the enchanted island of yew-第3部分

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tire。　　And　the　baron's　daughter　was　suddenly　inspired　to　be　brave；　not　wishing　to　disappoint　the　venturous　immortal。　　So　she　rose　and　took　the　magic　wand　in　her　hand；　waving　it　three　times　above　the　head　of　the　fairy。

〃By　my　powers　as　a　mortal；〃　she　said；　marveling　even　then　at　the　strange　speech；　〃I　command　you　to　become　a　brave　and　gallant　youthhandsome；　strong；　fearless！　　And　such　shall　you　remain　for　the　space　of　one　year。

As　she　ceased　speaking　the　fairy　was　gone；　and　a　slender　youth；　dark…eyed　and　laughing；　was　holding　her　hand　in　his　and　kissing　it　gratefully。

〃I　thank　you；　most　lovely　maiden；〃　he　said；　in　a　pleasant　voice；　〃for　giving　me　a　place　in　the　world　of　mortals。　　I　shall　ride　at　once　in　search　of　adventure；　but　my　good　sword　is　ever　at　your　service。〃

With　this　he　gracefully　arose　and　began　to　buckle　on　his　magnificent　armor　and　to　fasten　the　sword　to　his　belt。

Seseley　drew　a　long；　sighing　breath　of　amazement　at　her　own　powers；　and　turning　to　Berna　and　Helda　she　asked：

〃Do　I　see　aright？　　Is　the　little　fairy　really　transformed　to　this　youth？〃

〃It　certainly　seems　so；〃　returned　Helda；　who；　being　unabashed　by　the　marvels　she　had　beheld；　turned　to　gaze　boldly　upon　the　young　knight。

〃Do　you　still　remember　that　a　moment　ago　you　were　a　fairy？〃　she　inquired。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　he；　smiling；　〃and　I　am　really　a　fairy　now；　being　but　changed　in　outward　form。　　But　no　one　must　know　this　save　yourselves；　until　the　year　has　expired　and　I　resume　my　true　station。　Will　you　promise　to　guard　my　secret？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　they　exclaimed；　in　chorus。　　For　they　were　delighted；　as　any　children　might　well　be；　at　having　so　remarkable　a　secret　to　keep　and　talk　over　among　themselves。

〃I　must　ask　one　more　favor；〃　continued　the　youth：　〃that　you　give　me　a　name；　for　in　this　island　I　believe　all　men　bear　names　of　some　sort；　to　distinguish　them　one　from　another。〃

〃True；〃　said　Seseley；　thoughtfully。　　〃What　were　you　called　as　a　fairy？〃

〃That　does　not　matter　in　the　least；〃　he　answered；　hastily。　　〃I　must　have　an　entirely　new　name。〃

〃Suppose　we　call　him　the　Silver　Knight；〃　suggested　Berna；　as　she　eyed　his　glistening　armor。

〃Oh；　no！that　is　no　name　at　all！〃　declared　Helda。　　〃We　might　better　call　him　Baron　Strongarm。〃

〃I　do　not　like　that；　either；〃　said　the　Lady　Seseley；　〃for　we　do　not　know　whether　his　arm　is　strong　or　not。　　But　he　has　been　transformed　in　a　most　astonishing　and　bewildering　manner　before　our　very　eyes；　and　I　think　the　name　of　Prince　Marvel　would　suit　him　very　well。〃

〃Excellent！〃　cried　the　youth；　picking　up　his　richly　graven　shield。　　〃The　name　seems　fitting　in　every　way。　　And　for　a　year　I　shall　be　known　to　all　this　island　as　Prince　Marvel！〃



5。　　The　King　of　Thieves


Old　Marshelm；　the　captain　of　the　guard；　was　much　surprised　when　he　saw　the　baron's　daughter　and　her　playmates　approach　her　father's　castle　escorted　by　a　knight　in　glittering　armor。

To　be　sure　it　was　a　rather　small　knight；　but　the　horse　he　led　by　the　bridle　was　so　stately　and　magnificent　in　appearance　that　old　Marshelm；　who　was　an　excellent　judge　of　horses；　at　once　decided　the　stranger　must　be　a　personage　of　unusual　importance。

As　they　came　nearer　the　captain　of　the　guard　also　observed　the　beauty　of　the　little　knight's　armor；　and　caught　the　glint　of　jewels　set　in　the　handle　of　his　sword；　so　he　called　his　men　about　him　and　prepared　to　receive　the　knight　with　the　honors　doubtless　due　his　high　rank。

