the enchanted island of yew- 第3部分

Instantly　the　deer　disappeared；　and　in　its　place　was　a　handsome　charger；　milk…white　in　color；　with　flowing　mane　and　tail。　　Upon　its　back　was　a　saddle　sparkling　with　brilliant　gems　sewn　upon　fine　dressed　leather。

The　girls　uttered　cries　of　astonishment　and　delight；　and　the　fairy　said：

〃You　see；　these　transformations　are　not　at　all　difficult。　　I　must　now　have　a　sword。〃

She　plucked　a　twig　from　a　near…by　tree　and　cast　it　upon　the　ground　at　her　feet。　　Again　she　waved　her　wandand　the　twig　turned　to　a　gleaming　sword；　richly　engraved；　that　seemed　to　the　silent　watchers　to　tremble　slightly　in　its　sheath；　as　if　its　heart　of　steel　throbbed　with　hopes　of　battles　to　come。

〃And　now　I　must　have　shield　and　armor；　said　the　fairy；　gaily。　　〃This　will　make　a　shield；〃and　she　stripped　a　sheet　of　loose　bark　from　a　tree…trunk；〃but　for　armor　I　must　have　something　better。　　Will　you　give　me　your　cloak？〃

This　appeal　was　made　to　Seseley；　and　the　baron's　daughter　drew　her　white　velvet　cloak　from　her　shoulders　and　handed　it　to　the　fairy。　　A　moment　later　it　was　transformed　into　a　suit　of　glittering　armor　that　seemed　fashioned　of　pure　silver　inlaid　with　gold；　while　the　sheet　of　bark　at　the　same　time　became　a　handsome　shield；　with　the　figures　of　three　girls　graven　upon　it。　　Seseley　recognized　the　features　as　those　of　herself　and　her　comrades；　and　noted　also　that　they　appeared　sitting　at　the　edge　of　a　forest；　the　great　trees　showing　plainly　in　the　background。

〃I　shall　be　your　champion；　you　see；〃　laughed　the　fairy；　gleefully；　〃and　maybe　I　shall　be　able　to　repay　you　for　the　loss　of　your　cloak。〃

〃I　do　not　mind　the　cloak；〃　returned　the　child；　who　had　been　greatly　interested　in　these　strange　transformations。　　〃But　it　seems　impossible　that　a　dainty　little　girl　like　you　can　ride　this　horse　and　carry　these　heavy　arms。〃

〃I'll　not　be　a　girl　much　longer；〃　said　the　little　creature。　　〃Here；　take　my　wand；　and　transform　me　into　a　noble　youth！〃

Again　the　pretty　fairy　kneeled　before　Seseley；　her　dainty；　rounded　limbs　of　white　and　rose　showing　plainly　through　her　gauzy　attire。　　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　afte