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"Oh, I've heard of that dreadful man!" cried Phedo, "and I am very glad that I did not meet him. If he comes, I hope you'll protect me from him." "I will do that," said Alberdin; "but I am afraid I shall not be able to help you find your way home, for in doing so I should throw myself off my guard, and might be set upon unexpectedly by this fellow, with whom I have a regular engagement to fight.
"I don't exactly understand it," said Alberdin, "but I shall be there." General notice was given of the coming battle of the contestants for the throne, and thousands of the inhabitants of the Autocracy assembled on the plain on the appointed day. The Princess with her ladies was there; and as everybody was interested, everybody was anxious to see what would happen.
He knew very well that a stout and resolute man on foot had often the advantage of one who is mounted. He would have preferred meeting a horseman, and fighting on equal terms. "Has he had much experience in war?" asked the young man. "It is not long," answered the tutor, "since he was almost constantly in arms, winter and summer." "He must be a practised warrior," thought Alberdin.
Let them fight it out, and whoever conquers shall be Autocrat of Mutjado." Having arranged the affair in this manner in his will, he signed it, and soon after died. The Autocrat's third cousin on his father's side was a young man of about twenty-five, named Alberdin.
"That is a good idea," said Phedo, "but I think, if you can, you ought to find him and kill him, or drive him out of the country. That's what I should do, if I were you." "Of course I shall do that, if I can," said Alberdin; "but I could not be expected to wait for him forever."
Having learned the way they had gone, the old tutor travelled diligently, and in two days came up with Alberdin and Phedo. When he first caught sight of them, he was very much surprised to see that they were resting upon the ground quite a long distance apart, with a little stream between them. Noticing that Alberdin's back was toward him, he threw off his disguise and hastened to Phedo.
Salim then crossed the stream, and approached Alberdin. When the young man saw him, and recognized him as the person who had arranged the two encampments, he turned upon him with fury. "Wretched old man, who came to me as the emissary of my antagonist, you are but the tutor of that boy!
When he reached the camp of the young horseman, Alberdin, and found that personage gone, his suspicions became excited. "If these two have run off together," he said to himself, "my task is indeed difficult. If the man discovers it is the boy he has to fight, my poor Phedo will be cut to pieces in a twinkling.
As soon as they reached the territory of the late Autocrat, old Salim, the tutor, left the boy at an inn, and went forward by himself to take a look at the other third cousin. When he saw Alberdin mounted on his fine horse, and looking so strong and valiant, his heart was much disturbed.
The old man regarded him with attention. "I wish very much," said he, "to defer the settlement of this matter for thirteen years. Are you willing to wait so long?" "No, I am not," said Alberdin. "Very well, then," said the old man, "each third cousin must retire to his camp, and as soon as matters can be arranged the battle must take place."
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