the enchanted island of yew-第15章

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The　people　of　Twi　eagerly　applauded　this　act；　for　the　captains　were　more　popular　with　them　than　the　former　Ki…Ki；　but　the　blond　ones　both　flushed　with　humiliation　and　anger；　and　said：

〃The　captains　fought　against　you；　even　as　we　did。〃

〃Yet　the　captains　only　obeyed　your　orders；〃　returned　the　High　Ki。　　〃So　I　hold　them　blameless。〃

〃And　what　is　to　become　of　us　now？〃　asked　the　former　Ki…Ki。

〃You　will　belong　to　the　common　people；　and　earn　your　living　playing　tunes　for　them　to　dance　by；〃　answered　the　High　Ki。　　And　at　this　retort　every　one　laughed；　so　that　the　handsome　youths　turned　away　with　twin　scowls　upon　their　faces　and　departed　amidst　the　jeers　of　the　crowd。

〃Better　hang　'em　to　a　tree；　little　one；〃　shouted　Wul…Takim；　in　his　big　voice；　〃they　won't　enjoy　life　much；　anyhow。〃

But　the　maid　shook　her　pretty　head　and　turned　to　the　prince。

〃Will　you　stay　here　and　help　me　to　rule　my　kingdom？〃　she　asked。

〃I　can　not　do　that；〃　replied　Prince　Marvel；　〃for　I　am　but　a　wandering　adventurer　and　must　soon　continue　my　travels。　　But　I　believe　you　will　be　able　to　rule　your　people　without　my　help。〃

〃It　is　not　so　easy　a　task；〃　she　answered；　sighing。　　〃For　I　am　singular　and　my　people　are　all　double。〃

〃Well；　let　us　hold　a　meeting　in　your　palace；〃　said　the　prince；　〃and　then　we　can　decide　what　is　best　to　be　done。〃

So　they　dismissed　the　people；　who　cheered　their　High　Ki　enthusiastically；　returning　quietly　to　their　daily　tasks　and　the　gossip　that　was　sure　to　follow　such　important　events　as　they　had　witnessed。

The　army　of　King　Terribus　and　the　fifty…nine　reformed　thieves　went　to　the　twin　palaces　of　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki　and　made　merry　with　feasting　and　songs　to　celebrate　their　conquest。　　And　the　High　Ki；　followed　by　the　prince；　Nerle；　King　Terribus　and　Wul…Takim；　as　well　as　by　the　Ki　and　the　newly…appointed　Ki…Ki；　mounted　the　silver　steps　and　passed　over　the　wall　to　the　royal　palaces。　　The　green　High　Ki　followed　them；　still　weeping　disconsolately。

When　they　had　all　reached　the　throne…room；　the　High　Ki　seated　herself　on　one　of　the　beautiful　thrones　and　said：

〃By　some　strange　chance；　which　I　am　unable　to　explain；　my　twin　and　I　have　become　separated；　so　that　instead　of　thinking　and　acting　alike；　we　are　now　individualsas　are　all　the　strange　men　who　have　passed　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge。　　And；　being　individuals；　we　can　no　longer　agree；　nor　can　one　of　us　lawfully　rule　over　the　Kingdom　of　Twi；　where　all　the　subjects　are　twins；　thinking　and　acting　in　unison。〃

Said　Prince　Marvel：

〃Your　Highness；　I　alone　can　explain　why　you　became　separated　from　your　twin。　　By　means　of　a　fairy　enchantment；　which　I　learned　years　ago；　I　worked　upon　you　a　spell；　which　compelled　your　brain　to　work　independent　of　your　sister's　brain。　　It　seems　to　me　that　it　is　better　each　person　should　think　her　own　thoughts　and　live　her　own　life；　rather　than　be　yoked　to　another　person　and　obliged　to　think　and　act　as　a　twin；　or　one…half　of　a　complete　whole。　　And　since　you　are　now　the　one　High　Ki；　and　the　acknowledged　ruler　of　this　country；　I　will　agree　to　work　the　same　fairy　spell　on　all　your　people；　so　that　no　longer　will　there　be　twin　minds　in　all　this　Land　of　Twi。〃

〃But　all　the　cows　and　dogs　and　horses　and　other　animals　are　double；　as　well　as　the　people；〃　suggested　the　old　Ki；　blinking　their　little　eyes　in　amazement　at　the　thought　of　being　forever　separated　from　each　other。

〃I　can　also　work　the　spell　upon　all　the　twin　animals；〃　said　the　prince；　after　a　moment's　hesitation。

〃And　all　our　houses　are　built　double；　with　twin　doors　and　windows　and　chimneys；　to　accommodate　our　twin　people；〃　continued　the　High　Ki。　〃And　the　trees　and　flowersand　even　the　blades　of　grassare　all　double。　　And　our　roads　are　double；　andand　everything　else　is　double。　I　alone；　the　ruler　of　this　land；　am　singular！〃

