eased with his people. But he stopped his horse in the midst of
the market place, and called, in a voice loud and clear as the cry of a
silver trumpet, 'Go and find your own. Bury your dead, and bring home
your wounded.' Then he turned him gloomily to the palace.
Just as they reached the gates, Peter, who, as they went, had been
telling his tale to Curdie, ended it with the words:
'And so there I was, in the nick of time to save the two princesses!'
'The two princesses, Father! The one on the great red horse was the
housemaid,' said Curdie, and ran to open the gates for the king.
They found Derba returned before them, and already busy preparing them
food. The king put up his charger with his own hands, rubbed him down,
and fed him.
When they had washed, and eaten and drunk, he called the colonel, and
told Curdie and the page to bring out the traitors and the beasts, and
attend him to the market place.
By this time the people were crowding back into the city, bearing their
dead and wounded. And there was lamentation in Gwyntystorm, for no one
could comfort himself, and no one had any to comfort him. The nation
was victorious, but the people were conquered.
The king stood in the centre of the market place, upon the steps of the
ancient cross. He had laid aside his helmet and put on his crown, but
he stood all armed beside, with his sword in his hand. He called the
people to him, and, for all the terror of the beasts, they dared not
disobey him. Those, even, who were carrying their wounded laid them
down, and drew near trembling.
Then the king said to Curdie and the page:
'Set the evil men before me.'
He looked upon them for a moment in mingled anger and pity, then turned
to the people and said:
'Behold your trust! Ye slaves, behold your leaders! I would have
freed you, but ye would not be free. Now shall ye be ruled with a rod
of iron, that ye may learn what freedom is, and love it and seek it.
These wretches I will send where they shall mislead you no longer.'
He made a sign to Curdie, who immediately brought up the legserpent.
To the body of the animal they bound the lord chamberlain, speechless
with horror. The butler began to shriek and pray, but they bound him
on the back of Clubhead. One after another, upon the largest of the
creatures they bound the whole seven, each through the unveiling terror
looking the villain he was. Then said the king:
'I thank you, my good beasts;
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