"
The majestic dog looked in his master's face, as if to be sure
that he understood his charge, then sat down beside the mantle,
with ears erect and head raised, like a sentinel, understanding
perfectly the purpose for which he was stationed there.
"Come now, good Nectabanus," said the knight, "let us hasten to
obey the commands thou hast brought."
"Haste he that will," said the dwarf sullenly; "thou hast not
been in haste to obey my summons, nor can I walk fast enough to
follow your long strides--you do not walk like a man, but bound
like an ostrich in the desert."
There were but two ways of conquering the obstinacy of
Nectabanus, who, as he spoke, diminished his walk into a snail's
pace. For bribes Sir Kenneth had no means--for soothing no time;
so in his impatience he snatched the dwarf up from the ground,
and bearing him along, notwithstanding his entreaties and his
fear, reached nearly to the pavilion pointed out as that of the
Queen. In approaching it, however, the Scot observed there was a
small guard of soldiers sitting on the ground, who had been
concealed from him by the intervening tents.
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