In half an hour they were in the forest, speeding like the wind.  Carl felt as if he was flying.  The horse chose his own gait, and tried to keep up with the one that the Duke was riding; but finally, finding this impossible, he slackened his pace, greatly to Carl’s relief.  But the Duke was too anxious about his lady to accommodate himself to the slower speed of the boy, and soon swept out of sight around a bend in the road.  His cloak and the long feathers of his hat streamed on the night wind for a moment longer.  Then they vanished, and Carl was alone.

Carl was somewhat afraid of the horse, for he was not used to such a high-mettled steed; but, on the whole, he was glad he was mounted on it.  For if the woods had seemed lonely in the daylight they were ten times more so in the night.  And the noises seemed more fearful than before.  And Carl thought if any furious beast or robber should dart upon him, he could make the horse carry him swiftly away.  As it was he let the horse do as he pleased, and as Carl sat quietly and did not worry him in any way, he pleased to go along very smoothly, and rather slowly, so it was past midnight when they reached home.

[Illustration]

Carl found that the Duke had been there a long time; that the lady was overjoyed to see him, and Nurse Heine said she began to grow better from that moment.

The next morning the Duke went away; but before he left he thanked Carl for the great service he had done him, and gave him a piece of gold.  But Carl was better pleased when the lady called him into her room, and kissed him, and cried over him, and praised him for a kind, brave boy, and said he had saved her life.

And when she got well Carl noticed that she was brighter and happier than she had been before.

In a short time, however, she went away with the Duke, in a grand coach, with servants and outriders.  And Carl and Greta watched them as they were whirled up the forest road, and then walked home through the pines with sad hearts.

Then the forester told his children that the Duke had married this lady secretly, against the king’s command, and he had so many bitter and cruel enemies that he was afraid they would do her some evil while he was away in the war.  She knew of the forester, because his wife had been a maid of her mother’s, so she came to this lonely place for safety.  But now the king was pleased, and it was all right.

The winter came and went.  The war was over.  And then Lady Clarice, whom the children never expected to see again, sent for them, and the forester, and Nurse Heine, to her castle.  She provided for them all, and Greta grew up into a pretty and well-bred young lady.

Lady Clarice had not forgotten the brave act of the boy, and also remembered what he liked best in the world.  So she had him taught to draw and paint, and in process of time he became a great artist, and all the world knew of his name and fame.