The Prince and the hermit

           Thehighhedgehidhimfromthehouse,now;andso,undertheimpulseofadeadlyfright,heletoutallhisforcesandspedtowardawoodinthedistance.Heneverlookedbackuntilhehadalmostgainedtheshelteroftheforest;thenheturnedanddescriedtwofiguresinthedistance.Thatwassufficient;hedidnotwaittoscanthemcritically,buthurriedon,andneverabatedhispacetillhewasfarwithinthetwilightdepthsofthewood.Thenhestopped;beingpersuadedthathewasnowtolerablysafe.Helistenedintently,butthestillnesswasprofoundandsolemn—awful,even,anddepressingtothespirits.Atwideintervalshisstrainingeardiddetectsounds,buttheyweresoremote,andhollow,andmysterious,thattheyseemednottoberealsounds,butonlythemoaningandcomplainingghostsofdepartedones.Sothesoundswereyetmoredrearythanthesilencewhichtheyinterrupted.

           Itwashispurpose,inthebeginning,tostaywherehewastherestoftheday;butachillsooninvadedhisperspiringbody,andhewasatlastobligedtoresumemovementinordertogetwarm.Hestruckstraightthroughtheforest,hopingtopiercetoaroadpresently,buthewasdisappointedinthis.Hetravelledonandon;butthefartherhewent,thedenserthewoodbecame,apparently.Thegloombegantothicken,by-and-by,andtheKingrealisedthatthenightwascomingon.