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THE HUNTED KING What boy or girl has not heard the story of King Robert Brace and the spider ? I will tell you another story of the same brave and famous king . He had fought a battle with his enemies , the English . His little army had been beaten and scattered . Many of his best friends had been killed or captured . The king himself was obliged to hide in the wild woods while his foes hunted for him with hounds . For many days he wandered through rough and dangerous places . He waded rivers and climbed mountains . Sometimes two or three faithful friends were with him . Sometimes he was alone . Sometimes his enemies were very close upon him . Late one evening he came to a little farmhouse in a lonely valley . He walked in without knocking . A woman was sitting alone by the fire . " May a poor traveler find rest and shelter here for the night ? " he asked . The woman answered , " All travelers are welcome for the sake of one ; and you are welcome " " Who is that one ? " asked the king . " That is Robert the Bruce , " said the woman . " He is the rightful lord of this country . He is now being hunted with hounds , but I hope soon to see him king over all Scotland . " " Since you love him so well , " said the king , " I will tell you something . I am Robert the Bruce . " " You ! " cried the woman in great surprise . " Are you the Bruce , and are you all alone ? " " My men have been scattered , " said the king , " and therefore there is no one with me . " " That is not right , " said the brave woman . " I have two sons who are gallant and trusty . They shall go with you and serve you . " So she called her two sons . They were tall and strong young men , and they gladly promised to go with the king and help him . The king sat down by the fire , and the woman hurried to get things ready for supper . The two young men got down their bows and arrows , and all were busy making plans for the next day . Suddenly a great noise was heard outside . They listened . They heard the tramping of horses and the voices of a number of men . " The English ! the English ! " said the young men . " Be brave , and defend your king with your lives , " said their mother . Then some one outside called loudly , " Have you seen King Robert the Bruce pass this way ? " " That is my brother Edward's voice , " said the king . " These are friends , not enemies . " The door was thrown open and he saw a hundred brave men , all ready to give him aid . He forgot his hunger ; he forgot his weariness . He began to ask about his enemies who had been hunting him . " I saw two hundred of them in the village below us , " said one of his officers . " They are resting there for the night and have no fear of danger from us . If you have a mind to make haste , we may surprise them . " " Then let us mount and ride , " said the king . The next minute they were off . They rushed suddenly into the village . They routed the king's enemies and scattered them . And Robert the Bruce was never again obliged to hide in the woods or to run from savage hounds . Soon he became the real king and ruler of all Scotland ,
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