the enchanted island of yew-第19部分

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Wul…Takim　also　begged　to　join　the　party；　and　so　also　did　King　Terribus；　who　had　never　before　been　outside　of　his　own　Kingdom　of　Spor；　so　Prince　Marvel　willingly　consented。

The　fifty…eight　reformed　thieves；　led　by　Gunder；　returned　to　their　cave；　where　they　were　living　comfortably　on　the　treasure　Prince　Marvel　had　given　them；　and　the　Gray　Men　and　giants　and　dwarfs　of　Spor　departed　for　their　own　country。

In　the　morning　Prince　Marvel　led　his　own　gay　cavalcade　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge；　and　they　rode　merrily　away　in　search　of　adventure。

By　his　side　were　the　High　Ki；　mounted　upon　twin　chestnut　ponies　that　had　remarkably　slender　limbs　and　graceful；　arched　necks。　　The　ponies　moved　with　exactly　the　same　steps；　and　shook　their　manes　and　swished　their　tails　at　exactly　the　same　time。　　Behind　the　prince　and　the　High　Ki　were　King　Terribus；　riding　his　great　white　charger；　and　Wul…Takim　on　a　stout　horse　of　jet…black　color。　　The　two　ancient　Ki　and　Nerle；　being　of　lesser　rank　than　the　others；　brought　up　the　rear。

〃When　we　return　to　our　Land　of　Twi；〃　said　the　High　Ki；　〃we　shall　close　up　for　all　time　the　hole　you　made　in　the　hedge；　for；　if　we　are　different　from　the　rest　of　the　world；　it　is　better　that　we　remain　in　seclusion。〃

〃I　think　it　is　right　you　should　do　that；〃　replied　Prince　Marvel。　　〃Yet　I　do　not　regret　that　I　cut　a　hole　in　your　hedge。〃

〃It　was　the　hedge　that　delayed　us　in　coming　more　promptly　to　your　assistance；〃　said　Terribus；　〃for　we　had　hard　work　to　find　the　hole　you　had　made；　and　so　lost　much　valuable　time。〃

〃All　is　well　that　ends　well！〃　laughed　the　prince。　　〃You　certainly　came　in　good　time　to　rescue　us　from　our　difficulties。〃

They　turned　into　a　path　that　led　to　Auriel；　which　Nerle　had　heard　spoken　of　as　〃the　Kingdom　of　the　Setting　Sun。〃

Soon　the　landscape　grew　very　pleasant　to　look　upon；　the　meadows　being　broad　and　green；　with　groups　of　handsome　trees　standing　about。　　The　twilight　of　the　Land　of　Twi　was　now　replaced　by　bright　sunshine；　and　in　the　air　was　the　freshness　of　the　near…by　sea。

At　evening　they　came　to　a　large　farmhouse；　where　the　owner　welcomed　them　hospitably　and　gave　them　the　best　his　house　afforded。

In　answer　to　their　questions　about　the　Kingdom　of　Auriel；　he　shook　his　head　sadly　and　replied：

〃It　is　a　rich　and　beautiful　country；　but　has　fallen　under　great　misfortunes。　　For　when　the　good　king　died；　about　two　years　ago；　the　kingdom　was　seized　by　a　fierce　and　cruel　sorcerer；　named　Kwytoffle；　who　rules　the　people　with　great　severity；　and　makes　them　bring　him　all　their　money　and　valuable　possessions。　　So　every　one　is　now　very　poor　and　unhappy；　and　that　is　a　great　pity　in　a　country　so　fair　and　fertile。〃

〃But　why　do　not　the　people　rebel？〃　asked　Nerle。

〃They　dare　not　rebel；〃　answered　the　farmer；　〃because　they　fear　the　sorcery　of　Kwytoffle。　　If　they　do　not　obey　him　he　threatens　to　change　them　into　grasshoppers　and　June…bugs。〃

〃Has　he　ever　changed　any　one　into　a　grasshopper　or　a　June…bug？〃　asked　Prince　Marvel。

