the enchanted island of yew-第10章

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〃Terribus　is　not　bad　by　nature；〃　said　one；　〃but　he　brooded　upon　his　ugliness　so　much　that　the　least　thing　served　to　throw　him　into　a　violent　passion；　and　our　lives　were　never　safe　from　one　day　to　another。〃

By　and　by　two　giants　entered　the　hall　and　carried　away　the　throne　of　gray　stone　where　Terribus　had　been　accustomed　to　sit；　and　other　slaves　brought　a　gorgeous　throne　of　gold；　studded　with　precious　jewels；　which　they　put　in　its　place。　　And　after　a　time　the　king　himself　returned　to　the　room；　his　simple　gray　gown　replaced　by　flowing　robes　of　purple；　with　rich　embroideries；　such　as　he　had　not　worn　for　many　years。

〃My　people；〃　said　he；　addressing　those　present　with　kindness　and　dignity；　〃it　seems　to　me　fitting　that　a　handsome　king　should　be　handsomely　attired；　and　an　ugly　one　clothed　simply。　　For　years　I　have　been　so　terrible　in　feature　that　I　dared　not　even　look　at　my　own　image　in　a　mirror。　　But　now；　thanks　to　the　gracious　magic　of　my　guest；　I　have　become　like　other　men；　and　hereafter　you　will　find　my　rule　as　kind　as　it　was　formerly　cruel。　　To…night；　in　honor　of　this　joyous　occasion；　we　shall　feast　and　make　merry；　and　it　is　my　royal　command　that　you　all　do　honor　and　reverence　to　the　illustrious　Prince　Marvel！〃

A　loud　shout　of　approval　greeted　this　speech；　and　the　evening　was　merry　indeed。　　Terribus　joined　freely　in　the　revelry；　laughing　as　gaily　as　the　lightest…hearted　damsel　present。

It　was　nearly　morning　before　they　all　retired；　and　as　they　sought　their　beds　Nerle　asked　the　prince　in　a　voice　that　sounded　like　an　ill…natured　growl：

〃Why　did　you　give　the　king　beauty；　after　his　treatment　of　us？〃

Marvel　looked　at　the　reproachful　face　of　his　esquire　and　smiled。　〃When　you　are　older；〃　said　he；　〃you　will　find　that　often　there　are　many　ways　to　accomplish　a　single　purpose。　　The　king's　ugliness　was　the　bar　to　our　leaving　his　country；　for　he　feared　our　gossip。　　So　the　easiest　way　for　us　to　compass　our　escape　was　to　take　away　his　reason　for　detaining　us。　　Thus　I　conquered　the　king　in　my　own　way；　and　at　the　same　time　gained　his　gratitude　and　friendship。〃

〃Will　he　allow　us　to　depart　in　the　morning？〃　inquired　Nerle。

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Marvel。

It　was　late　when　they　rose　from　their　slumbers；　but；　having　breakfasted；　the　prince's　first　act　was　to　seek　the　king。

〃We　wish　to　leave　your　kingdom；〃　said　he。　　〃Will　you　let　us　go？〃

Terribus　grasped　the　hand　of　his　guest　and　pressed　it　with　fervor；　while　tears　of　gratitude　stood　in　his　eyes。

〃I　should　prefer　that　you　remain　with　me　always；　and　be　my　friend；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　if　you　choose　to　leave　me　I　shall　not　interfere　in　any　way　with　your　wishes。〃

Prince　Marvel　looked　at　him　thoughtfully；　and　then　said：　〃My　time　on　this　island　is　short。　　In　a　few　months　Prince　Marvel　will　have　passed　out　of　the　knowledge　of　men；　and　his　name　will　be　forgotten。　　Before　then　I　hope　to　visit　the　Kingdoms　of　Dawna　and　Auriel　and　Plenta；　so　I　must　not　delay；　but　beg　you　will　permit　me　to　depart　at　once。〃

〃Very　well；〃　answered　Terribus。　　〃Come　with　me；　and　I　shall　show　you　the　way。〃

He　led　the　prince　and　Nerle　to　a　high　wall　of　rock；　and　placing　his　hand　upon　its　rough　surface；　touched　a　hidden　spring。　　Instantly　an　immense　block　of　stone　began　to　swing　backward；　disclosing　a　passage　large　enough　for　a　man　on　horseback　to　ride　through。

〃This　is　the　one　road　that　leads　out　of　my　kingdom；〃　said　Terribus。　〃The　others　all　begin　and　end　at　the　castle。　　So　that　unless　you　know　the　secret　of　this　passage　you　could　never　escape　from　Spor。〃

〃But　where　does　this　road　lead？〃　asked　Marvel。

〃To　the　Kingdom　of　Auriel；　which　you　desire　to　visit。　　It　is　not　a　straight　road；　for　it　winds　around　the　Land　of　Twi；　so　it　will　carry　you　a　little　out　of　your　way。〃

