ed the
dwarfs, who were glad to rush from the room and escape.
Nerle wiped the tears from his eyes, for he was sorely disappointed at
having again escaped all pain and discomfort; but Prince Marvel seated
himself quietly upon a stool and looked at the scowling face of King
Terribus with real amusement.
The monarch of Spor had never before been so foiled and scorned by any
living creature. Defeated and humbled before his own people, he bowed
his crimson head on his hands and sullenly regarded his foe with his
top eye. Then it was that the idea came to him that no ordinary mortal
could have thwarted him so easily, and he began to fear he was
dealing--perhaps unawares--with some great magician or sorcerer. That
a fairy should have assumed a mortal form he never once considered, for
such a thing was until then unheard of in the Enchanted Island of Yew.
But with the knowledge that he had met his master, whoever he might
prove to be, and that further attempts upon the stranger's life might
lead to his own undoing, King Terribus decided to adopt a new line of
conduct, hoping to accomplish by stratagem what he could not do by
force. To be sure, there remained his regiment of Giants, the pride of
his kingdom; but Terribus dreaded to meet with another defeat; and he
was not at all sure, after what had happened, that the giants would
succeed in conquering or destroying the strangers.
"After all," he thought, "my only object in killing them was to prevent
their carrying news of my monstrous appearance to the outside world; so
if I can but manage to keep them forever in my kingdom it will answer
my purpose equally well."
As the result of this thought he presently raised his head and spoke to
Prince Marvel in a quiet and even cheerful voice.
"Enough of these rude and boisterous games," said he, with a smile that
showed his white teeth in a repulsive manner. "They may have seemed to
my people an ill welcome to my good friend, Prince Marvel; yet they
were only designed to show the powers of the mighty magician who has
become my guest. Nay, do not deny it, Prince; from the first I guessed
your secret, and to prove myself right I called my servants to oppose
you, being sure they could not do you an injury. But no more of such
fooling,--and pray forgive my merry game at your expense. Henceforth
we shall be friends, and you are heartily welcome to the best my
kingdom affords."
With this speech Terribus stepped down fro
|