the enchanted island of yew-第8章

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They　entered　the　room　so　quietly　that　Nerle　never　knew　they　were　there　until　he　turned　and　found　the　hundred　gray　ones　standing　close　together　in　the　center　of　the　hall。　　Then　Prince　Marvel　came　to　Nerle's　side　and　whispered　something　in　his　ear。

〃Will　you　obey　my　orders？〃　they　heard　the　king　ask。　　And　the　Gray　Men；　with　their　eyes　fixed　upon　their　master；　nodded　all　their　hundred　heads　and　put　their　hands　upon　the　dangerous　three…tined　forks　that　were　stuck　in　every　one　of　the　hundred　belts。

Prince　Marvel　handed　one　end　of　a　coiled　rope　to　Nerle；　and　then　they　both　sprang　forward　and　ran　around　the　spot　where　the　hundred　Gray　Men　stood　huddled　together。　　Then　they　were　pulled　closer　together　than　beforecloser；　and　still　closerfor　the　prince　and　Nerle　had　surrounded　them　with　the　rope　and　were　tying　the　two　ends　together　in　a　tight　knot。　　The　rope　cut　into　the　waists　of　those　on　the　outside；　and　they　pressed　inward　against　their　fellows　until　there　was　scarcely　space　to　stick　a　knife…blade　between　any　two　of　them。　　When　the　prince　had　tied　the　rope　firmly　King　Terribus；　who　had　been　looking　on　amazed；　saw　that　his　hundred　Gray　Men　were　fastened　together　like　a　bundle　of　kindling…wood；　and　were　unable　to　stir　hand　or　foot。

And；　while　he　still　gazed　open…mouthed　at　the　strange　sight；　Prince　Marvel　tilted　the　bundle　of　men　up　on　its　edge　and　rolled　it　out　of　the　door。　　It　went　rolling　swiftly　through　the　courtyard　and　bounded　down　the　castle　steps；　where　the　rope　broke　and　the　men　fell　sprawling　in　all　directions　on　the　marble　walk。

King　Terribus　sighed；　for　such　treatment　of　his　Gray　Men；　whom　he　dearly　loved；　made　him　very　unhappy。

But　more　than　ever　was　he　resolved　to　kill　these　impudent　strangers；　who；　in　the　very　heart　of　his　kingdom　where　thousands　bowed　to　his　will；　dared　openly　defy　his　power。　　So；　after　a　moment's　thought；　Terribus　beckoned　to　a　dwarf　who；　robed　in　gay　and　glittering　apparel；　stood　near　his　throne。

〃Summon　the　royal　Dart　Slingers！〃　he　said；　with　a　scowl。

The　little　man　bowed　and　hastened　away；　to　return　presently　with　twenty　curiously　crooked　dwarfs；　each　armed　with　a　sling　and　a　quiver　full　of　slender；　sharp…pointed　darts。

〃Slay　me　these　strangers！〃　exclaimed　the　king；　in　his　gruffest　voice。

Now　Nerle；　when　he　beheld　these　terrible　Dart　Slingers；　of　whom　he　had　heard　many　tales　in　his　boyhood；　began　to　shiver　and　shake　with　fright；　so　that　his　teeth　rattled　one　upon　another。　　And　he　reflected：　〃Soon　shall　I　be　content；　for　these　darts　will　doubtless　pierce　every　part　of　my　body。〃

The　dwarfs　formed　a　line　at　one　side　of　the　gloomy　throne…room；　and　Prince　Marvel；　who　had　been　earnestly　regarding　them；　caught　Nerle　by　the　arm　and　led　him　to　the　opposite　wall。

〃Stand　close　behind　me　and　you　will　be　safe；〃　he　whispered　to　his　esquire。

Then　each　dwarf　fixed　a　dart　in　his　sling；　and　at　a　word　from　their　chief　they　all　drew　back　their　arms　and　launched　a　shower　of　the　sharp　missiles　at　the　strangers。

Swift　and　true　they　sped；　each　dart　intended　to　pierce　the　body　of　the　youthful　knight　who　stood　so　calm　before　them。　　Prince　Marvel　had　raised　his　right　arm；　and　in　his　hand　was　a　small　leather　sack；　with　a　wide　mouth。　　As　the　darts　flew　near　him　a　strange　thing　happened：　they　each　and　all　swerved　from　their　true　course　and　fell　rattling　into　the　leathern　sack；　to　the　wonder　of　the　royal　slingers　and　the　dismay　of　King　Terribus　himself。

〃Again！〃　screamed　the　king；　his　usually　mild　voice　hoarse　with　anger。

So　again　the　dwarfs　cast　their　darts；　and　again　the　leathern　sack　caught　them　every　one。　　Another　flight　followed；　and　yet　another；　till　the　magic　sack　was　packed　full　of　the　darts　and　not　a　dwarf　had　one　remaining　in　his　quiver。

