the enchanted island of yew-第5章

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nd　the　next　moment　the　casks　were　tumbling　in　every　direction；　while　the　boy　fell　headlong　in　their　midst。

But　Marvel　caught　him　deftly　in　his　arms；　and　so　saved　him　from　the　sword　points。

〃There！〃　he　said；　standing　the　boy　upon　his　feet；　〃now　you　are　released　from　your　misery。〃

〃And　I　should　be　glad　to　punish　you　for　your　interference；〃　declared　the　boy；　gloomily　eying　his　preserver；　〃had　you　not　saved　my　life　by　catching　me。　　According　to　the　code　of　honor　of　knighthood　I　can　not　harm　one　who　has　saved　my　life　until　I　have　returned　the　obligation。　Therefore；　for　the　present　I　shall　pardon　your　insulting　speeches　and　actions。〃

〃But　you　have　also　saved　my　life；〃　answered　Prince　Marvel；　〃for　had　you　not　warned　me　of　the　robbers'　return　they　would　surely　have　caught　me。〃

〃True；〃　said　the　boy；　brightening　up；　〃therefore　our　score　is　now　even。　　But　take　care　not　to　affront　me　again；　for　hereafter　I　will　show　you　no　mercy！〃

Prince　Marvel　looked　at　the　boy　with　wonder。　　He　was　about　his　own　size；　yet　strong　and　well　formed；　and　he　would　have　been　handsome　except　for　the　expression　of　discontent　upon　his　face。　　Yet　his　manner　and　words　were　so　absurd　and　unnatural　that　the　prince　was　more　amused　than　angered　by　his　new　acquaintance；　and　presently　laughed　in　his　face。

〃If　all　the　people　in　this　island　are　like　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　have　lots　of　fun　with　them。　　And　you　are　only　a　boy；　after　all。〃

〃I'm　bigger　than　you！〃　declared　the　other；　glaring　fiercely　at　the　prince。

〃How　much　bigger？〃　asked　Marvel；　his　eyes　twinkling。

〃Oh；　ever　so　much！〃

〃Then　fetch　along　that　coil　of　rope；　and　follow　me；〃　said　Prince　Marvel。

〃Fetch　the　rope　yourself！〃　retorted　the　boy；　bluntly。　　〃I'm　not　your　servant。〃　Then　he　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　coolly　walked　out　of　the　cave　to　look　at　the　pile　of　senseless　robbers。

Prince　Marvel　made　no　reply；　but　taking　the　coil　of　rope　on　his　shoulder　he　carried　it　to　where　the　thieves　lay　and　threw　it　down　beside　them。　　Then　he　cut　lengths　from　the　coil　with　his　sword　and　bound　the　limbs　of　each　robber　securely。　　Within　a　half…hour　he　had　laid　out　a　row　of　thieves　extending　half　way　across　the　grassy　plain；　and　on　counting　their　number　he　found　he　had　captured　fifty…nine　of　them。

This　task　being　accomplished　and　the　robbers　rendered　helpless；　Prince　Marvel　turned　to　the　boy　who　stood　watching　him。

〃Get　a　suit　of　armor　from　the　cave；　and　a　strong　sword；　and　then　return　here；〃　he　said；　in　a　stern　voice。

〃Why　should　I　do　that？〃　asked　the　boy；　rather　impudently。

〃Because　I　am　going　to　fight　you　for　disobeying　my　orders；　and　if　you　do　not　protect　yourself　I　shall　probably　kill　you。〃

〃That　sounds　pleasant；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃But　if　you　should　prove　my　superior　in　skill　I　beg　you　will　not　kill　me　at　once；　but　let　me　die　a　lingering　death。〃

〃Why？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃Because　I　shall　suffer　more；　and　that　will　be　delightful。〃

〃I　am　not　anxious　to　kill　you；　nor　to　make　you　suffer；〃　said　Marvel；　〃all　that　I　ask　is　that　you　acknowledge　me　your　master。〃

〃I　won't！〃　answered　the　boy。　　〃I　acknowledge　no　master　in　all　the　world！〃

〃Then　you　must　fight；〃　declared　the　prince；　gravely。　　〃If　you　win；　I　will　promise　to　serve　you　faithfully；　and　if　I　conquer　you；　then　you　must　acknowledge　me　your　master；　and　obey　my　commands。〃

〃Agreed！〃　cried　the　boy；　with　sudden　energy；　and　he　rushed　into　the　cave　and　soon　returned　clad　in　armor　and　bearing　a　sword　and　shield。　On　the　shield　was　pictured　a　bolt　of　lightning。


〃Lightning　will　soon　strike　those　three　girls　whose　champion　you　seem　to　be；〃　he　said　tauntingly。

〃The　three　girls　defy　your　lightning！〃　returned　the　prince　with　a　smile。　　〃I　see　you　are　brave　enough。〃

〃Brave！　　Why　should　I　not　be？〃　answered　the　boy　proudly。　　〃I　am　the　Lord　Nerle；　the　son　of　Neggar；　the　chief　baron　of　Heg！〃

The　other　bowed　low。

〃I　am　pleased　to　know　your　station；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　called　Prince　Marvel；　and　this　is　my　first　adventure。〃

〃And　likely　to　be　your　last；〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　sneeringly。　　〃For　I　am　stronger　than　you；　and　I　have　fought　many　times　with　full　grown　men。〃

〃Are　you　ready？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel；　for　answer。

