the enchanted island of yew- 第7部分

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　hair　whatever　grew　upon　it。　It　had　three　eyesone　in　the　center　of　his　face；　one　on　the　top　of　his　head　and　one　in　the　back。　　Thus　he　was　always　able　to　see　in　every　direction　at　the　same　time。　　His　nose　was　shaped　like　an　elephant's　trunk；　and　swayed　constantly　from　side　to　side。　　His　mouth　was　very　wide　and　had　no　lips　at　all；　two　rows　of　sharp　and　white　teeth　being　always　plainly　visible　beneath　the　swaying　nose。

King　Terribus；　although　surrounded　by　so　splendid　a　court；　wore　a　simple　robe　of　gray　cloth；　with　no　ornament　or　other　finery；　and　his　strange　and　fearful　appearance　was　strongly　contrasted　with　the　glittering　raiment　of　his　courtiers　and　the　beauty　of　his　ladies　in　waiting。

When　Prince　Marvel；　with　Nerle　marching　close　behind；　entered　the　great　room；　Terribus　looked　at　him　sharply　a　moment；　and　then　bowed。　And　when　he　bowed　the　eye　upon　the　top　of　his　head　also　looked　sharply　at　the　intruders。

Then　the　king　spoke；　his　voice　sounding　so　sweet　and　agreeable　that　it　almost　shocked　Nerle；　who　had　expected　to　hear　a　roar　like　that　from　a　wild　beast。

〃Why　are　you　here？〃　asked　Terribus。

〃Partly　by　chance　and　partly　from　curiosity；〃　answered　Prince　Marvel。　〃No　one　in　this　island；　except　your　own　people；　had　ever　seen　the　king　of　Spor；　so；　finding　myself　in　your　country；　I　decided　to　come　here　and　have　a　look　at　you。〃

The　faces　of　the　people　who　stood　about　the　throne　wore　frightened　looks　at　the　unheard　of　boldness　of　this　speech　to　their　terrible　monarch。　　But　the　king　merely　nodded　and　inquired：

〃Since　you　have　seen　me；　what　do　you　think　of　me？〃

〃I　am　sorry　you　asked　that　question；〃　returned　the　prince；　〃for　I　must　confess　you　are　a　very　frightful…looking　creature；　and　not　at　all　agreeable　to　gaze　upon。〃

〃Ha！　you　are　honest；　as　well　as　frank；〃　exclaimed　the　king。　　〃But　that　is　the　reason　I　do　not　leave　my　kingdom；　as　you　will　readily　understand。　　And　that　is　the　reason　I　never　permit　strangers　to　come　here；　under　penalty　of　death。　　So　long　as　no　one　knows　the　King　of　Spor　is　a　monster　people　will　not　gossip　about　my　looks；　and　I　am　very　sensitive　regarding　my　personal　appearance。　　You　will　perhaps　understand　that　if　I　could　have　chosen　I　should　have　been　born　beautiful　instead　of　ugly。〃

〃I　certainly　understand　that。　　And　permit　me　to　say　I　wish　you　were　beautiful。　　I　shall　probably　dream　of　you　for　many　nights；〃　added　the　prince。

〃Not　for　many；〃　said　King　Terribus；　quietly。　　〃By　coming　here　you　have　chosen　death；　and　the　dead　do　not　dream。〃

〃Why　should　I　die？〃　inquired　Prince　Marvel；　curiously。

〃Because　you　have　seen　me。　　Should　I　allow　you　to　go　away　you　would　tell　the　world　about　my　ugly　face。　　I　do　not　like　to　kill　you；　believe　me；　but　you　must　pay　the　penalty　of　your　rashnessyou　and　the　man　behind　you。〃

Nerle　smiled　at　this；　but　whether　from　pride　at　being　called　a　man　or　in　pleasurable　anticipation　of　the　sufferings　to　come　I　leave　you　to　guess。

〃Will　you　allow　me　to　object　to　being　killed？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃Certainly；〃　answered　the　king；　courteously。　　〃I　expect　you　to　object。　It　is　natural。　　But　it　will　do　you　no　good。〃

Then　Terribus　turned　to　an　attendant　and　commanded：

〃Send　hither　the　Fool…Killer。〃

At　this　Prince　Marvel　laughed　outright。

〃The　Fool…Killer！〃　he　cried；　〃surely　your　Majesty　does　me　little　credit。　　Am　I；　then；　a　fool？〃

