the enchanted island of yew-第8章

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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　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