〃No；　but　the　people　are　too　frightened　to　oppose　him；　and　so　he　does　not　get　the　opportunity。　　And　he　has　an　army　of　fierce　soldiers；　who　are　accustomed　to　beat　the　people　terribly　if　they　do　not　carry　every　bit　of　their　wealth　to　the　sorcerer。　　So　there　is　no　choice　but　to　obey　him。〃

〃We　certainly　ought　to　hang　this　wicked　creature！〃　exclaimed　Wul…Takim。

〃I　wish　I　had　brought　my　Fool…Killer　with　me；〃　sighed　King　Terribus；　〃for　I　could　have　kept　him　quite　busy　in　this　kingdom。〃

〃Can　not　something　be　done　to　rescue　these　poor　people　from　their　sad　fate？〃　asked　the　lovely　High　Ki；　anxiously。

〃We　will　make　a　call　upon　this　Kwytoffle　to…morrow；〃　answered　Prince　Marvel；　〃and　see　what　the　fellow　is　like。〃

〃Alas！　　Alas！〃　wailed　the　good　farmer；　〃you　will　all　become　grasshoppers　and　June…bugsevery　one　of　you！〃

But　none　of　the　party　seemed　to　fear　that；　and　having　passed　the　night　comfortably　with　the　farmer　they　left　his　house　and　journeyed　on　into　the　Kingdom　of　Auriel。

Before　noon　they　came　upon　the　edge　of　a　forest；　where　a　poor　man　was　chopping　logs　into　firewood。　　Seeing　Prince　Marvel's　party　approach；　this　man　ran　toward　them　waving　his　hands　and　shouting　excitedly：

〃Take　the　other　path！　　Take　the　other　path！〃

〃And　why　should　we　take　the　other　path？〃　inquired　the　prince；　reining　in　his　steed。

〃Because　this　one　leads　to　the　castle　of　the　great　sorcerer；　Kwytoffle；〃　answered　the　man。

〃But　there　is　where　we　wish　to　go；〃　said　Marvel。

〃What！　　You　wish　to　go　there？〃　cried　the　man。　　〃Then　you　will　be　robbed　and　enslaved！〃

〃Not　as　long　as　we　are　able　to　fight；〃　laughed　the　big　Wul…Takim。

〃If　you　resist　the　sorcerer；　you　will　be　turned　into　grasshoppers　and　June…bugs；〃　declared　the　man；　staring　at　them　in　wonder。

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　asked　Marvel。

〃Kwytoffle　says　so。　　He　promises　to　enchant　every　one　who　dares　defy　his　power。〃

〃Has　any　one　ever　yet　dared　defy　him？〃　asked　Nerle。

〃Certainly　not！〃　said　the　man。　　〃No　one　wishes　to　become　a　June…bug　or　a　grasshopper。　　No　one　dares　defy　him。〃。

〃I　am　anxious　to　see　this　sorcerer；〃　exclaimed　King　Terribus。　　〃He　ought　to　prove　an　interesting　person；　for　he　is　able　to　accomplish　his　purposes　by　threats　alone。〃

〃Then　let　us　ride　on；〃　said　Marvel。

〃Dear　us！　　Dear　us！〃　remonstrated　the　bald…headed　Ki；　〃are　we　to　become　grasshoppers；　then？〃

〃We　shall　see；〃　returned　the　prince；　briefly。

〃With　your　long　legs；〃　added　the　pretty　pair　of　High　Ki；　laughingly；　〃you　ought　to　be　able　to　jump　farther　than　any　other　grasshopper　in　the　kingdom。〃

〃Great　Kika…koo！〃　cried　the　Ki；　nervously；　〃what　a　fate！　what　a　terrible　fate！　　And　your　Highnesses；　I　suppose；　will　become　June…bugs；　and　flutter　your　wings　with　noises　like　buzz…saws！〃



21。　　The　Wonderful　Book　of　Magic


Whatever　their　fears　might　be；　none　of　Prince　Marvel's　party　hesitated　to　follow　him　along　the　path　through　the　forest　in　search　of　the　sorcerer；　and　by　and　by　they　came　upon　a　large　clearing。　　In　the　middle　of　this　open　space　was　a　big　building　in　such　bad　repair　that　its　walls　were　tumbling　down　in　several　places；　and　all　around　it　the　ground　was　uncared　for　and　littered　with　rubbish。　　A　man　was　walking　up　and　down　in　front　of　this　building；　with　his　head　bowed　low；　but　when　he　heard　the　sound　of　approaching　horses'　hoofs　he　looked　up　and　stared　for　a　moment　in　amazement。　　Then；　with　a　shout　of　rage；　he　rushed　toward　them　and　caught　Prince　Marvel's　horse　by　the　bridle。