Amid　the　awed　silence　of　the　beholders　of　this　feat　the　merry　laughter　of　Prince　Marvel　rang　loud　and　clear；　for　the　sight　of　the　puzzled　and　terrified　faces　about　him　was　very　comical。　　Plucking　a　dart　from　the　sack　he　raised　his　arm　and　cried：

〃Now　it　is　my　turn。　　You　shall　have　back　your　darts！〃

〃Hold！〃　shouted　the　king；　in　great　fear。　　〃Do　not；　I　beg　you；　slay　my　faithful　servants。〃　　And　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　he　dismissed　the　dwarfs；　who　were　glad　to　rush　from　the　room　and　escape。

Nerle　wiped　the　tears　from　his　eyes；　for　he　was　sorely　disappointed　at　having　again　escaped　all　pain　and　discomfort；　but　Prince　Marvel　seated　himself　quietly　upon　a　stool　and　looked　at　the　scowling　face　of　King　Terribus　with　real　amusement。

The　monarch　of　Spor　had　never　before　been　so　foiled　and　scorned　by　any　living　creature。　　Defeated　and　humbled　before　his　own　people；　he　bowed　his　crimson　head　on　his　hands　and　sullenly　regarded　his　foe　with　his　top　eye。　　Then　it　was　that　the　idea　came　to　him　that　no　ordinary　mortal　could　have　thwarted　him　so　easily；　and　he　began　to　fear　he　was　dealingperhaps　unawareswith　some　great　magician　or　sorcerer。　　That　a　fairy　should　have　assumed　a　mortal　form　he　never　once　considered；　for　such　a　thing　was　until　then　unheard　of　in　the　Enchanted　Island　of　Yew。　　But　with　the　knowledge　that　he　had　met　his　master；　whoever　he　might　prove　to　be；　and　that　further　attempts　upon　the　stranger's　life　might　lead　to　his　own　undoing；　King　Terribus　decided　to　adopt　a　new　line　of　conduct；　hoping　to　accomplish　by　stratagem　what　he　could　not　do　by　force。　　To　be　sure；　there　remained　his　regiment　of　Giants；　the　pride　of　his　kingdom；　but　Terribus　dreaded　to　meet　with　another　defeat；　and　he　was　not　at　all　sure；　after　what　had　happened；　that　the　giants　would　succeed　in　conquering　or　destroying　the　strangers。

〃After　all；〃　he　thought；　〃my　only　object　in　killing　them　was　to　prevent　their　carrying　news　of　my　monstrous　appearance　to　the　outside　world；　so　if　I　can　but　manage　to　keep　them　forever　in　my　kingdom　it　will　answer　my　purpose　equally　well。〃

As　the　result　of　this　thought　he　presently　raised　his　head　and　spoke　to　Prince　Marvel　in　a　quiet　and　even　cheerful　voice。

〃Enough　of　these　rude　and　boisterous　games；〃　said　he；　with　a　smile　that　showed　his　white　teeth　in　a　repulsive　manner。　　〃They　may　have　seemed　to　my　people　an　ill　welcome　to　my　good　friend；　Prince　Marvel；　yet　they　were　only　designed　to　show　the　powers　of　the　mighty　magician　who　has　become　my　guest。　　Nay；　do　not　deny　it；　Prince；　from　the　first　I　guessed　your　secret；　and　to　prove　myself　right　I　called　my　servants　to　oppose　you；　being　sure　they　could　not　do　you　an　injury。　　But　no　more　of　such　fooling；and　pray　forgive　my　merry　game　at　your　expense。　Henceforth　we　shall　be　friends；　and　you　are　heartily　welcome　to　the　best　my　kingdom　affords。〃

With　this　speech　Terribus　stepped　down　from　his　throne　and　approached　Prince　Marvel　with　outstretched　hand。　　The　prince　was　not　at　all　deceived；　but　he　was　pleased　to　see　how　cunningly　the　king　excused　his　attempts　to　kill　him。　　So　he　laughed　and　touched　the　hand　Terribus　extended；　for　this　fairy　prince　seemed　to　have　no　anger　against　any　mortal　who　ventured　to　oppose　him。

The　strangers　were　now　conducted；　with　every　mark　of　respect；　to　a　beautiful　suite　of　apartments　in　the　castle；　wherein　were　soft　beds　with　velvet　spreads；　marble　baths　with　perfumed　waters；　and　a　variety　of　silken　and　brocaded　costumes　from　which　they　might　select　a　change　of　raiment。

No　sooner　had　they　bathed　and　adorned　themselves　fittingly　than　they　were　summoned　to　the　king's　banquet　hall；　being　escorted　thither　by　twelve　young　maidens　bearing　torches　with　lavender…colored　flames。

