“Ah! Prince Charming, your people love you, but they are disappointed because there is no queen to welcome them.”
“I must have a queen,” replied the prince, “and to-morrow I shall start on a long journey. I will visit all the kingdoms on the earth to find a queen that I can truly love.”
The next morning he started out alone on his long journey. Taking the path that led to the woods he walked quickly. He had gone but a short distance when he was surprised by loud voices, and through an opening in the trees he beheld two men about to rush on each other with drawn swords. Prince Charming stepped out and stood before the angry men.
“Halt! I command you,” he said, and the men seeing their Prince dropped back and put up their swords.
“Halt! I command you,” he said, and the men, seeing their Prince, dropped back and put up their swords.—Page 161. Little Miss Dorothy.
“Tell me why you quarrel?” asked the Prince.
“We were walking through the woods,” said one of the men, “and I spied a purse of gold in the mud of yonder thicket. I told my companion and we started to run for the purse. On the way my foot got caught in a trap and I could not move. My friend here got the purse and then came back and helped me out of the trap, but he will not give up the purse to me.”
“Nor should he do so,” said the Prince. “It is true that you saw the purse, but it was your friend who dug it out of the mud. You must both go to my captain and tell him about the purse. He will try to find the owner, but if no one appears to claim the purse, you shall divide the gold between you, and each have an equal share.”
The men promised to obey their Prince and they went on their way in friendship, well satisfied.