"Let us make the attempt. 'Twill serve to pass the time till our friends arrive. Do you think you can count them?" he said to Juliana.
"I will try, my liege," she replied. "Where shall I begin?"
"With the altar-stone," replied Charles.
Juliana then commenced her task, going carefully through the different circles, and not pausing till she reached the last stone.
"How many do you make them?" asked Charles.
"Seventy-seven," she replied.
"My reckoning agrees with yours," cried Careless, who had followed her.
"So far good," observed Charles. "But you have not included the recumbent 'slaughtering stone' near the entrance, nor the 'Friar's Heel' in the avenue, nor the two small stones near the earthen bank. Those will increase the number to eighty-one. Now for the second trial. Start from this stone."
Very carefully Juliana performed her task. When she had reached the altar-stone, a smile lighted up her charming countenance, and she exclaimed joyously:
"Seventy-seven! I have counted the stones alike twice—and disproved the fable."