But　to　the　captain's　disappointment　the　stranger　showed　no　intention　of　entering　the　castle。　　On　the　contrary；　he　kissed　the　little　Lady　Seseley's　hand　respectfully；　waved　an　adieu　to　the　others；　and　then　mounted　his　charger　and　galloped　away　over　the　plains。

The　drawbridge　was　let　down　to　permit　the　three　children　to　enter；　and　the　great　Baron　Merd　came　himself　to　question　his　daughter。

〃Who　was　the　little　knight？〃　he　asked。

〃His　name　is　Prince　Marvel；〃　answered　Seseley；　demurely。

〃Prince　Marvel？〃　exclaimed　the　Baron。　　〃I　have　never　heard　of　him。　Does　he　come　from　the　Kingdom　of　Dawna；　or　that　of　Auriel；　or　Plenta？〃

〃That　I　do　not　know；〃　said　Seseley；　with　truth。

〃Where　did　you　meet　him？〃　continued　the　baron。

〃In　the　forest；　my　father；　and　he　kindly　escorted　us　home。〃

〃Hm！〃　muttered　the　baron；　thoughtfully。　　〃Did　he　say　what　adventure　brought　him　to　our　Kingdom　of　Heg？〃

〃No；　father。　　But　he　mentioned　being　in　search　of　adventure。〃

〃Oh；　he'll　find　enough　to　busy　him　in　this　wild　island；　where　every　man　he　meets　would　rather　draw　his　sword　than　eat；〃　returned　the　old　warrior；　smiling。　　〃How　old　may　this　Prince　Marvel　be？〃

〃He　looks　not　over　fifteen　years　of　age；〃　said　Seseley；　uneasy　at　so　much　questioning；　for　she　did　not　wish　to　be　forced　to　tell　an　untruth。　　〃But　it　is　possible　he　is　much　older；〃　she　added；　beginning　to　get　confused。

〃Well；　well；　I　am　sorry　he　did　not　pay　my　castle　a　visit；〃　declared　the　baron。　　〃He　is　very　small　and　slight　to　be　traveling　this　dangerous　country　alone；　and　I　might　have　advised　him　as　to　his　welfare。〃

Seseley　thought　that　Prince　Marvel　would　need　no　advice　from　any　one　as　to　his　conduct；　but　she　wisely　refrained　from　speaking　this　thought；　and　the　old　baron　walked　away　to　glance　through　a　slit　in　the　stone　wall　at　the　figure　of　the　now　distant　knight。

Prince　Marvel　was　riding　swiftly　toward　the　brow　of　the　hill；　and　shortly　his　great　war…horse　mounted　the　ascent　and　disappeared　on　its　farther　slope。

The　youth's　heart　was　merry　and　light；　and　he　reflected　joyously；　as　he　rode　along；　that　a　whole　year　of　freedom　and　fascinating　adventure　lay　before　him。

The　valley　in　which　he　now　found　himself　was　very　beautiful；　the　soft　grass　beneath　his　horse's　feet　being　sprinkled　with　bright　flowers；　while　clumps　of　trees　stood　here　and　there　to　break　the　monotony　of　the　landscape。

For　an　hour　the　prince　rode　along；　rejoicing　in　the　free　motion　of　his　horse　and　breathing　in　the　perfume…laden　air。　　Then　he　found　he　had　crossed　the　valley　and　was　approaching　a　series　of　hills。　　These　were　broken　by　huge　rocks；　the　ground　being　cluttered　with　boulders　of　rough　stone。　　His　horse　speedily　found　a　pathway　leading　through　these　rocks；　but　was　obliged　to　proceed　at　a　walk；　turning　first　one　way　and　then　another　as　the　path　zigzagged　up　the　hill。

Presently；　being　engaged　in　deep　thought　and　little　noting　the　way；　Prince　Marvel　rode　between　two　high　walls　of　rock　standing　so　close　together　that　horse　and　rider　could　scarcely　pass　between　the　sides。　Having　traversed　this　narrow　space　some　distance　the　wall　opened　suddenly　upon　a　level　plat　of　ground；　where　grass　and　trees　grew。　　It　was　not　a　very　big　place；　but　was　surely　the　end　of　the　path；　as　all　around　it　stood　bare　walls　so　high　and　steep　that　neither　horse　nor　man　could　climb　them。　　In　the　side　of　the　rocky　wall　facing　the　entrance　the　traveler　noticed　a　hollow；　like　the　mouth　of　a　cave；　across　which　was　placed　an　iron　gate。　　And　above　the　gateway　was　painted　in　red　letters　on　the　gray　stone　the　following　words：