Prince　Marvel　became　thoughtful　now；　for　he　did　not　know　how　to　separate　trees　and　flowers；　and　it　would　be　a　tedious　task　to　separate　the　twin　houses。

〃Why　not　leave　the　country　as　it　is？〃　asked　King　Terribus　of　Spor。　〃The　High　Ki　is　welcome　to　come　to　my　castle　to　live；　and　then　she　need　no　longer　bother　about　the　Land　of　Twi；　which　seems　to　me　a　poor　place；　after　all。〃

〃And　your　sister　may　come　with　me　to　my　cave；　and　be　the　queen　of　the　reformed　thieves；　which　is　a　much　more　important　office　than　being　High　Ki　of　Twi；〃　added　big　Wul…Takim；　who　had　placed　the　maiden　in　green　upon　a　cushion　at　his　feet；　and　was　striving　to　comfort　her　by　gently　stroking　her　silken　hair　with　his　rough　hand。

〃But　I　love　my　country；　and　do　not　wish　to　leave　it；〃　answered　the　yellow　High　Ki。　　〃And　I　love　my　twin　sister；　and　regret　that　our　minds　have　become　separated；〃　she　continued；　sadly。

〃I　have　it！〃　exclaimed　Nerle。　　〃Let　the　prince　reunite　you；　making　you　regular　twins　of　Twi　again；　and　then　you　can　continue　to　rule　the　country　as　the　double　High　Ki；　and　everything　will　be　as　it　was　before。〃

The　yellow　High　Ki　clapped　her　pink　hands　with　delight　and　looked　eagerly　at　the　prince。

〃Will　you？〃　she　asked。　　〃Will　you　please　reunite　us？　　And　then　all　our　troubles　will　be　ended！〃

This　really　seemed　to　Marvel　the　best　thing　to　be　done。　　So　he　led　the　maid　in　green　to　the　other　throne；　where　she　had　once　sat；　and　after　replacing　the　golden　crown　upon　her　brow　he　whispered　a　fairy　spell　of　much　mystical　power。

Then　the　prince　stepped　back　and　regarded　the　maidens　earnestly；　and　after　a　moment　both　the　High　Ki　smiled　upon　him　in　unison　and　saidspeaking　the　same　words　in　the　same　voices　and　with　the　same　accents：

〃Thank　you　very　much！〃



20。　　Kwytoffle；　the　Tyrant


Having　restored　the　High　Ki　to　their　former　condition；　to　the　great　joy　of　the　ancient　Ki；　Prince　Marvel　led　his　friends　back　to　the　palaces　where　his　men　were　waiting。

They　were　just　in　time　to　prevent　serious　trouble；　for　the　fifty…eight　reformed　thieves　had　been　boasting　of　their　prowess　to　the　huge　giants　and　tiny　dwarfs　of　King　Terribus；　and　this　had　resulted　in　a　quarrel　as　to　which　were　the　best　fighters。　　Had　not　their　masters　arrived　at　the　right　moment　there　would　certainly　have　been　a　fierce　battle　and　much　bloodshed；and　all　over　something　of　no　importance。

Terribus　and　Wul…Takim　soon　restored　order；　and　then　they　accompanied　the　Ki　and　the　Ki…Ki　to　the　public　square；　where　the　people　were　informed　that　their　Supreme　Highnesses；　the　High　Ki；　had　been　reunited　and　would　thereafter　rule　them　with　twin　minds　as　well　as　twin　bodies。　　There　was　great　rejoicing　at　this　news；　for　every　twin　in　Twi　was　glad　to　have　his　troubles　ended　so　easily　and　satisfactorily。

That　night　the　ryls　and　knooks　and　other　invisible　friends　of　Prince　Marvel　came　and　removed　the　dividing　wall　between　the　twin　palaces　of　the　High　Ki；　repairing　speedily　all　the　damage　that　had　been　done。　And　when　our　friends　called　upon　the　High　Ki　the　next　morning　they　found　the　two　maids　again　dressed　exactly　alike　in　yellow　robes；　with　strings　of　sparkling　emeralds　for　ornament。　　And　not　even　Prince　Marvel　could　now　tell　one　of　the　High　Ki　from　the　other。

As　for　the　maids　themselves；　it　seemed　difficult　to　imagine　they　had　ever　existed　apart　for　a　single　moment。

They　were　very　pleasant　and　agreeable　to　their　new　friends；　and　when　they　heard　that　Prince　Marvel　was　about　to　leave　them　to　seek　new　adventures　they　said：

〃Please　take　us　with　you！　　It　seems　to　us　that　we　ought　to　know　something　of　the　big　outside　world　from　whence　you　came。　　If　we　see　other　kingdoms　and　people　we　shall　be　better　able　to　rule　our　own　wisely。〃

