I will not be thus insulted.

I will to my royal parents," cried Paul in well-feigned indignation.
But remonstrance and resistance were alike useless.

At the sound of a peculiar whistle from one of the party, there immediately appeared some half score of mounted troopers, leading other horses with them.

The boy was swung upon the saddle of one of the horses and fastened there by means of thongs, which, although not incommoding him whilst riding, utterly precluded all idea of escape.

Moreover the steed was placed between those of two of the stalwart troopers, each of whom kept a hand upon the reins of the supposed prince; and thus, silently but rapidly, the little band threaded the intricacies of the wood, by paths evidently known to them, and ere the dusk had fully come, had cleared the forest altogether, and were galloping steadily and fast across the open country toward the north.
Paul had not spoken another word.