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 "Here you see a young man who wishes to become one of you!"

"He looks well enough," remarked one of the men. "See his gun! I am sure that barrel was made of the purest gold."

"His horn beats ours!" cried another, winking at his comrades; "it was no doubt cut from one large diamond."

"But his horse!" added a tall hunter. "I verily believe that it served Alexander Magnus when he travelled from India across the ocean to America."

The men laughed uproariously at these jokes, and the adjutant especially had great difficulty in recovering his breath. He was purple in the face from laughing, when he said: "The king had better see him; he has but little amusement since the loss of his children. One of you may go and call him down."

When the king came into the court-yard and saw James and his equipment, he asked, gravely, what he could do for him.

"I wish to become your majesty's huntsman," answered James, "and also to try and rescue the princess and her betrothed husband from the dwarf-king's might. If your majesty will follow me alone, we may depart at once."

"Do you know what you promise?" asked the king. "Six years have passed since these young persons were spirited off into the mountains, and