〃You　entered　my　kingdom　uninvited；〃　retorted　the　king；　〃and　you　tell　me　to　my　face　I　am　ugly。　　Moreover；　you　laugh　when　I　condemn　you　to　death。　　From　this　I　conclude　the　Fool…Killer　is　the　proper　one　to　execute　you。　　Behold！〃

Marvel　turned　quickly；　to　find　a　tall；　stalwart　man　standing　behind　him。　　His　features　were　strong　but　very　grave；　and　the　prince　caught　a　look　of　compassion　in　his　eye　as　their　gaze　met。　　His　skin　was　fair　and　without　blemish；　a　robe　of　silver　cloth　fell　from　his　shoulders；　and　in　his　right　hand　he　bore　a　gleaming　sword。

〃Well　met！〃　cried　Marvel；　heartily；　as　he　bowed　to　the　Fool…Killer。　〃I　have　often　heard　your　name　mentioned；　but　'tis　said　in　the　world　that　you　are　a　laggard　in　your　duty。〃

〃Had　I　my　way；〃　answered　the　Fool…Killer；　〃my　blade　would　always　drip。　It　is　my　master；　yonder；　who　thwarts　my　duty。〃　　And　he　nodded　toward　King　Terribus。

〃Then　you　should　exercise　your　right　on　him；　and　cleave　the　ugly　head　from　his　shoulders；〃　declared　the　prince。

〃Nay；　unless　I　interfered　with　the　Fool…Killer；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　should　soon　have　no　subjects　left　to　rule；　for　at　one　time　or　another　they　all　deserve　the　blade。〃

〃Why；　that　may　be　true　enough；〃　replied　Prince　Marvel。　　〃But　I　think；　under　such　circumstances；　your　Fool…Killer　is　a　needless　servant。　　So　I　will　rid　you　of　him　in　a　few　moments。〃

With　that　he　whipped　out　his　sword　and　stood　calmly　confronting　the　Fool…Killer；　whose　grave　face　never　changed　in　expression　as　he　advanced　menacingly　upon　his　intended　victim。　　The　blades　clashed　together；　and　that　of　the　Fool…Killer　broke　short　off　at　the　hilt。　　He　took　a　step　backward；　stumbled　and　fell　prone　upon　the　rocky　floor；　while　Prince　Marvel　sprang　forward　and　pressed　the　point　of　his　sword　against　his　opponent's　breast。

〃Hold！〃　cried　the　king；　starting　to　his　feet。　　〃Would　you　slay　my　Fool…Killer？　　Think　of　the　harm　you　would　do　the　world！〃

〃But　he　is　laggard　and　unfaithful　to　his　calling！〃　answered　the　prince；　sternly。

〃Nevertheless；　if　he　remove　but　one　fool　a　year　he　is　a　benefit　to　mankind；〃　declared　the　king。　　〃Release　him；　I　pray　you！〃

Then　the　victor　withdrew　his　sword　and　stood　aside；　while　the　Fool…Killer　slowly　got　upon　his　feet　and　bowed　humbly　before　the　king。

〃Go！〃　shouted　Terribus；　his　eye　flashing　angrily。　　〃You　have　humiliated　me　before　my　enemy。　　As　an　atonement　see　that　you　kill　me　a　fool　a　day　for　sixty　days。〃

Hearing　this　command；　many　of　the　people　about　the　throne　began　to　tremble；　but　the　king　paid　no　attention　to　their　fears；　and　the　Fool…Killer　bowed　again　before　his　master　and　withdrew　from　the　chamber。



9。　　The　Royal　Dragon　of　Spor


〃Now；〃　said　Terribus；　regarding　the　prince　gloomily；　〃I　must　dispose　of　you　in　another　way。〃

For　a　moment　he　dropped　his　scarlet　head　in　thought。　　Then　he　turned　fiercely　upon　his　attendants。

〃Let　the　Wrestler　come　forward！〃　he　shouted；　as　loudly　as　his　mild　voice　would　carry。

Instantly　a　tall　blackamoor　advanced　from　the　throng　and　cast　off　his　flowing　robe；　showing　a　strong　figure　clad　only　in　a　silver　loincloth。

〃Crack　me　this　fellow's　bones！〃　commanded　Terribus。

〃I　beg　your　Majesty　will　not　compel　me　to　touch　him；〃　said　Prince　Marvel；　with　a　slight　shudder；　〃for　his　skin　is　greasy；　and　will　soil　my　hands。　　Here；　Nerle！〃　he　continued；　turning　to　his　esquire；　〃dispose　of　this　black　man；　and　save　me　the　trouble。〃

