the enchanted island of yew-第17章

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captain　gave　him　a　good　whippingone　lash　for　each　letter　in　the　words　〃grasshopper〃　and　〃June…bug。〃　　Kwytoffle　howled　loudly　for　mercy；　but　no　one　was　at　all　sorry　for　him。

Wul…Takim　tied　a　rope　around　the　impostor's　neck；　and　when　the　party　left　the　castle　they　journeyed　all　through　the　kingdom　of　Auriel；　and　at　every　town　or　city　they　came　to　the　reformed　thief　would　cry　out　to　the　populace：

〃Here　is　the　terrible　sorcerer　Kwytoffle；　who　threatened　to　change　you　into　grasshoppers　and　june…bugs。　　But　you　may　see　that　he　is　a　very　common　man；　with　no　powers　of　sorcery　whatever！〃

And　then　the　people　would　laugh　and　pelt　mud　at　their　former　tyrant；　and　thank　Prince　Marvel　for　haying　exposed　the　false　and　wicked　creature。

And　they　called　the　son　of　their　old　king　back　to　his　lawful　throne；　where　he　ruled　wisely　and　well；　and　the　hoarded　wealth　of　Kwytoffle　was　divided　among　the　people　again；　and　soon　the　country　became　prosperous　once　more。

This　adventure　was　very　amusing　to　the　pretty　High　Ki　of　Twi。　　It　afforded　them　laughter　for　many　days；　and　none　of　the　party　ever　saw　a　grasshopper　or　a　june…bug　afterward　without　thinking　of　the　terrible　sorcerer　Kwytoffle。

They　left　that　disgraced　person　grooming　horses　for　his　board　in　the　stables　of　the　new　king；　and　proceeded　upon　their　journey。

Without　further　event　they　reached　the　splendid　southern　Kingdom　of　Plenta；　which　was　the　most　delightfully　situated　of　any　dominion　in　the　Enchanted　Island　of　Yew。　　It　was　ruled　by　a　good　and　generous　queen；　who　welcomed　the　strangers　to　her　palace　and　gave　a　series　of　gay　entertainments　in　their　honor。

King　Terribus　was　especially　an　object　of　interest；　for　every　one　had　heard　his　name　and　feared　him　and　his　fierce　people。　　But　when　they　beheld　his　pleasant　countenance　and　listened　to　his　gentle　voice　they　began　to　regard　him　with　much　love　and　respect；　and　really　Terribus　was　worthy　of　their　friendship　since　he　had　changed　from　a　deformed　monster　into　an　ordinary　man；　and　had　forbidden　his　people　ever　again　to　rob　and　plunder　their　weaker　neighbors。

But　the　most　popular　personages　visiting　at　the　court　of　the　Queen　of　Plenta　were　the　lovely　High　Ki　of　Twi。　　Although　beautiful　girls　abounded　in　this　kingdom；　none　could　compare　with　the　royal　twins；　and　their　peculiar　condition　only　served　to　render　them　the　more　interesting。

Two　youths　would　approach　the　High　Ki　at　the　same　time　and　invite　them　to　dance；　and　in　united　voices　they　would　accept　the　invitation　and　go　whirling　around　the　room　with　exactly　the　same　steps；　laughing　at　the　same　instant　and　enjoying　the　dance　equally。　　But　if　one　youth　asked　his　partner　a　question；　both　the　twins　would　make　answer；　and　that　was　sure　to　confuse　and　embarrass　the　youth。　　Still；　the　maids　managed　very　well　to　adapt　themselves　to　the　ways　of　people　who　were　singular；　although　they　sometimes　became　a　little　homesick　for　Twi；　where　they　were　like　all　the　other　people。

The　bald…headed　Ki　kept　watchful　eyes　on　their　youthful　rulers；　and　served　them　very　cheerfully。　　But　with　all　their　travels　and　experiences；　the　old　men　could　never　be　convinced　it　was　better　to　be　singular　than　double。

Prince　Marvel　was　the　real　hero　of　the　party；　and　Nerle　received　much　attention　on　account　of　his　master's　popularity。　　He　did　not　seem　as　unhappy　as　usual；　and　when　the　prince　inquired　the　reason；　his　esquire　answered　that　he　believed　the　excitement　of　their　adventures　was　fast　curing　him　of　his　longing　for　something　he　could　not　have。　　As　for　the　pleasure　of　suffering；　he　had　had　some　experience　of　that；　too；　and　it　was　not　nearly　so　delightful　as　he　had　expected。

Wul…Takim　was　not　a　society　man；　so　he　stayed　around　the　royal　stables　and　made　friends　with　the　grooms；　and　traded　his　big　black　horse　for　two　bay　ones　and　a　gold　neck…chain；　and　was　fairly　content　with　his　lot。

