cking the twin doors behind them.

"We have one advantage in being singular," said Nerle, cheerfully; "and
that is we are not likely to starve to death. For we can eat the
portions of our missing twins as well as our own."

"I should think you would enjoy starving," remarked the prince.

"No; I believe I have more exquisite suffering in store for me, since I
have met that gentle pair of Ki-Ki," said Nerle.

While they were eating the two captains came in and sat down in two
chairs. These captains seemed friendly fellows, and after watching the
strangers for a while they remarked:

"We are glad to see you able to eat so heartily; for to-morrow you will
probably die."

"That is by no means certain," replied Marvel, cutting a piece from one
of the twin birds on a platter before him--to the extreme surprise of
the captains, who had always before seen both birds carved alike at the
same time. "Your gray-bearded old Ki say we shall not die."

"True," answered the captains. "But the Ki-Ki have declared you shall."

"Their powers seem to be equal," said Nerle, "and we are to be taken
before the High Ki for judgment."

"Therein lies your danger," returned the captains, speaking in the same
tones and with the same accents on their words. "For it is well known
the Ki-Ki has more influence with the High Ki than the Ki has."

"Hold on!" cried Nerle; "you are making me dizzy again. I can't keep
track of all these Kis."

"What is the High Ki like?" asked Prince Marvel, who was much
interested in the conversation of the captains. But this question the
officers seemed unable to answer. They shook their heads slowly and
said:

"The High Ki are not visible to the people of Twi. Only in cases of
the greatest importance are the High Ki ever bothered or even
approached by the Ki and the Ki-Ki, who are supposed to rule the land
according to their own judgment. But if they chance to disagree, then
the matter is carried before the High Ki, who live in a palace
surrounded by high walls, in which there are no gates. Only these
rulers have ever seen the other side of the walls, or know what the
High Ki are like."

"That is strange," said the prince. "But we, ourselves, it seems, are
to see the High Ki to-morrow, and whoever they may chance to be, we
hope to remain alive after the interview."

"That is a vain hope," answered the captains, "for it is well known
that the High Ki usually decide in favor of the Ki-Ki, and a