the enchanted island of yew- 第6部分

〃Yet　the　next　afternoon　I　experienced　my　first　pleasure。　　The　thieves　caught　me；　stripped　off　all　my　fine　clothes　and　jewels　and　beat　me　well。　　Then　they　carried　me　to　their　cave；　dressed　me　in　rags；　and　perched　me　on　the　top　of　the　casks；　where　the　slightest　movement　on　my　part　would　send　me　tumbling　among　the　sword　points。　　This　was　really　delightful；　and　I　was　quite　happy　until　you　came　and　released　me。

〃I　thought　then　that　I　might　gain　some　pleasure　by　provoking　you　to　anger；　and　our　fight　was　the　result。　　That　blow　on　the　ear　was　exquisite；　and　by　forcing　me　to　become　your　servant　you　have　made　me；　for　the　first　time　in　my　life；　almost　contented。　　For　I　hope　in　your　company　to　experience　a　great　many　griefs　and　disappointments。〃

As　Nerle　concluded　his　story　Prince　Marvel　turned　to　him　and　grasped　his　hand。

〃Accept　my　sympathy！〃　said　he。　　〃I　know　exactly　how　you　feel；　for　my　own　life　during　the　past　few　centuries　has　not　been　much　different。〃

〃The　past　few　centuries！〃　gasped　Nerle。　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

At　this　the　prince　blushed；　seeing　he　had　nearly　disclosed　his　secret。　But　he　said；　quickly：

〃Does　it　not　seem　centuries　when　one　is　unhappy？〃

〃It　does；　indeed！〃　responded　Nerle；　earnestly。　　〃But　please　tell　me　your　story。〃

〃Not　now；〃　said　Prince　Marvel；　with　a　smile。　　〃It　will　please　you　to　desire　in　vain　to　hear　a　tale　I　will　not　tell。　　Yet　I　promise　that　on　the　day　we　part　company　I　shall　inform　you　who　I　am。〃



7。　　The　Gray　Men


The　adventurers　gave　no　heed　to　the　path　they　followed　after　leaving　the　cave　of　the　reformed　thieves；　but　their　horses　accidentally　took　the　direction　of　the　foot…hills　that　led　into　the　wild　interior　Kingdom　of　Spor。　　Therefore　the　travelers；　when　they　had　finished　their　conversation　and　begun　to　look　about　them；　found　themselves　in　a　rugged；　mountainous　country　that　was　wholly　unlike　the　green　plains　of　Heg　they　had　left　behind。

Now；　as　I　have　before　said；　the　most　curious　and　fearful　of　the　island　people　dwelt　in　this　Kingdom　of　Spor。　　They　held　no　friendly　communication　with　their　neighbors；　and　only　left　their　own　mountains　to　plunder　and　rob；　and　so　sullen　and　fierce　were　they　on　these　occasions　that　every　one　took　good　care　to　keep　out　of　their　way　until　they　had　gone　back　home　again。

There　was　much　gossip　about　the　unknown　king　of　Spor；　who　had　never　yet　been　seen　by　any　one　except　his　subjects；　and　some　thought　he　must　be　one　of　the　huge　giants　of　Spor；　and　others　claimed　he　was　a　dwarf；　like　his　tiny　but　ferocious　dart…slingers；　and　still　others　imagined　him　one　of　the　barbarian　tribe；　or　a　fellow　to　the　terrible　Gray　Men。　But；　of　course；　no　one　knew　positively；　and　all　these　guesses　were　very　wide　of　the　mark。　　The　only　certainty　about　this　king　was　that　his　giants；　dwarfs；　barbarians　and　Gray　Men　meekly　acknowledged　his　rule　and　obeyed　his　slightest　wish；　for　though　they　might　be　terrible　to　others；　their　king　was　still　more　terrible　to　them。

Into　this　Kingdom　of　Spor　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　had　now　penetrated　and；　neither　knowing　nor　caring　where　they　were；　continued　along　the　faintly　defined　paths　the　horses　had　found。　　Presently；　however；　they　were　startled　by　a　peal　of　shrill；　elfish　laughter；　and　raising　their　eyes　they　beheld　a　horrid…looking　old　man　seated　upon　a　high　rock　near　by。

〃Why　do　you　laugh？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel；　stopping　his　horse。

〃Have　you　been　invited？　　Tell　mehave　you　been　invited？〃　demanded　the　old　man；　chuckling　to　himself　as　if　much　amused。