And　so　the　party　enjoyed　several　happy　weeks　at　the　court　of　the　good　Queen　of　Plenta；　until　one　day　the　terrible　news　arrived　that　carried　them　once　more　into　exciting　adventures。



23。　　The　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna


One　morning；　while　they　were　all　standing　in　the　courtyard　waiting　for　their　horses；　as　they　were　about　to　go　for　a　ride；　a　courier　came　galloping　swiftly　up　to　the　palace　and　cried：

〃Does　any　one　know　where　Prince　Marvel　can　be　found？〃

〃I　am　Prince　Marvel；〃　replied　the　young　knight；　stepping　out　from　among　the　others。

〃Then　have　I　reached　my　journey's　end！〃　said　the　courier；　whose　horse　was　nearly　exhausted　from　long　and　hard　riding。　　〃The　Lady　Seseley　is　in　great　danger；　and　sends　for　you　to　come　and　rescue　her。　　The　great　Baron　Merd；　her　father；　has　been　killed　and　his　castle　destroyed；　and　all　his　people　are　either　captives　or　have　been　slain　outright。〃

〃And　who　has　done　this　evil　thing？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel；　looking　very　stern　and　grave。

〃The　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna；〃　answered　the　messenger。　　〃He　quarreled　with　the　Baron　Merd　and　sent　his　savage　hordes　to　tear　down　his　castle　and　slay　him。　　I　myself　barely　escaped　with　my　life；　and　the　Lady　Seseley　had　but　time　to　say；　before　she　was　carried　off；　that　if　I　could　find　Prince　Marvel　he　would　surely　rescue　her。〃

〃And　so　I　will！〃　declared　the　prince；　〃if　she　be　still　alive。〃

〃Who　is　this　Lady　Seseley？〃　asked　Nerle；　who　had　come　to　his　master's　side。

〃She　is　my　first　friend；　to　whom　I　owe　my　very　existence。　　It　is　her　image；　together　with　those　of　her　two　friends；　which　is　graven　on　my　shield；〃　answered　Prince　Marvel；　thoughtfully。

〃And　what　will　you　do？〃　inquired　the　esquire。

〃I　must　go　to　her　at　once。〃

When　they　heard　of　his　mission　all　the　party　insisted　on　accompanying　him。　　Even　the　dainty　High　Ki　could　not　be　deterred　by　any　thoughts　of　dangers　they　might　encounter；　and　after　some　discussion　Prince　Marvel　allowed　them　to　join　him。

So　Wul…Takim　sharpened　his　big　broadsword；　and　Nerle　carefully　prepared　his　master's　horse；　so　that　before　an　hour　had　passed　they　were　galloping　toward　the　province　of　the　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna。

Prince　Marvel　knew　little　concerning　this　personage；　but　Nerle　had　much　to　tell　of　him。　　The　Red　Rogue　had　once　been　page　to　a　wise　scholar　and　magician；　who　lived　in　a　fine　old　castle　in　Dawna　and　ruled　over　a　large　territory。　　The　boy　was　very　small　and　weaksmaller　even　than　the　average　dwarfand　his　master　did　not　think　it　worth　while　to　watch　him。　　But　one　evening；　while　the　magician　was　standing　upon　the　top　of　the　highest　tower　of　his　castle；　the　boy　gave　him　a　push　from　behind；　and　he　met　death　on　the　sharp　rocks　below。　Then　the　boy　took　his　master's　book　of　magic　and　found　a　recipe　to　make　one　grow。　　He　made　the　mixture　and　swallowed　it；　and　straightway　began　to　grow　big　and　tall。　　This　greatly　delighted　him；　until　he　found　he　was　getting　much　bigger　than　the　average　man　and　rapidly　becoming　a　giant。　　So　he　sought　for　a　way　to　arrest　the　action　of　the　magical　draft；　but　before　he　could　find　it　he　had　grown　to　enormous　proportions；　and　was　bigger　than　the　biggest　giant。　　There　was　nothing　in　the　book　of　magic　to　make　one　grow　smaller；　so　he　was　obliged　to　remain　as　he　wasthe　largest　man　in　the　Enchanted　Island。

All　this　had　happened　in　a　single　night。　　The　morning　after　his　master's　murder　the　page　announced　himself　lord　of　the　castle；　and；　seeing　his　enormous　size；　none　dared　deny　his　right　to　rule。　　On　account　of　his　bushy　hair；　which　was　fiery　red　in　color；　and　the　bushy　red　beard　that　covered　his　face　when　he　became　older；　people　came　to　call　him　the　Red　One。　　And　after　his　evil　deeds　and　quarrelsome　temper　had　made　him　infamous　throughout　the　island；　people　began　to　call　him　the　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna。

