“Dear my lord, I will serve you to the death.  I will go with you to the world’s end.”

Sir James laid a warning hand upon his son’s shoulder.

“Boy,” he said in a low voice, “it becomes thee not thus to put thyself forward in the presence of royalty.  Be silent before thy betters, and show thy loyalty by thy deeds, not by high-sounding words of which thou canst have but little understanding.”

Paul was instantly abashed.  Indeed, in those days it was not usual for children to make their voices heard in the presence of their elders; but the prince was privileged, and it was his words that had drawn forth this exclamation from Paul.

The king and the queen, however, smiled upon the boy; and the latter said in tender tones, that would have amazed some amongst her enemies: 

“Nay, chide not the boy, good Sir James; he does but speak as his heart dictates, and I would indeed that my son might look forward to the day when he and your gallant son might be companions in arms.  But I ask no pledge in these troublous, stormy days.  Only I will cherish the hope that when brighter days dawn for the House of Lancaster, and her proud foes are forever subjugated to their right position, this bold boy may appear again before us to receive at our hands the guerdon he is too young for yet.  And be sure that never will knighthood be more gladly accorded to any than to him, for the deed which saved England’s heir and hope from the deadly peril which menaced him but a few short hours ago.”

Sir James and his son both bowed low, and the father prepared to lead away the boy.  But the prince had once more thrown his arms round Paul’s neck, and was speaking in his eager way: 

“You and I will be knighted together when we are grown.  I shall think of you, and you will not forget me—­promise that you will not.  And when we meet next, wherever it may be, we shall know each other for the likeness we bear the one to the other.  Kiss me, Paul, and promise never to forget.  Farewell now, but my heart tells me we shall meet again.”

The king’s son and the knight’s embraced with all the warmth of a real and deep affection, albeit of only a few hours’ growth, and gazing at each other to the last they parted.

“I shall always wear the silver swan,” Paul had said as their lips met.  “You will know me by that.  And I—­oh, I never could forget you!  Your face will live always in my heart.”

The doors closed behind the retiring knight and his son.  The vision alone conjured up by the words of the prince lived in the heart of Paul Stukely.  His face was very brightly grave as he rode home beside his father.  How little he or any in that noble company guessed where and under what circumstances the prince and Paul would meet next!

Chapter 1:  A Brush With The Robbers.

“Help—­help—­help!”

This cry, growing feebler at each repetition, was borne by the evening breeze to the ears of a traveller who was picking his way along the dark mazes of Epping Forest one cool, fresh October day.  Instinctively he drew rein and listened, laying his band unconsciously upon the hilt of his poniard.