〃Invited　where？〃　inquired　the　prince。

〃To　Spor；　stupid！　　To　the　Kingdom　of　Spor！　　To　the　land　of　King　Terribus！〃　shrieked　the　old　man；　going　into　violent　peals　of　laughter。

〃We　go　and　come　as　we　please；〃　answered　Prince　Marvel；　calmly。

〃Goyes！　　Go　if　you　will。　　But　you'll　never　come　backnever！　never！　never！〃　The　little　old　man　seemed　to　consider　this　such　a　good　joke　that　he　bent　nearly　double　with　laughing；　and　so　lost　his　balance　and　toppled　off　the　rock；　disappearing　from　their　view；　but　they　could　hear　him　laugh　long　after　they　had　passed　on　and　left　him　far　behind　them。

〃A　strange　creature！〃　exclaimed　the　prince　thoughtfully。

〃But　perhaps　he　speaks　truth；〃　answered　Nerle；　〃if；　in　fact；　we　have　been　rash　enough　to　enter　the　Kingdom　of　Spor。　　Even　my　father；　the　bravest　baron　in　Heg；　has　never　dared　venture　within　the　borders　of　Spor。　　For　all　men　fear　its　mysterious　king。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　replied　Prince　Marvel；　〃it　is　time　some　one　investigated　this　strange　kingdom。　　People　have　left　King　Terribus　and　his　wild　subjects　too　much　to　themselves；　instead　of　stirring　them　up　and　making　them　behave　themselves。〃

Nerle　smiled　at　this　speech。

〃They　are　the　fiercest　people　on　the　Enchanted　Island；〃　said　he；　〃and　there　are　thousands　upon　thousands　who　obey　this　unknown　king。　　But　if　you　think　we　dare　defy　them　I　am　willing　to　go　on。　　Perhaps　our　boldness　will　lead　them　into　torturing　me；　or　starving　me　to　death；　and　at　the　very　least　I　ought　to　find　much　trouble　and　privation　in　the　Kingdom　of　Spor。〃

〃Time　will　determine　that；〃　said　the　prince；　cheerfully。

They　had　now　ridden　into　a　narrow　defile　of　the　mountains；　the　pathway　being　lined　with　great　fragments　of　rock。　　Happening　to　look　over　his　shoulder　Prince　Marvel　saw　that　as　they　passed　these　rocks　a　man　stepped　from　behind　each　fragment　and　followed　after　them；　their　numbers　thus　constantly　increasing　until　hundreds　were　silently　treading　in　the　wake　of　the　travelers。

These　men　were　very　peculiar　in　appearance；　their　skins　being　as　gray　as　the　rocks　themselves；　while　their　only　clothing　consisted　of　gray　cloth　tunics　belted　around　the　waists　with　bands　of　gray　fox…hide。　They　bore　no　weapons　except　that　each　was　armed　with　a　fork；　having　three　sharp　tines　six　inches　in　length；　which　the　Gray　Men　carried　stuck　through　their　fox…hide　belts。

Nerle　also　looked　back　and　saw　the　silent　throng　following　them；　and　the　sight　sent　such　a　cold　shiver　creeping　up　his　spine　that　he　smiled　with　pleasure。　　There　was　no　way　to　avoid　the　Gray　Men；　for　the　path　was　so　narrow　that　the　horsemen　could　not　turn　aside；　but　Prince　Marvel　was　not　disturbed；　and　seemed　not　to　mind　being　followed；　so　long　as　no　one　hindered　his　advance。

He　rode　steadily　on；　Nerle　following；　and　after　climbing　upward　for　a　long　way　the　path　began　to　descend；　presently　leading　them　into　a　valley　of　wide　extent；　in　the　center　of　which　stood　an　immense　castle　with　tall　domes　that　glittered　as　if　covered　with　pure　gold。　　A　broad　roadway　paved　with　white　marble　reached　from　the　mountain　pass　to　the　entrance　of　this　castle；　and　on　each　side　of　this　roadway　stood　lines　of　monstrous　giants；　armed　with　huge　axes　thrust　into　their　belts　and　thick　oak　clubs；　studded　with　silver　spikes；　which　were　carried　over　their　left　shoulders。

