ribus.
"No one has ever yet found a way to enter the land of Twi; yet there is
a rumor that it is ruled by a mighty personage called the High Ki."

"And does the rumor state what the High Ki of Twi is like?"

"No, indeed," returned the king, smiling, "so it will do you no good to
be curious. And now farewell, and may good luck attend you. Yet bear
in mind the fact that King Terribus of Spor owes you a mighty debt of
gratitude; and if you ever need my services, you have but to call on
me, and I shall gladly come to your assistance."

"I thank you," said Marvel, "but there is small chance of my needing
help. Farewell, and may your future life be pleasant and happy!"

With this he sprang to the saddle of his prancing charger and, followed
by Nerle, rode slowly through the stone arch. The courtiers and ladies
had flocked from the palace to witness their departure, and the giants
and dwarfs and Gray Men were drawn up in long lines to speed the king's
guests. So it was a brilliant sight that Marvel and Nerle looked back
on; but once they were clear of the arch, the great stone rolled back
into its place, shutting them out completely from the Kingdom of Spor,
with its turreted castle and transformed king.

13. The Hidden Kingdom of Twi

Knowing that at last they were free to roam according to their desire,
the travelers rode gaily along the paths, taking but scant heed of
their way.

"Our faces are set toward new adventures," remarked the prince. "Let
us hope they will prove more pleasant than the last."

"To be sure!" responded Nerle. "Let us hope, at any rate, that we
shall suffer more privations and encounter more trouble than we did in
that mountainous Kingdom of Spor." Then he added: "For one reason, I
regret you are my master."

"What is that reason?" asked the prince, turning to smile upon his
esquire.

"You have a way of overcoming all difficulties without any trouble
whatsoever, and that deprives me of any chance of coming to harm while
in your company."

"Cheer up, my boy!" cried Marvel. "Did I not say there are new
adventures before us? We may not come through them so easily as we
came through the others."

"That is true," replied Nerle; "it is always best to hope." And then he
inquired: "Why do you stop here, in the middle of the path?"

"Because the path has ended rather suddenly," answered Marvel. "Here
is a thick hedge of prickly briers barring our way."

Nerle looked over his m