"I am----" But Bija clung to his arm.

"H'st, Mirak!" she whispered.

"Remember what Head-nurse said that we were not to tell----" Akbar stood irresolute; he was wise beyond his years.

"But Horse-chestnut must not be hungry.

I won't have it!--he shall have grass," he said angrily; then, without another word he walked up to the next horse, took a great armful of the grass that lay in front of it and scattered it before his favourite.
"So there! slave!" he cried defiantly with a stamp of his foot.
The man looked at him curiously, said nothing, but went over to some others and began to whisper.
A minute afterwards, Foster-father returning, found the children the centre of a little crowd eager in enquiry whence they came, whither they were going, and, ere he could get them safely to their quarters, the attention of the Captain of the Escort had been arrested, he came out frowning and fuming.
"We march again in an hour," he said angrily to Foster-father.