no compasses in those days, but the course-marker had an instrument which he would set in a proper direction by means of the stars, and then he could march by it all day.  Besides these persons, Prince Hassak selected from the schools of his city five boys and five girls, and took them with him.  He wished to show them how, when a thing was to be done, the best way was to go straight ahead and do it, turning aside for nothing.

“When they grow up they will teach these things to their children,” said he; “and thus I shall instil good principles into my people.”

The first day Prince Hassak and his party marched over a level country, with no further trouble than that occasioned by the tearing down of fences and walls, and the destruction of a few cottages and barns.  After encamping for the night, they set out the next morning, but had not marched many miles before they came to a rocky hill, on the top of which was a handsome house, inhabited by a Jolly-cum-pop.

“Your Highness,” said the course-marker, “in order to go in a direct line we must make a tunnel through this hill, immediately under the house.  This may cause the building to fall in, but the rubbish can be easily removed.”

“Let the men go to work,” said the Prince.  “I will dismount from my horse, and watch the proceedings.”

When the Jolly-cum-pop saw the party halt before his house, he hurried out to pay his respects to the Prince.  When he was informed of what was to be done, the Jolly-cum-pop could not refrain from laughing aloud.

“I never heard,” he said, “of such a capital idea.  It is so odd and original.  It will be very funny, I am sure, to see a tunnel cut right under my house.”

The miners and rock-splitters now began to work at the base of the hill, and then the Jolly-cum-pop made a proposition to the Prince.

“It will take your men some time,” he said, “to cut this tunnel, and it is a pity your Highness should not be amused in the meanwhile.  It is a fine day:  suppose we go into the forest and hunt.”

This suited the Prince very well, for he did not care about sitting under a tree and watching his workmen, and the Jolly-cum-pop having sent for his horse and some bows and arrows, the whole party, with the exception of the laborers, rode toward the forest, a short distance away.

“What shall we find to hunt?” asked the Prince of the Jolly-cum-pop.

“I really do not know,” exclaimed the latter, “but we’ll hunt whatever we happen to see—­deer, small birds, rabbits, griffins, rhinoceroses, any thing that comes along.  I feel as gay as a skipping grasshopper.  My spirits rise like a soaring bird.  What a joyful thing it is to have such a hunt on such a glorious day!”

The gay and happy spirits of the Jolly-cum-pop affected the whole party, and they rode merrily through the forest; but they found no game; and, after an hour or two, they emerged into the open country again.  At a distance, on a slight elevation, stood a large and massive building.