〃Yes。〃

Then　the　swords　clashed　and　sparks　flew　from　the　blades。　　But　it　was　not　for　long。　　Suddenly　Nerle's　sword　went　flying　through　the　air　and　shattered　its　blade　against　a　wall　of　rock。　　He　scowled　at　Prince　Marvel　a　moment；　who　smiled　back　at　him。　　Then　the　boy　rushed　into　the　cave　and　returned　with　another　sword。

Scarcely　had　the　weapons　crossed　again　when　with　a　sudden　blow　Prince　Marvel　snapped　Nerle's　blade　in　two；　and　followed　this　up　with　a　sharp　slap　upon　his　ear　with　the　flat　of　his　own　sword　that　fairly　bewildered　the　boy；　and　made　him　sit　down　on　the　grass　to　think　what　had　happened　to　him。

Then　Prince　Marvel's　merry　laugh　rang　far　across　the　hills；　and　so　delighted　was　he　at　the　astonished　expression　upon　Nerle's　face　that　it　was　many　minutes　before　he　could　control　his　merriment　and　ask　his　foeman　if　he　had　had　enough　fight。

〃I　suppose　I　have；〃　replied　the　boy；　rubbing　his　ear　tenderly。　　〃That　blow　stings　most　deliciously。　　But　it　is　a　hard　thought　that　the　son　of　Baron　Neggar　should　serve　Prince　Marvel！〃

〃Do　not　worry　about　that；〃　said　the　prince；　〃for　I　assure　you　my　rank　is　so　far　above　your　own　that　it　is　no　degradation　for　the　son　of　Neggar　to　serve　me。　　But　come；　we　must　dispose　of　these　thieves。　　What　is　the　proper　fate　for　such　men？〃

〃They　are　always　hanged；〃　answered　Nerle；　getting　upon　his　feet。

〃Well；　there　are　trees　handy；〃　remarked　the　prince；　although　his　girlish　heart　insisted　on　making　him　shiver　in　spite　of　his　resolve　to　be　manly　and　stern。　　〃Let　us　get　to　work　and　hang　them　as　soon　as　possible。　　And　then　we　can　proceed　upon　our　journey。〃

Nerle　now　willingly　lent　his　assistance　to　his　new　master；　and　soon　they　had　placed　a　rope　around　the　neck　of　each　thief　and　were　ready　to　dangle　them　all　from　the　limbs　of　the　trees。

But　at　this　juncture　the　thieves　began　to　regain　consciousness；　and　now　Wul…Takim；　the　big；　red…bearded　king　of　the　thieves；　sat　up　and　asked：

〃Who　is　our　conqueror？〃

〃Prince　Marvel；〃　answered　Nerle。

〃And　what　army　assisted　him？〃　inquired　Wul…Takim；　curiously　gazing　upon　the　prince。

〃He　conquered　you　alone　and　single…handed；〃　said　Nerle。

Hearing　this；　the　big　king　began　to　weep　bitterly；　and　the　tear…drops　ran　down　his　face　in　such　a　stream　that　Prince　Marvel　ordered　Nerle　to　wipe　them　away　with　his　handkerchief；　as　the　thief's　hands　were　tied　behind　his　back。

〃To　think！〃　sobbed　Wul…Takim；　miserably；　〃only　to　think；　that　after　all　my　terrible　deeds　and　untold　wickedness；　I　have　been　captured　by　a　mere　boy！　　Oh；　boo…hoo！　boo…hoo！　boo…hoo！　　It　is　a　terrible　disgrace！〃

〃You　will　not　have　to　bear　it　long；〃　said　the　prince；　soothingly。　　〃I　am　going　to　hang　you　in　a　few　minutes。〃

〃Thanks！　　Thank　you　very　much！〃　answered　the　king；　ceasing　to　weep。　〃I　have　always　expected　to　be　hanged　some　day；　and　I　am　glad　no　one　but　you　two　boys　will　witness　me　when　my　feet　begin　kicking　about。〃

〃I　shall　not　kick；〃　declared　another　of　the　thieves；　who　had　also　regained　his　senses。　　〃I　shall　sing　while　I　am　being　hanged。〃

〃But　you　can　not；　my　good　Gunder；〃　protested　the　king；　〃for　the　rope　will　cut　off　your　breath；　and　no　man　can　sing　without　breath。〃

〃Then　I　shall　whistle；〃　said　Gunder；　composedly。

The　king　cast　at　him　a　look　of　reproach；　and　turning　to　Prince　Marvel　he　said：

〃It　will　be　a　great　task　to　string　up　so　many　thieves。　　You　look　tired。　　Permit　me　to　assist　you　to　hang　the　others；　and　then　I　will　climb　into　a　tree　and　hang　myself　from　a　strong　branch；　with　as　little　bother　as　possible。〃

〃Oh；　I　won't　think　of　troubling　you；〃　exclaimed　Marvel；　with　a　laugh。　〃Having　conquered　you　alone；　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　hang　you　without　assistancesave　that　of　my　esquire。〃

〃It's　no　trouble；　I　assure　you；　but　suit　your　own　convenience；〃　said　the　thief；　carelessly。　　Then　he　cast　his　eye　toward　the　cave　and　asked：　〃What　will　you　do　with　all　our　treasure？〃

〃Give　it　to　the　poor；〃　said　Prince　Marvel；　promptly。

〃What　poor？〃

〃Oh；　the　poorest　people　I　can　find。〃

〃Will　you　permit　me　to　advise　you　in　this　matter？〃　aske