The　assembled　giants　were　as　silent　as　the　Gray　Men；　and　stood　motionless　while　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　rode　slowly　up　the　marble　roadway。　　But　all　their　brows　were　scowling　terribly　and　their　eyes　were　red　and　glaring　as　if　they　were　balls　of　fire。

〃I　begin　to　feel　very　pleasant；〃　said　Nerle；　〃for　surely　we　shall　not　get　away　from　these　folks　without　a　vast　deal　of　trouble。　　They　do　not　seem　to　oppose　our　advance；　but　it　is　plain　they　will　not　allow　us　any　chance　of　retreat。〃

〃We　do　not　wish　to　retreat；〃　declared　the　prince。

Nerle　cast　another　glance　behind；　and　saw　that　the　Gray　Men　had　halted　at　the　edge　of　the　valley；　while　the　giants　were　closing　up　as　soon　as　the　horses　passed　them　and　now　marched　in　close　file　in　their　rear。

〃It　strikes　me；〃　he　muttered；　softly；　〃that　this　is　like　to　prove　our　last　adventure。〃　But　although　Prince　Marvel　might　have　heard　the　words　he　made　no　reply；　being　evidently　engaged　in　deep　thought。

As　they　drew　nearer　the　castle　it　towered　above　them　like　a　veritable　mountain；　so　big　and　high　was　it；　and　the　walls　cast　deep　shadows　far　around；　as　if　twilight　had　fallen。　　They　heard　the　loud　blare　of　a　trumpet　sounding　far　up　on　the　battlements；　the　portals　of　the　castle　suddenly　opened　wide；　and　they　entered　a　vast　courtyard　paved　with　plates　of　gold。　　Tiny　dwarfs；　so　crooked　that　they　resembled　crabs；　rushed　forward　and　seized　the　bridles　of　the　horses；　while　the　strangers　slowly　dismounted　and　looked　around　them。

While　the　steeds　were　being　led　to　the　stables　an　old　man；　clothed　in　a　flowing　robe　as　white　in　color　as　his　beard；　bowed　before　Prince　Marvel　and　said　in　a　soft　voice：

〃Follow　me！〃

The　prince　stretched　his　arms；　yawned　as　if　tired　with　his　ride；　and　then　glared　upon　the　old　man　with　an　expression　of　haughty　surprise。

〃I　follow　no　one！〃　said　he；　proudly。　　〃I　am　Prince　Marvel；　sirrah；　and　if　the　owner　of　this　castle　wishes　to　see　me　I　shall　receive　him　here；　as　befits　my　rank　and　station。〃

The　man　looked　surprised；　but　only　bowed　lower　than　before。

〃It　is　the　king's　command；〃　he　answered。

〃The　king？〃

〃Yes；　you　are　in　the　castle　of　King　Terribus；　the　lord　and　ruler　of　Spor。〃

〃That　is　different；〃　remarked　the　prince；　lightly。　　〃Still；　I　will　follow　no　man。　　Point　out　the　way　and　I　will　go　to　meet　his　Majesty。〃

The　old　man　extended　a　lean　and　trembling　finger　toward　an　archway。　Prince　Marvel　strode　forward；　followed　by　Nerle；　and　passing　under　the　arch　he　threw　open　a　door　at　the　far　end　and　boldly　entered　the　throne…room　of　King　Terribus。



8。　　The　Fool…Killer


The　room　was　round；　with　a　dome　at　the　top。　　The　bare　walls　were　of　gray　stone；　with　square；　open　windows　set　full　twenty　feet　from　the　floor。　　Rough　gray　stone　also　composed　the　floor；　and　in　the　center　of　the　room　stood　one　great　rock　with　a　seat　hollowed　in　its　middle。　This　was　the　throne；　and　round　about　it　stood　a　swarm　of　men　and　women　dressed　in　rich　satins；　velvets　and　brocades；　brilliantly　ornamented　with　gold　and　precious　stones。　　The　men　were　of　many　shapes　and　sizesgiants　and　dwarfs　being　among　them。　　The　women　all　seemed　young　and　beautiful。

Prince　Marvel　cast　but　a　passing　glance　at　this　assemblage；　for　his　eye　quickly　sought　the　rude　throne　on　which　was　seated　King　Terribus。

The　personal　appearance　of　this　monster　was　doubtless　the　most　hideous　known　in　that　age　of　the　world。　　His　head　was　large　and　shaped　like　an　egg；　it　was　bright　scarlet　in　color　and　no　ha