It was just beginning to blaze up, when he heard a moan, which seemed to come from the other side of the tree.

He sprung to his feet, but his heart throbbed so that he had to lean for a moment against the tree before he could move.

When he got round, there lay a human form in a little dark heap on the earth.

There was light enough from his fire to show that it was not the princess.

He lifted it in his arms, hardly heavier than a child, and carried it to the flame.