　　　　　　　　　　　　WUL…TAKIM　　　　　　　　　　KING　OF　THIEVES　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HIS　TREASURE　HOUSE　　　　　　　　　　　　　　KEEP　OUT


Prince　Marvel　laughed　on　reading　this；　and　after　getting　down　from　his　saddle　he　advanced　to　the　iron　gate　and　peered　through　its　heavy　bars。

〃I　have　no　idea　who　this　Wul…Takim　is；〃　he　said；　〃for　I　know　nothing　at　all　of　the　ways　of　men　outside　the　forest　in　which　I　have　always　dwelt。　　But　thieves　are　bad　people；　I　am　quite　sure；　and　since　Wul…Takim　is　the　king　of　thieves　he　must　be　by　far　the　worst　man　on　this　island。〃

Then　he　saw；　through　the　bars　of　the　gate；　that　a　great　cavern　lay　beyond；　in　which　were　stacked　treasures　of　all　sorts：　rich　cloths；　golden　dishes　and　ornaments；　gemmed　coronets　and　bracelets；　cleverly　forged　armor；　shields　and　battle…axes。　　Also　there　were　casks　and　bales　of　merchandise　of　every　sort。

The　gate　appeared　to　have　no　lock；　so　Prince　Marvel　opened　it　and　walked　in。　　Then　he　perceived；　perched　on　the　very　top　of　a　pyramid　of　casks；　the　form　of　a　boy；　who　sat　very　still　and　watched　him　with　a　look　of　astonishment　upon　his　face。

〃What　are　you　doing　up　there？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃Nothing；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃If　I　moved　the　least　little　bit　this　pile　of　casks　would　topple　over；　and　I　should　be　thrown　to　the　ground。〃

〃Well；〃　returned　the　prince；　〃what　of　it？〃

But　just　then　he　glanced　at　the　ground　and　saw　why　the　boy　did　not　care　to　tumble　down。　　For　in　the　earth　were　planted　many　swords；　with　their　sharp　blades　pointing　upward；　and　to　fall　upon　these　meant　serious　wounds　and　perhaps　death。

〃Oh；　ho！〃　cried　Marvel；　〃I　begin　to　understand。　　You　are　a　prisoner。〃

〃Yes；　as　you　will　also　be　shortly；〃　answered　the　boy。　　〃And　then　you　will　understand　another　thingthat　you　were　very　reckless　ever　to　enter　this　cave。〃

〃Why？〃　inquired　the　prince；　who　really　knew　little　of　the　world；　and　was　interested　in　everything　he　saw　and　heard。

〃Because　it　is　the　stronghold　of　the　robber　king；　and　when　you　opened　that　gate　you　caused　a　bell　to　ring　far　down　on　the　hillside。　　So　the　robbers　are　now　warned　that　an　enemy　is　in　their　cave；　and　they　will　soon　arrive　to　make　you　a　prisoner；　even　as　I　am。〃

〃Ah；　I　see！〃　said　the　prince；　with　a　laugh；　〃It　is　a　rather　clever　contrivance；　but　having　been　warned　in　time　I　should　indeed　be　foolish　to　be　caught　in　such　a　trap。〃

With　this　he　half　drew　his　sword；　but　thinking　that　robbers　were　not　worthy　to　be　slain　with　its　untarnished　steel；　he　pushed　it　back　into　the　jeweled　scabbard　and　looked　around　for　another　weapon。　　A　stout　oaken　staff　lay　upon　the　ground；　and　this　he　caught　up　and　ran　with　it　from　the　cave；　placing　himself　just　beside　the　narrow　opening　that　led　into　this　rock…encompassed　plain。　　For　he　quickly　saw　that　this　was　the　only　way　any　one　could　enter　or　leave　the　place；　and　therefore　knew　the　robbers　were　coming　up　the　narrow　gorge　even　as　he　had　himself　done。

Soon　they　were　heard　stumbling　along　at　a　rapid　pace；　crying　to　one　another　to　make　haste　and　catch　the　intruder。　　The　first　that　came　through　the　opening　received　so　sharp　a　blow　upon　the　head　from　Prince　Marvel's　oak　staff　that　he　fell　to　the　ground　and　lay　still；　while　the　next　was　treated　in　a　like　manner　and　fell　beside　his　comrade。

Perhaps