e 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.

A