.

The Prince and the hermit.
The high hedge hid him from the house, now; and so, under the impulse of a deadly fright, he let out all his forces and sped toward a wood in the distance.

He never looked back until he had almost gained the shelter of the forest; then he turned and descried two figures in the distance.
That was sufficient; he did not wait to scan them critically, but hurried on, and never abated his pace till he was far within the twilight depths of the wood.

Then he stopped; being persuaded that he was now tolerably safe.

He listened intently, but the stillness was profound and solemn -- awful, even, and depressing to the spirits.