PREFACE

This book is written for all little lads and lasses, but especially for the former, since it is the true—quite true—story of a little lad who lived to be, perhaps, the greatest king this world has ever seen.

It is a strange, wild tale this of the adventures of Prince Akbar among the snowy mountains between Kandahâr and Kâbul, and though the names may be a bit of a puzzle at first, as they will have to be learned by and bye in geography and history lessons, it might be as well to get familiar with them in a story-book; though, indeed, as everybody in it except Roy the Râjput, Meroo the cook boy; Tumbu, the dog; and Down, the cat (and these four may have been true, you know, though they have not been remembered) really lived, I don't know whether this book oughtn't to be considered real history, and therefore

A LESSON BOOK

Anyhow, I hope you won't find it dull.

page
PREFACE
CHAPTER I
FAREWELL	[1]
CHAPTER II
THE FIRST VICTORY	[11]
CHAPTER III
THE ROYAL UMBRELLA	[20]
CHAPTER IV
TUMBU-DOWN	[27]
CHAPTER V
ON THE ROAD	[39]
CHAPTER VI
AT COURT	[50]
CHAPTER VII
WINTER	[58]
CHAPTER VIII
DOWN'S STRATAGEM	[68]
CHAPTER IX
SPRING	[77]
CHAPTER X
THE NIGHT OF RECORD	[88]
CHAPTER XI
A WINTER MARCH	[100]
CHAPTER XII
SNOW AND ICE	[109]
CHAPTER XIII
OVER THE PASS	[119]
CHAPTER XIV
IN THE VALLEY	[128]
CHAPTER XV
DEAREST-LADY	[138]
CHAPTER XVI
CRUEL BROTHER KUMRAN	[147]
CHAPTER XVII
IMPRISONMENT	[159]
CHAPTER XVIII
THE GARDEN OF GAMES	[169]
CHAPTER XIX
BETWIXT CUP AND LIP	[178]
CHAPTER XX
ESCAPED	[187]
CHAPTER XXI
DAWN	[196]

PREFACE

CONTENTS