The breeze in the treetops was his only answer; so after listening for a minute to the soothing sound, he took the Book of Life from his blouse and opened it.
Oh, wonderful were the words he saw. How they glowed and seemed to live upon the gray page.
"_Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy G.o.d, He it is that doth go with thee: He will not fail thee nor forsake thee_."
Gabriel caught his trembling lip between his teeth. He knew no one in this crowded city. He had no home, no friends, no money except the few coppers in his pocket. How, then, was help to come?
"Dear G.o.d," he whispered, "I have no one now in all the world but you.
Topaz is gone and I am grieved sore, for he is wretched. Let me save him. I am not afraid, dear G.o.d, not afraid of anything. I trust you."
Comforted by a little blind hope that crept into his heart, the boy looked up; and the first thing that his swollen eyes rested upon was a large poster affixed to the opposite wall, with letters a foot high. "REWARD!" it said. "H.R.H. the princess has lost her golden dog. A full reward for his return to the palace!"
Gabriel"s heart gave a great bound. What golden dog was there anywhere but Topaz? The color that had fled from his cheeks came back. But would an organ-grinder dare claim for his own a dog that belonged to a princess of the country? And yet--and yet--the little dog"s joy and light-heartedness with himself showed that he had been well treated by whomever taught him his pretty tricks. The organ-grinder did not treat him well, and who that really knew Topaz would dream of taking a whip to force him to his work!
Gabriel, young as he was, saw that there was some mystery here, and beside, there had been the glowing words in the Book of Life, telling him again not to be afraid, and promising him that the greatest of all kings would not fail him or forsake him.
He started up from the seat, but forced himself back and opened the small bundle of dry bread and meat; for there was no knowing when he should eat again. He took all that remained, and when he had swallowed the last crumbs, arose with a determined heart and hurried up the street.
He asked the first man he met if he could direct him to the palace.
The man shrugged his shoulders. "Where is your yellow dog?" he asked.
"I have none," returned Gabriel, "but I have business at the palace."
The man laughed down at the shabby figure of the country lad. "And don"t know where it is? Well, Follow your nose. You are on the right road."
Gabriel sped along and he was indeed much nearer than he had supposed; for very soon he met a sorry-faced man with a yellow dog in his arm; then another; then another; and in fact he could trace his way to the palace by the procession of men, women, and children, all returning, and each one carrying a yellow dog and chattering or grumbling according to the height from which his hopes had been dashed.
When Gabriel reached the palace gates he saw that there were plenty more applicants waiting inside the grounds. The boy had never realized how many varying sizes and shades of yellow dogs there were in the world.
The guard had received orders to deny entrance to no person who presented a gold-colored dog for examination, but Gabriel was empty-handed and the guard frowned upon him.
"I wish to see the princess," said the boy.
"I dare say," replied the guard. "Be off."
"But I wish to tell her about a golden dog."
"Can"t you see that we are half buried in golden dogs?" returned the guard crossly.
"No, sir. I have seen none but yellow dogs since I drew near this place. I have a tale to tell the princess."
The guard could not forbear laughing at this simplicity. "Do you suppose ragam.u.f.fins like you approach her highness?" he returned. "A dog"s tail is the only sort she is interested in to-day. See the chamberlain yonder. He is red with fatigue. He is choosing such of the lot as are worthy to be looked at by the princess, and should he see you demanding audience and with no dog to show, it will go hard with you. Be off!" and the guard"s gesture was one to be obeyed.
Gabriel withdrew quietly; but he was not daunted. The princess would, perhaps, grow weary and drive out. At any rate there was nothing to do except watch for her. He looked at the splendid palace and gardens and wondered if Topaz had ever raced about there. Then he wondered what the dog was doing now; but this thought must be put away, because it made Gabriel"s eyes misty, and he must watch, watch.
At last his patient vigil was rewarded. A splendid coach drawn by milk-white horses appeared in the palace grounds.
Gabriel"s heart beat fast. He knew he must act quickly and before any one could catch him; so he made his way cautiously to the shelter of a large, flowering shrub by the roadside.
The coach approached and the iron gates were flung wide. Gabriel plainly saw a young girl with troubled eyes sitting alone within, and on the seat opposite an older woman with her back to the horses.
Suddenly, while the carriage still moved slowly outside the gates that clanged behind it, Gabriel started from his hiding-place and swiftly leaped to the step of the coach and looked straight into the young girl"s eyes.
"Princess," he exclaimed breathlessly, "I know of a golden dog, and they will not let me"--but by this time the lady-in-waiting was screaming, and the guard, who recognized Gabriel, rushed forth from the gate and, seizing him roughly, jerked the boy from the step.
"Unhand him instantly!" exclaimed the princess, her eyes flashing, for the look Gabriel had given her had reached her heart. "Stop the horses!"
Instantly the coach came to a standstill.
"_I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee_," sounded in Gabriel"s ears amid the roaring in his head, as he found himself free. He did not wait for further invitation, but jumped back to the coach.
"Stop screaming, Lady Gertrude!" exclaimed the princess.
"But the beggar"s hands are on the satin, your highness!" exclaimed the lady-in-waiting, who had had a hard week and wished there was not a yellow dog in the world.
"Princess, hear me and you will be glad," declared Gabriel. "I beg for nothing but to be heard. I believe I know where your dog is and that he suffers."
No one could have seen and heard Gabriel as he said this, without believing him. Tears of excitement sprang to his gray eyes and a pang went through the heart of the princess. How many times she had wondered if her lost pet had found such love as she gave him!
She at once ordered the door of the coach to be opened and that Gabriel should enter.
"Your highness!" exclaimed Lady Gertrude, nearly fainting.
"You may leave us if you please," said the princess, with a little smile; but Lady Gertrude held her smelling-salts to her nose and remained in the coach, which the princess ordered to be driven through a secluded wood-road.
Gabriel, sitting beside her on the fine satin cushion, told his story, from the moment when he found the dingy, brown dog in the hands of the teasing boys, to the moment when the organ-grinder bore him away.
The hands of the princess were clasped tightly as she listened. "You called him Topaz," she said, when the boy had finished. "I called him Goldilocks.
Ah, if it should be the same! If it should!"
"Surely there are not two dogs in the world so beautiful," said Gabriel.
"That is what I say to myself," responded the princess.
"Had he been less wonderful, your highness, he would be safe now, for I should have kept him. He loved me," said Gabriel simply.
"You are an honest boy," replied the princess gratefully, "and I will make you glad of it whether Topaz turns out to be Goldilocks or not. But you say he danced with so much grace?"
"Yes, your highness, and tossed his head for glee till his curls waved merrily."
""Tis the same!" cried the princess, in a transport. "His eyes _are_ like topazes. Your name is the best. He shall have it. Ah, he has slept in a shed and eaten cold sc.r.a.ps! My Goldilocks!"
"Yes, your highness, and would be glad to do so still; for he fears his dark-browed master, and dances with such trembling you would not know him again."
"Ah, cruel boy, cease! Take me to him at once. Show my men the spot where you left him."
"Your highness must use great care, for if once the organ-grinder suspects that you are searching for him, no one will ever again see the golden dog; for the man will fear to be found with him."