pon
one another very neatly; but the pile got so high at last that the
prince was obliged to assist the last thieves to leap to the top of the
heap before they completely lost their senses.

I have no doubt our prince, feeling himself yet strange in the new form
he had acquired, and freshly transported from the forest glades in
which he had always lived, was fully as much astonished at his deed of
valor as were the robbers themselves; and if he shuddered a little when
looking upon the heap of senseless thieves you must forgive him this
weakness. For he straightway resolved to steel his heart to such
sights and to be every bit as stern and severe as a mortal knight would
have been.

Throwing down his staff he ran to the cave again, and stepping between
the sword points he approached the pile of casks and held out his arms
to the boy who was perched upon the top.

"The thieves are conquered," he cried. "Jump down!"

"I won't," said the boy.

"Why not?" inquired the prince.

"Can't you see I'm very miserable?" asked the boy, in return; "don't
you understand that every minute I expect to fall upon those sword
points?"

"But I will catch you," cried the prince.

"I don't want you to catch me," said the boy. "I want to be miserable.
It's the first chance I've ever had, and I'm enjoying my misery very
much."

This speech so astonished Prince Marvel that for a moment he stood
motionless. Then he retorted, angrily:

"You're a fool!"

"If I wasn't so miserable up here, I'd come down and thrash you for
that," said the boy, with a sigh.

This answer so greatly annoyed Prince Marvel that he gave the central
cask of the pyramid a sudden push, and the next moment the casks were
tumbling in every direction, while the boy fell headlong in their midst.

But Marvel caught him deftly in his arms, and so saved him from the
sword points.

"There!" he said, standing the boy upon his feet; "now you are released
from your misery."

"And I should be glad to punish you for your interference," declared
the boy, gloomily eying his preserver, "had you not saved my life by
catching me. According to the code of honor of knighthood I can not
harm one who has saved my life until I have returned the obligation.
Therefore, for the present I shall pardon your insulting speeches and
actions."

"But you have also saved my life," answered Prince Marvel; "for had you
not warned me of the robbers' return they would surely have caught