〃What　is　the　Land　of　Twi？〃　inquired　the　prince。

〃A　small　country　hidden　from　the　view　of　all　travelers；〃　said　Terribus。　　〃No　one　has　ever　yet　found　a　way　to　enter　the　land　of　Twi；　yet　there　is　a　rumor　that　it　is　ruled　by　a　mighty　personage　called　the　High　Ki。〃

〃And　does　the　rumor　state　what　the　High　Ki　of　Twi　is　like？〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　returned　the　king；　smiling；　〃so　it　will　do　you　no　good　to　be　curious。　　And　now　farewell；　and　may　good　luck　attend　you。　　Yet　bear　in　mind　the　fact　that　King　Terribus　of　Spor　owes　you　a　mighty　debt　of　gratitude；　and　if　you　ever　need　my　services；　you　have　but　to　call　on　me；　and　I　shall　gladly　come　to　your　assistance。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　said　Marvel；　〃but　there　is　small　chance　of　my　needing　help。　　Farewell；　and　may　your　future　life　be　pleasant　and　happy！〃

With　this　he　sprang　to　the　saddle　of　his　prancing　charger　and；　followed　by　Nerle；　rode　slowly　through　the　stone　arch。　　The　courtiers　and　ladies　had　flocked　from　the　palace　to　witness　their　departure；　and　the　giants　and　dwarfs　and　Gray　Men　were　drawn　up　in　long　lines　to　speed　the　king's　guests。　　So　it　was　a　brilliant　sight　that　Marvel　and　Nerle　looked　back　on；　but　once　they　were　clear　of　the　arch；　the　great　stone　rolled　back　into　its　place；　shutting　them　out　completely　from　the　Kingdom　of　Spor；　with　its　turreted　castle　and　transformed　king。



13。　　The　Hidden　Kingdom　of　Twi


Knowing　that　at　last　they　were　free　to　roam　according　to　their　desire；　the　travelers　rode　gaily　along　the　paths；　taking　but　scant　heed　of　their　way。

〃Our　faces　are　set　toward　new　adventures；〃　remarked　the　prince。　　〃Let　us　hope　they　will　prove　more　pleasant　than　the　last。〃

〃To　be　sure！〃　responded　Nerle。　　〃Let　us　hope；　at　any　rate；　that　we　shall　suffer　more　privations　and　encounter　more　trouble　than　we　did　in　that　mountainous　Kingdom　of　Spor。〃　　Then　he　added：　〃For　one　reason；　I　regret　you　are　my　master。〃

〃What　is　that　reason？〃　asked　the　prince；　turning　to　smile　upon　his　esquire。

〃You　have　a　way　of　overcoming　all　difficulties　without　any　trouble　whatsoever；　and　that　deprives　me　of　any　chance　of　coming　to　harm　while　in　your　company。〃

〃Cheer　up；　my　boy！〃　cried　Marvel。　　〃Did　I　not　say　there　are　new　adventures　before　us？　　We　may　not　come　through　them　so　easily　as　we　came　through　the　others。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　replied　Nerle；　〃it　is　always　best　to　hope。〃　And　then　he　inquired：　〃Why　do　you　stop　here；　in　the　middle　of　the　path？〃

〃Because　the　path　has　ended　rather　suddenly；〃　answered　Marvel。　　〃Here　is　a　thick　hedge　of　prickly　briers　barring　our　way。〃

Nerle　looked　over　his　master's　shoulder　and　saw　that　a　great　hedge；　high　and　exceedingly　thick；　cut　off　all　prospect　of　their　advancing。

〃This　is　pleasant；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　might　try　to　force　our　way　through　the　hedge。　　The　briers　would　probably　prick　me　severely；　and　that　would　be　delightful。〃

〃Try　it！〃　the　prince　returned；　with　twinkling　eyes。

Nerle　sprang　from　his　horse　to　obey；　but　at　the　first　contact　with　the　briers　he　uttered　a　howl　of　pain　and　held　up　his　hands；　which　were　bleeding　in　a　dozen　places　from　the　wounds　of　the　thorns。

〃Ah；　that　will　content　you　for　a　time；　I　trust；〃　said　Marvel。　　〃Now　follow　me；　and　we　will　ride　along　beside　the　hedge　until　we　find　an　opening。　　For　either　it　will　come　to　an　end　or　there　will　prove　to　be　a　way　through　it　to　the　other　side。〃

So　they　rode　alongside　the　hedge　for　hour　after　hour；　yet　it　did　not　end；　nor　could　they　espy　any　way　to　get　through　the　thickly　matted　briers。　　By　and　by　night　fell；　and　they　tethered　their　horses　to　some　shrubs；　where　there　were　a　few　scanty　blades　of　grass　for　them　to　crop；　and　then　laid　themselves　down　upon　the　ground；　with　bare　rocks　for　pillows；　where　they　managed　to　sleep　soundly　until　morning。