He　had　gathered　around　him　a　number　of　savage　barbarians；　as　wicked　and　quarrelsome　as　himself；　and　so　none　dared　to　interfere　with　him；　or　even　to　meet　him；　if　it　were　possible　to　avoid　it。

This　same　Red　Rogue　it　was　who　had　drawn　the　good　Baron　Merd　into　a　quarrel　and　afterward　slain　the　old　knight　and　his　followers；　destroyed　his　castle；　and　carried　his　little　daughter　Seseley　and　her　girl　friends；　Berna　and　Helda；　into　captivity；　shutting　them　up　in　his　own　gloomy　castle。

The　Red　Rogue　thought　he　had　done　a　very　clever　thing；　and　had　no　fear　of　the　consequences　until　one　of　his　men　came　running　up　to　the　castle　to　announce　that　Prince　Marvel　and　his　companions　were　approaching　to　rescue　the　Lady　Seseley。

〃How　many　of　them　are　there？〃　demanded　the　Red　Rogue。

〃There　are　eight；　altogether；〃　answered　the　man；　〃but　two　of　them　are　girls。〃

〃And　they　expect　to　force　me　to　give　up　my　captives？〃　asked　the　Red　One；　laughing　with　a　noise　like　the　roar　of　a　waterfall。　　〃Why；　I　shall　make　prisoners　of　every　one　of　them！〃

The　man　looked　at　his　master　fearfully；　and　replied：

〃This　Prince　Marvel　is　very　famous；　and　all　people　speak　of　his　bravery　and　power。　　It　was　he　who　conquered　King　Terribus　of　Spor；　and　that　mighty　ruler　is　now　his　friend；　and　is　one　of　the　eight　who　approach。〃

The　Red　Rogue　stopped　laughing；　for　the　fame　of　Spor's　terrible　king　had　long　ago　reached　him。　　And　he　reflected　that　any　one　who　could　conquer　the　army　of　giants　and　dwarfs　and　Gray　Men　that　served　Terribus　must　surely　be　one　to　be　regarded　seriously。　　Moreoverand　this　was　a　secretthe　Red　Rogue　had　never　been　able　to　gain　the　strength　to　correspond　with　his　gigantic　size；　but　had　ever　remained　as　weak　as　when　he　was　a　puny　boy。　　So　he　was　accustomed　to　rely　on　his　cunning　and　on　the　terror　his　very　presence　usually　excited　to　triumph　over　his　enemies。　　And　he　began　to　be　afraid　of　this　prince。

〃You　say　two　of　the　party　are　girls？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　man；　〃but　also　among　them　are　King　Terribus　himself；　and　the　renowned　Wul…Takim；　formerly　king　of　thieves；　who　was　conquered　by　the　prince；　although　accounted　a　hard　fighter；　and　is　now　his　devoted　servant。　　And　there　are　two　old　men　who　are　just　alike　and　have　a　very　fierce　look　about　them。　　They　are　said　to　come　from　the　hidden　Kingdom　of　Twi。〃

By　this　time　the　Red　Rogue　was　thoroughly　frightened；　but　he　did　not　yet　despair　of　defeating　his　enemies。　　He　knew　better　than　to　attempt　to　oppose　Prince　Marvel　by　force；　but　he　still　hoped　to　conquer　him　by　trickery　and　deceit。

Among　the　wonderful　things　that　the　Red　Rogue's　former　master；　the　wise　scholar　and　magician；　had　made　were　two　large　enchanted　mirrors；　which　were　set　on　each　side　of　the　great　hallway　of　the　castle。　　Heavy　curtains　were　drawn　over　the　surfaces　of　these　mirrors；　because　they　both　possessed　a　dreadful　magical　power。　　For　whenever　any　one　looked　into　one　of　them　his　reflection　was　instantly　caught　and　imprisoned　in　the　mirror；　and　his　body　at　the　same　time　became　invisible　to　all　earthly　eyes；　only　the　mirror　retaining　his　form。

While　considering　a　way　to　prevent　the　prince　from　freeing　the　Lady　Seseley；　the　Red　Rogue　happened　to　think　of　these　mirrors；　which　had　never　yet　been　used。　　So　he　went　stealthily　into　the　great　hall　and　drew　aside　the　covering　from　one　of　the　mirrors。　　He　did　not　dare　look　into　the　mirror　himself；　but　hurried　away　to　another　room；　and　then　sent　a　page　up　a　back　stairway　to　summon　the　Lady　Seseley　and　her　two　maids　into　his　presence。

The　girls　at　once　obeyed；　for　they　greatly　feared　the　Red　Rogue；　and　of　course　they　descended　the　front　stairway　and　w