King of
Barodia aimed a blow at his adversary's head which Merriwig parried.
This went on three or four times, and then Merriwig put into practice
a remarkable trick which the Captain of his Bodyguard had taught him.
It was his turn to parry, but instead of doing this, he struck again
at his opponent's head; and if the latter in sheer surprise had not
stumbled and fallen, there might have been a very serious ending to
the affair.

Noon found them still at it; cut and parry, cut and parry; at each
stroke the opposing armies roared their applause. When darkness put an
end to the conflict, honours were evenly divided.

It was a stiff but proud King of Euralia who received the
congratulations of his subjects that night; so proud that he had to
pour out his heart to somebody. He write to his daughter.

"MY DEAR HYACINTH,

"You will be glad to hear that your father is going on well and that
Euralia is as determined as ever to uphold its honour and dignity.
To-day I fought the King of Barodia, and considering that, most
unfairly, he was using a Magic Sword, I think I may say that I did
well. The Countess Belvane will be interested to hear that I made
4,638 strokes at my opponent and parried 4,637 strokes from him. This
is good for a man of my age. Do you remember that magic ointment my
aunt used to give me? Have we any of it left?

"I played a very clever trick the other day by pretending to be a
swineherd. I talked to a real one I met for quite a long time about
swine without his suspecting me. The Countess might be interested to
hear this. It would have been very awkward for me if it had been
found out who I was.

"I hope you are getting along all right. Do you consult the Countess
Belvane at all? I think she would be able to advise you in any
difficulties. A young girl needs a guiding hand, and I think the
Countess would be able to advise you in any difficulties. Do you
consult her at all?

"I am afraid this is going to be a long war. There doesn't seem to be
a wizard in the country at all, and without one it is a little
difficult to know how to go on. I say my spell every now and
then--you remember the one:

'_Bo, boll, bill bole._
_Wo, woll, will, wole._'

and it certainly keeps off dragons, but we don't seem to get any
nearer defeating the enemy's army. You might tell the Countess
Belvane that about my spell; she would be interested.

"To-morrow I go on with my fight with the Kin