They　had　brought　a　supply　of　food　in　their　pouches；　and　on　this　they　breakfasted；　afterward　continuing　their　journey　beside　the　hedge。

At　noon　Prince　Marvel　uttered　an　exclamation　of　surprise　and　stopped　his　horse。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Nerle。

〃I　have　found　the　handkerchief　with　which　you　wiped　the　blood　from　your　hands　yesterday　morning；　and　then　carelessly　dropped；〃　replied　the　prince。　　〃This　proves　that　we　have　made　a　complete　circle　around　this　hedge　without　finding　a　way　to　pass　through　it。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　said　Nerle；　〃we　had　better　leave　the　hedge　and　go　in　another　direction。〃

〃Not　so；〃　declared　Marvel。　　〃The　hedge　incloses　some　unknown　country；　and　I　am　curious　to　find　out　what　it　is。〃

〃But　there　is　no　opening；〃　remonstrated　Nerle。

〃Then　we　must　make　one。　　Wouldn't　you　like　to　enjoy　a　little　more　pain？〃

〃Thank　you；〃　answered　Nerle；　〃my　hands　are　still　smarting　very　comfortably　from　the　pricks　of　yesterday。〃

〃Therefore　I　must　make　the　attempt　myself；〃　said　the　prince；　and　drawing　his　sword　he　whispered　a　queer　word　to　it；　and　straightway　began　slashing　at　the　hedge。

The　brambles　fell　fast　before　his　blade；　and　when　he　had　cut　a　big　heap　of　branches　from　the　hedge　Nerle　dragged　them　to　one　side；　and　the　prince　began　again。

It　was　marvelous　how　thick　the　hedge　proved。　　Only　a　magic　sword　could　have　done　this　work　and　remained　sharp；　and　only　a　fairy　arm　could　have　proved　strong　enough　to　hew　through　the　tough　wood。　　But　the　magic　sword　and　fairy　arm　were　at　work；　and　naught　could　resist　them。

After　a　time　the　last　branches　were　severed　and　dragged　from　the　path；　and　then　the　travelers　rode　their　horses　through　the　gap　into　the　unknown　country　beyond。

They　saw　at　first　glance　that　it　was　a　land　of　great　beauty；　but　after　that　one　look　both　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　paused　and　rubbed　their　eyes；　to　assure　themselves　that　their　vision　was　not　blurred。

Before　them　were　two　trees；　exactly　alike。　　And　underneath　the　trees　two　cows　were　grazingeach　a　perfect　likeness　of　the　other。　　At　their　left　were　two　cottages；　with　every　door　and　window　and　chimney　the　exact　counterpart　of　another。　　Before　these　houses　two　little　boys　were　playing；　evidently　twins；　for　they　not　only　looked　alike　and　dressed　alike；　but　every　motion　one　made　was　also　made　by　the　other　at　the　same　time　and　in　precisely　the　same　way。　　When　one　laughed　the　other　laughed；　and　when　one　stubbed　his　toe　and　fell　down；　the　other　did　likewise；　and　then　they　both　sat　up　and　cried　lustily　at　the　same　time。

At　this　two　womenit　was　impossible　to　tell　one　from　the　otherrushed　out　of　the　two　houses；　caught　up　the　two　boys；　shook　and　dusted　them　in　precisely　the　same　way；　and　led　them　by　their　ears　back　into　the　houses。

Again　the　astonished　travelers　rubbed　their　eyes；　and　then　Prince　Marvel　looked　at　Nerle　and　said：

〃I　thought　at　first　that　I　saw　everything　double；　but　there　seems　to　be　only　one　of　YOU。〃

〃And　of　you；〃　answered　the　boy。　　〃But　see！　there　are　two　hills　ahead　of　us；　and　two　paths　lead　from　the　houses　over　the　hills！　　How　strange　it　all　is！〃

Just　then　two　birds　flew　by；　close　together　and　perfect　mates；　and　the　cows　raised　their　heads　and　〃mooed〃　at　the　same　time；　and　two　menalso　twinscame　over　the　two　hills　along　the　two　paths　with　two　dinner…pails　in　their　hands　and　entered　the　two　houses。　　They　were　met　at　the　doors　by　the　two　women；　who　kissed　them　exactly　at　the　same　time　and　helped　them　off　with　their　coats　with　the　same　motions；　and　closed　the　two　doors　with　two　slams　at　the　same　instant。

Nerle　laughed。　　〃What　sort　of　country　have　we　got　into？〃　he　asked。

〃Let　us　find　out；〃　replied　the　prince；　and　riding　up　to　one　of　the　houses　he　knocked　on　the　door　with　the　hilt　of　his　sword。

Instantly　the　doors　of　both　hou