“Now,” said he to himself, “I am no longer in danger.  If that horrible cut-throat should appear, this good gentleman will protect me.”

Alberdin had not seen any one for a long time, and he was very glad to meet with so nice a little boy.  When Phedo told him that he was lost, he invited him to come to his tent, near by, and have breakfast.  While they were eating their meal, Alberdin asked the boy if in the course of his rambles he had met with a heavy infantry soldier, probably armed to the teeth, and very large and strong.

“Oh, I’ve heard of that dreadful man!” cried Phedo, “and I am very glad that I did not meet him.  If he comes, I hope you’ll protect me from him.”

“I will do that,” said Alberdin; “but I am afraid I shall not be able to help you find your way home, for in doing so I should throw myself off my guard, and might be set upon unexpectedly by this fellow, with whom I have a regular engagement to fight.  There is to be a time fixed for the combat, for which I feel myself nearly ready, but I have no doubt that my enemy will be very glad to take me at a disadvantage if I give him a chance.”

Phedo looked about him with an air of content.  The tent was large and well furnished; there seemed to be plenty of good things to eat; the handsome horseman was certainly a very good-humored and agreeable gentleman; and, moreover, the tent was not shut in by high and gloomy ramparts.

“I do not think you need trouble yourself,” said he to his host, “to help me to find my way home.  I live with my tutor, and I am sure that when he knows I am gone he will begin to search for me, and after awhile he will find me.  Until then, I can be very comfortable here.”

For several days the two third cousins of the Autocrat lived together in the tent, and enjoyed each other’s society very much.  Then Alberdin began to grow a little impatient.

“If I am to fight this heavy infantry man,” he said; “I should like to do it at once.  I am now quite ready, and I think he ought to be.  I expected to hear from him before this time, and I shall start out and see if I can get any news of his intentions.  I don’t care about going over the mountain without giving him notice, but the capital city of Mutjado is only a day’s ride to the west, and there I can cause inquiries to be made when he would like to meet me, and where.”

“I will go with you,” said Phedo, greatly delighted at the idea of visiting the city.

“Yes, I will take you,” said Alberdin.  “Your tutor don’t seem inclined to come for you, and, of course, I can’t leave you here.”

The next day, Alberdin on his horse, and Phedo on his donkey, set out for the city, where they arrived late in the afternoon.  After finding a comfortable lodging, Alberdin sent messengers to the other side of the mountain, where his opponent was supposed to be encamped, and gave them power to arrange with him for a meeting.  He particularly urged them to try to see the old man who had come to him at first, and who had seemed to be a very fair-minded and sensible person.  In two days, however, the messengers returned, stating that they had found what they supposed to be the intrenched camp of the heavy infantry man they had been sent in search of, but that it was entirely deserted, and nobody could be seen anywhere near it.