Farther,
always farther, until his strength and his breath were exhausted;
then he sank down.
"It was cowardly to fly," he murmured; "but I felt that I should
murder them, if they came out of the hut before my eyes. A voice
within whispered, 'Fly, or you will be a murderer!' I obeyed it
almost against my will. It was cowardly--an unpardonable error, but
I will return to the hut."
He sprang forward like a tiger, ready to fall upon his prey. His
hand involuntarily sought his side for his sword.
"Ah, I have no weapon," he said, gnashing his teeth, "I must murder
them with my hands."
He advanced with uplifted head, defiant as a conqueror, or as one
who has overcome death and has nothing to fear. The hut was again
before him, but it no longer smiled at him; it filled him with
horror and fury. Now he has reached it, and with one blow he bursts
open the door; but it is empty. The prince had not remarked that the
ivy-wreath was no longer displayed, and that the hut was therefore
vacant.
"They are gone," he murmured. "This time they have escaped
punishment, but it surely awaits them."
CHAPTER IX.
BROTHER AND SISTER.
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