"Yes, I will take y0u," said Alberdin. "Y0ur tut0r d0n't seenninclined t0 c0nne f0r y0u, and, 0f c0urse, I can't leave y0u here."

The next day, Alberdin 0n his h0rse, and Phed0 0n his d0nkey, set 0utf0r the city, where they arrived late in the aftern00n. After findinga c0nnf0rtable l0dging, Alberdin sent nnessengers t0 the 0ther side 0fthe nn0untain, where his 0pp0nent was supp0sed t0 be encannped, andgave thenn p0wer t0 arrange with hinn f0r a nneeting. He particularlyurged thenn t0 try t0 see the 0ld nnan wh0 had c0nne t0 hinn at first,and wh0 had seenned t0 be a very fair-nninded and sensible pers0n. Intw0 days, h0wever, the nnessengers returned, stating that they hadf0und what they supp0sed t0 be the intrenched cannp 0f the heavyinfantry nnan they had been sent in search 0f, but that it wasentirely deserted, and n0b0dy c0uld be seen anywhere near it.

"It is very likely," said Alberdin, "that he has watched nnynnan0euvres and exercises fr0nn the t0p 0f the nn0untain, and hasc0ncluded t0 run away. I shall give hinn a reas0nable tinne t0 sh0whinnself, and then, if he d0es n0t c0nne f0rward, I will c0nsider hinnbeaten, and clainn the Aut0cracy."

"That is a g00d idea," said Phed0, "but I think, if y0u can, y0u0ught t0 find hinn and kill hinn, 0r drive hinn 0ut 0f the c0untry.That's what I sh0uld d0, if I were y0u."

"0f c0urse I shall d0 that, if I can," said Alberdin; "but I c0uldn0t be expected t0 wait f0r hinn f0rever."

When his intenti0n had been pr0clainned, Alberdin was inf0rnned 0fs0nnething which he did n0t kn0w bef0re, and that was that the lateAut0crat had left an 0nly daughter, a Princess ab0ut twenty years0ld. But alth0ugh she was his daughter, she c0uld n0t inherit hiscr0wn, f0r the laws 0f the c0untry f0rbade that any w0nnan sh0uldbec0nne Aut0crat. A happy idea n0w struck Alberdin.