〃That　seems　reasonable；〃　answered　Marvel；　〃and　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　have　you　accompany　me。　　But　who　will　rule　the　Land　of　Twi　in　your　absence？〃

〃The　Ki…Ki　shall　be　the　rulers；〃　answered　the　High　Ki；　〃and　we　will　take　the　Ki　with　us。〃

〃Then　I　will　delay　my　departure　until　to…morrow　morning；〃　said　the　prince；　〃in　order　that　your　Highnesses　may　have　time　to　prepare　for　the　journey。〃

And　then　he　went　back　to　the　palaces　of　the　other　rulers；　where　the　Ki　expressed　themselves　greatly　pleased　at　the　idea　of　traveling；　and　the　new　Ki…Ki　were　proud　to　learn　they　should　rule　for　some　time　the　Land　of　Twi。

Wul…Takim　also　begged　to　join　the　party；　and　so　also　did　King　Terribus；　who　had　never　before　been　outside　of　his　own　Kingdom　of　Spor；　so　Prince　Marvel　willingly　consented。

The　fifty…eight　reformed　thieves；　led　by　Gunder；　returned　to　their　cave；　where　they　were　living　comfortably　on　the　treasure　Prince　Marvel　had　given　them；　and　the　Gray　Men　and　giants　and　dwarfs　of　Spor　departed　for　their　own　country。

In　the　morning　Prince　Marvel　led　his　own　gay　cavalcade　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge；　and　they　rode　merrily　away　in　search　of　adventure。

By　his　side　were　the　High　Ki；　mounted　upon　twin　chestnut　ponies　that　had　remarkably　slender　limbs　and　graceful；　arched　necks。　　The　ponies　moved　with　exactly　the　same　steps；　and　shook　their　manes　and　swished　their　tails　at　exactly　the　same　time。　　Behind　the　prince　and　the　High　Ki　were　King　Terribus；　riding　his　great　white　charger；　and　Wul…Takim　on　a　stout　horse　of　jet…black　color。　　The　two　ancient　Ki　and　Nerle；　being　of　lesser　rank　than　the　others；　brought　up　the　rear。

〃When　we　return　to　our　Land　of　Twi；〃　said　the　High　Ki；　〃we　shall　close　up　for　all　time　the　hole　you　made　in　the　hedge；　for；　if　we　are　different　from　the　rest　of　the　world；　it　is　better　that　we　remain　in　seclusion。〃

〃I　think　it　is　right　you　should　do　that；〃　replied　Prince　Marvel。　　〃Yet　I　do　not　regret　that　I　cut　a　hole　in　your　hedge。〃

〃It　was　the　hedge　that　delayed　us　in　coming　more　promptly　to　your　assistance；〃　said　Terribus；　〃for　we　had　hard　work　to　find　the　hole　you　had　made；　and　so　lost　much　valuable　time。〃

〃All　is　well　that　ends　well！〃　laughed　the　prince。　　〃You　certainly　came　in　good　time　to　rescue　us　from　our　difficulties。〃

They　turned　into　a　path　that　led　to　Auriel；　which　Nerle　had　heard　spoken　of　as　〃the　Kingdom　of　the　Setting　Sun。〃

Soon　the　landscape　grew　very　pleasant　to　look　upon；　the　meadows　being　broad　and　green；　with　groups　of　handsome　trees　standing　about。　　The　twilight　of　the　Land　of　Twi　was　now　replaced　by　bright　sunshine；　and　in　the　air　was　the　freshness　of　the　near…by　sea。

At　evening　they　came　to　a　large　farmhouse；　where　the　owner　welcomed　them　hospitably　and　gave　them　the　best　his　house　afforded。

In　answer　to　their　questions　about　the　Kingdom　of　Auriel；　he　shook　his　head　sadly　and　replied：

〃It　is　a　rich　and　beautiful　country；　but　has　fallen　under　great　misfortunes。　　For　when　the　good　king　died；　about　two　years　ago；　the　kingdom　was　seized　by　a　fierce　and　cruel　sorcerer；　named　Kwytoffle；　who　rules　the　people　with　great　severity；　and　makes　them　bring　him　all　their　money　and　valuable　possessions。　　So　every　one　is　now　very　poor　and　unhappy；　and　that　is　a　great　pity　in　a　country　so　fair　and　fertile。〃

〃But　why　do　not　the　people　rebel？〃　asked　Nerle。

〃They　dare　not　rebel；〃　answered　the　farmer；　〃because　they　fear　the　sorcery　of　Kwytoffle。　　If　they　do　not　obey　him　he　threatens　to　change　them　into　grasshoppers　and　June…bugs。〃

〃Has　he　ever　changed　any　one　into　a　grasshopper　or　a　June…bug？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel。

〃No；　but　the　people　are　too　frightened　to　oppose　him；　and　so　he　does　not　get　the　opportunity。　　And　he　has　an　army　of　fierce　soldiers；　who　are　accust