with 80 many varied at
tainments. He gazed through the eye
holes, which were rather too fur apart,
In rapt admiration.
"As you haven't got belt" Bobby
said generously, "Tu give you the rifle.
Ever hold q gunr
"Oh, yes" said the crown prince.
He did not explain that he had been
taught to shoot on the rife range Of
his own regiment, and had won quite
a number Of medals. he possessed,
indeed. quite number Of small but
very perfect guns.
With the last gasp Of the candle,
the children prepared to depart. Tho
senior pirate had already forgotten tho
two men he had trailed through the
passage, and was eager to get out
doors.
"Ready 7" he said. snow, remember,
old sport. we are pirates. No quarter,
except to women and children. Shoot
| every man."
Even II he II unarmedf" inquired
the crown prince. who had also studied
strategy and tactics, and felt that an
unarmed man should bo taken pris-
oner.
"Sure. We don't really shoot them.
silly. Now. Get In STEP"
Then began, for the crown prince,
such . day Of Joy ~ he had never
known before. Even the Land Of De-
light faded before this new bliss Of
stalking from tree to tree. Of killing
unsuspecting citizens who sat ON rugs
on the ground and ate sausages and
little cakes. Here and there, where
q party had moved on. they salvaged
q bit Of food-the heel Of q loaf, one
Of the small country apples. Shades
Of the court physicians, under whose
direction the crown prince was daily
fed a carefully balanced rationl
When they were weary. they
stretched out on the ground. and the
crown prince, whose bed was nightly
dried with q warming pan for fear Of
dampness, wallowed blissfully on
earth still soft with the melting frosts
Of the winter. He grew muddy and
dirty. He had had no hat, Of course,
and his bright hair hung over his fore
head In moist strands. Now and then
he drew q long breath Of sheer happi-
ness.
Al dusk descended, the crowd grad
ually dispersed. some to supper. but
some to gather In the place and In the
streets around the palace. For the
rumor that the king was dying would
not down.
At last the senior pirate consulted
q large nickel watch.
"Geet its almost supper time." he
said.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con-
suited his own watch. the one with
the inscription: ITO Ferdinand Will
liam Otto. from his grandfather. ON
the occasion Of his taking his nrst
communion"
"Why can't you come home to sup
per with met" asked the senior pirate.
"Would your folks kick up row7"
Fl beg your pardonf"
~Would your family ob5ectr
There Is only one person Who would
mind" reflected the crown prince,