Nerle　laughed　pleasantly。　　The　black　was　a　powerfully　built　man；　and　compared　with　Nerle　and　the　prince；　who　had　but　the　stature　of　boys；　he　towered　like　a　very　giant　in　size。　　Nevertheless；　Nerle　did　not　hesitate　to　spring　upon　the　Wrestler；　who　with　a　quick　movement　sent　the　boy　crashing　against　the　stone　pavement。

Nerle　was　much　bruised　by　the　fall；　and　as　he　painfully　raised　himself　to　his　feet　a　great　lump　was　swelling　behind　his　left　ear；　where　his　head　had　struck　the　floor；　and　he　was　so　dizzy　that　the　room　seemed　swimming　around　him　in　a　circle。　　But　he　gave　a　happy　little　laugh；　and　said　to　the　prince；　gratefully：

〃Thank　you　very　much；　my　master！　　The　fall　is　hurting　me　delightfully。　I　almost　feel　as　if　I　could　cry；　and　that　would　be　joy　indeed！〃

〃Well；〃　answered　the　prince；　with　a　sigh；　〃I　see　I　must　get　my　hands　greased　after　all〃for　the　black's　body　had　really　been　greased　to　enable　him　to　elude　the　grasp　of　his　opponents。

But　Marvel　made　a　quick　leap　and　seized　the　Wrestler　firmly　around　the　waist。　　The　next　moment；　to　the　astonishment　of　all；　the　black　man　flew　swiftly　into　the　air；　plunged　through　one　of　the　open　windows　high　up　in　the　wall；　and　disappeared　from　view。　　When　the　king　and　his　people　again　turned　their　wondering　eyes　upon　the　prince　he　was　wiping　his　hands　carefully　upon　a　silk　handkerchief。

At　this　sight　a　pretty　young　girl；　who　stood　near　the　throne；　laughed　aloud；　and　the　sound　of　her　laughter　made　King　Terribus　very　angry。

〃Come　here！〃　he　commanded；　sternly。　　The　girl　stepped　forward；　her　face　now　pale　and　frightened；　while　tear…drops　trembled　upon　the　lashes　that　fringed　her　downcast　eyes。　　〃You　have　dared　to　laugh　at　the　humiliation　of　your　king；〃　said　Terribus；　his　horrid　face　more　crimson　than　ever；　〃and　as　atonement　I　command　that　you　drink　of　the　poisoned　cup。〃

Instantly　a　dwarf　came　near；　bearing　a　beautiful　golden　goblet　in　his　crooked　hands。

〃Drink！〃　he　said；　an　evil　leer　upon　his　face。

The　girl　well　knew　this　goblet　contained　a　vile　poison；　one　drop　of　which　on　her　tongue　would　cause　death；　so　she　hesitated；　trembling　and　shrinking　from　the　ordeal。

Prince　Marvel　looked　into　her　sweet　face　with　pitying　eyes；　and　stepping　quickly　to　her　side；　took　her　hand　in　his。

〃Now　drink！〃　he　said；　smiling　upon　her；　〃the　poison　will　not　hurt　you。〃

She　drank　obediently；　while　the　dwarf　chuckled　with　awful　glee　and　the　king　looked　on　eagerly；　expecting　her　to　fall　dead　at　his　feet。　　But　instead　the　girl　stood　upright　and　pressed　Marvel's　hand；　looking　gratefully　into　his　face。

〃You　are　a　fairy！〃　she　whispered；　so　low　that　no　one　else　heard　her　voice。　　〃I　knew　that　you　would　save　me。〃

〃Keep　my　secret；〃　whispered　the　prince　in　return；　and　still　holding　her　hand　he　led　her　back　to　her　former　place。

King　Terribus　was　almost　wild　with　rage　and　disappointment；　and　his　elephant　nose　twisted　and　squirmed　horribly。

〃So　you　dare　to　thwart　my　commands；　do　you！〃　he　cried；　excitedly。　〃Well；　we　shall　soon　see　which　of　us　is　the　more　powerful。　　I　have　decreed　your　deathand　die　you　shall！〃

For　a　moment　his　eye　roved　around　the　chamber　uncertainly。　　Then　he　shouted；　suddenly：

〃Ho；　there！　　Keepers　of　the　royal　menagerieappear！〃

Three　men　entered　the　room　and　bowed　before　the　king。　　They　were　of　the　Gray　Men　of　the　mountains；　who　had　f