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62 The last adventure he met with was the most agreeable. On entering a great forest he heard the plaintive cries of a young female. He felt assured some violence was being offered her. He looked about him everywhere, and at length perceived four men well armed carrying off a girl, who appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen years of age. He hastened towards them and exclaimed, "What has this child done to you, that you should treat her like a slave?" "Ha! ha! my little lord," answered the chief of the party, "what business is that of yours?" "I command you," added Leander, "to release her instantly!" "Yes, yes; without fail;" they all answered laughingly. The Prince, much irritated, threw himself from his horse, and clapped on his little red hat, for he did not think himself bound to face fairly four men, who were sufficiently powerful to fight twelve. When his little hat was on, they must have been cunning who could have seen him. The robbers cried, "He has fled; it is not worth our while to hunt for him; let us only catch his horse." One remained as a guard with the young girl, while the other three ran after Grisdelin, who gave them plenty of exercise. The little girl continued her cries and complaints: "Alas, my beautiful Princess," said she, "how happy was I in your palace! how could I live far away from you! If you knew of my sad misfortune, you would send your Amazons to rescue your poor Abricotine!" Leander heard her, and without delay seized the arm of the robber who held her, and tied him to a tree, before he had time or power to help himself; for he could not see the person who bound him.

Hearing his cries for help, one of his comrades came running quite out of breath, and asked who had bound him. "I don't know," he replied, "I have seen no one." "That's a story trumped up to excuse thyself," answered the other, "but I've long known thee to be but a coward, and I will treat thee as thou deservest." So saying he gave him a score of blows with his stirrup-leathers. The sprite amused himself amazingly, with hearing him bellow; and then, approaching the second robber, he seized his arms, and bound him to a tree facing his comrade, saying to him, as soon as he had done it, "Now, then, my brave fellow, who has pinioned thee? Art thou not a great coward to have suffered it?" The rogue had not a word to say for himself, and hung down his head