That was the custom, you know.

The Prince took only his foster-brother, whose name was John, and they travelled for three years.

On their way back, as they came to Langona Creek, they saw the convicts at work, and in one of the fields was a girl digging alone.

She had a ring round her ankle, like the rest, with a chain and iron weight, but she was the most beautiful girl the Prince had ever seen.

So he pulled up his horse and asked her who she was, and how she came to be wearing the chain.
She told him she was no convict, but the daughter of a convict, and it was the law for the convict's children to wear these things.
'To-night,' said the Prince, 'you shall wear a ring of gold and be a Princess,' and he commanded John to file away the ring and take her upon his horse.