The　night　had　fallen　upon　the　mountains　outside；　but　the　great　banquet　hall　was　brilliant　with　the　glow　of　a　thousand　candles；　and　seated　at　the　head　of　the　long　table　was　King　Terribus。

Yet　here；　as　in　the　throne…room；　the　ruler　of　Spor　was　dressed　in　simplest　garments；　and　his　seat　was　a　rough　block　of　stone。　　All　about　him　were　lords　and　ladies　in　gorgeous　array；　the　walls　were　hung　with　rare　embroideries；　the　table　was　weighted　with　gold　platters　and　richly　carved　goblets　filled　with　sweet　nectars。　　But　the　king　himself；　with　his　horrid；　ugly　head；　was　like　a　great　blot　on　a　fair　parchment；　and　even　Prince　Marvel　could　not　repress　a　shudder　as　he　gazed　upon　him。

Terribus　placed　his　guest　upon　his　right　hand　and　loaded　him　with　honors。　　Nerle　stood　behind　the　prince's　chair　and　served　him　faithfully；　as　an　esquire　should。　　But　the　other　servants　treated　Nerle　with　much　deference；　noting　in　him　an　air　of　breeding　that　marked　him　the　unusual　servant　of　an　unusual　master。

Indeed；　most　curious　were　the　looks　cast　on　these　marvelous　men　who　had　calmly　walked　into　the　castle　of　mighty　Terribus　and　successfully　defied　his　anger；　for　in　spite　of　his　youthful　appearance　and　smiling　face　every　attendant　at　the　banquet　feared　Prince　Marvel　even　more　than　they　feared　their　own　fierce　king。



11。　　The　Cunning　of　King　Terribus


The　days　that　followed　were　pleasant　ones　for　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle；　who　were　treated　as　honored　guests　by　both　the　king　and　his　courtiers。　But　the　prince　seemed　to　be　the　favorite；　for　at　all　games　of　skill　and　trials　at　arms　he　was　invariably　the　victor；　while　in　the　evenings；　when　the　grand　ball…room　was　lighted　up　and　the　musicians　played　sweet　music；　none　was　so　graceful　in　the　dance　as　the　fairy　prince。

Nerle　soon　tired　of　the　games　and　dancing；　for　he　had　been　accustomed　to　them　at　his　father's　castle；　and　moreover　he　was　shy　in　the　society　of　ladies；　so　before　many　weeks　had　passed　he　began　to　mope　and　show　a　discontented　face。

One　day　the　prince　noticed　his　esquire's　dismal　expression　of　countenance；　and　asked　the　cause　of　it。

〃Why；〃　said　Nerle；　〃here　I　have　left　my　home　to　seek　worries　and　troubles；　and　have　found　but　the　same　humdrum　life　that　existed　at　my　father's　castle。　　Here　our　days　are　made　smooth　and　pleasant；　and　there　is　no　excitement　or　grief；　whatever。　　You　have　become　a　carpet…knight；　Prince　Marvel；　and　think　more　of　bright　eyes　than　of　daring　deeds。　　So；　if　you　will　release　me　from　your　service　I　will　seek　further　adventures。〃

〃Nay；〃　returned　the　prince；　〃we　will　go　together；　for　I；　too；　am　tired　of　this　life　of　pleasure。〃

So　next　morning　Marvel　sought　the　presence　of　King　Terribus　and　said：

〃I　have　come　to　bid　your　Majesty　adieu；　for　my　esquire　and　I　are　about　to　leave　your　dominions。〃

At　first　the　king　laughed；　and　his　long　nose　began　to　sway　from　side　to　side。　　Then；　seeing　the　prince　was　in　earnest；　his　Majesty　frowned　and　grew　disturbed。　　Finally　he　said：

〃I　must　implore　you　to　remain　my　guests　a　short　time　longer。　　No　one　has　ever　before　visited　me　in　my　mountain　home；　and　I　do　not　wish　to　lose　the　pleasure　of　your　society　so　soon。〃

〃Nevertheless；　we　must　go；〃　answered　the　prince；　briefly。

〃Are　you　not　contented？〃　asked　Terribus。　　〃Ask　whatever　you　may　desire；　and　it　shall　be　granted　you。〃

〃We　desire　adventures　amid　new　scenes；〃　said　Marvel；　〃and　these　you　can　not　give　us　except　by　permission　to　depart。〃

Seeing　his　guest　was　obstinate　the　king　ceased　further　argument　and　said：

〃Very　well；　go　if　you　wish。　　But　I　shall　hope　to　see　you　return　to　us　this　evening。〃

The　prince　paid　no　heed　to　this　peculiar　speech；　but　left　the　hall　and　hurried　to　the　courtyard　of　the　castle；　where　Nerle　was　holding　the　horses　in　readiness　for　their　journey。

Standing　around　were　many　rows　and　files　of　the　Gray　Men；　a