s 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 foun