Chapter 18

HENDON SAVES THE KING AGAIN

Canty and Hugo brought 'king Foo-Foo the First' back to the band. The bandits tried to make him steal, but could not. He was sent out with Hugo to beg, but he did not want to beg. Hugo hated the king. He planned to make him suffer for his pride.

One day both boys were walking up and down the street of a small village. The king was thinking about his hard life and planning how to run away. There were no people in the street, but at last a woman appeared. She was carrying a large package in a bag. Hugo watched the woman for some time, then he said in a low voice:

" Wait for me here till I come back, " and he followed her. The king thought: " Ah, now I can run away! "

But it was not so simple. Hugo was behind the woman; in a moment he snatched the package and came running back. He covered the package with an old blanket which he was carrying on his arm. He threw the package into the king's hands and shouted:

" Now run after me with other people and cry, 'Stop thief, ' but lead the people another way. "

The next moment Hugo turned round a corner and disappeared. The king threw the package angrily on the ground and the blanket fell off it just as the woman came back with a crowd behind her. She seized the king with one hand, the package with the other, and began to shout:

" He's the thief, who stole my package! "

The boy cried as he tried to free himself, crying out:

" Leave me alone, you, foolish woman. I have not stolen your package! "

A man from the crowd seized the king's hand and said:

" I shall give him a good beating for a lesson. " But just then another man said in a quiet voice:

" Leave the boy alone, good people. The law will decide what to do with him, not you. "

The people saw a brave soldier. The man let go of the boy's hand. Everybody was silent.

The king ran up to the soldier with shining eyes and cried out:

" You have come in good time, Sir Miles. "

1. Answer the questions.

1) What did the bandits try to make Edward do?

2) Hugo hated the king, didn’t he?

3) What did Hugo do one day?

4) Who helped the king?

2. Retell the chapter with your own words.

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