〃How　dare　you！〃　he　cried；　〃how　dare　you　enter　my　forest？〃

Marvel　jerked　his　bridle　from　the　man's　grasp　and　said　in　return：

〃Who　are　you？〃

〃Me！　　Who　am　I？　　Why；　I　am　the　great　and　powerful　Kwytoffle！　　So　beware！　　Beware　my　sorcery！〃

They　all　looked　at　the　man　curiously。　　He　was　short　and　very　fat；　and　had　a　face　like　a　puff…ball；　with　little　red　eyes　and　scarcely　any　nose　at　all。　　He　wore　a　black　gown　with　scarlet　grasshoppers　and　june…bugs　embroidered　upon　the　cloth；　and　his　hat　was　high　and　peaked；　with　an　imitation　grasshopper　of　extraordinary　size　perched　upon　its　point。　　In　his　right　hand　he　carried　a　small　black　wand；　and　around　his　neck　hung　a　silver　whistle　on　a　silver　cord。

Seeing　that　the　strangers　were　gazing　on　him　so　earnestly；　Kwytoffle　thought　they　were　frightened；　so　he　said　again；　in　a　big　voice：

〃Beware　my　vengeance！〃

〃Beware　yourself！〃　retorted　the　prince。　　〃For　if　you　do　not　treat　us　more　respectfully；　I　shall　have　you　flogged。〃

〃What！　　Flog　me！〃　shouted　Kwytoffle；　furiously。　　〃For　this　I　will　turn　every　one　of　you　into　grasshoppersunless　you　at　once　give　me　all　the　wealth　you　possess！〃

〃Poor　man！〃　exclaimed　Nerle；　〃I　can　see　you　are　longing　for　that　flogging。　　Will　you　have　it　now？〃　and　he　raised　his　riding…whip　above　his　head。

Kwytoffle　stumbled　backward　a　few　paces　and　blew　shrilly　upon　his　silver　whistle。　　Instantly　a　number　of　soldiers　came　running　from　the　building；　others　following　quickly　after　them　until　fully　a　hundred　rough…looking　warriors；　armed　with　swords　and　axes；　had　formed　in　battle　array；　facing　the　little　party　of　Prince　Marvel。

〃Arrest　these　strangers！〃　commanded　Kwytoffle；　in　a　voice　like　a　roar。　〃Capture　them　and　bind　them　securely；　and　then　I　will　change　them　all　into　grasshoppers！〃

〃All　right；〃　answered　the　captain　of　the　soldiers；　and　then　he　turned　to　his　men　and　shouted：　〃Forwarddouble…quickmarch！〃

They　came　on　with　drawn　swords；　at　first　running；　and　then　gradually　dropping　into　a　walk；　as　they　beheld　Nerle；　Wul…Takim；　King　Terribus　and　Marvel　standing　quietly　waiting　to　receive　them；　weapons　in　hand　and　ready　for　battle。　　A　few　paces　off　the　soldiers　hesitated　and　stopped　altogether；　and　Kwytoffle　yelled　at　the　captain：

〃Why　don't　you　go　on？　　Why　don't　you　capture　them？　　Why　don't　you　fight　them？〃

〃Why；　they　have　drawn　their　swords！〃　responded　the　captain；　reproachfully。

〃Who　cares？〃　roared　the　sorcerer。

〃We　care；〃　said　the　captain；　giving　a　shudder；　as　he　looked　upon　the　strangers。　　〃Their　swords　are　sharp；　and　some　of　us　would　get　hurt。〃

〃You're　cowards！〃　shrieked　the　enraged　Kwytoffle。　　〃I'll　turn　you　all　into　June…bugs！〃

At　this　threat　the　soldiers　dropped　their　swords　and　axes；　and　all　fell　upon　their　knees；　trembling　visibly　and　imploring　their　c