the enchanted island of yew-第22节

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i　and　our　other　friends。〃

〃But　suppose　something　should　happen　to　you？〃　inquired　the　prince；　anxiously。

〃In　that　case；〃　said　Nerle；　〃you　can　avenge　me。〃

The　advice　was　so　reasonable；　under　the　circumstances；　that　the　prince　decided　to　act　upon　it。

〃Very　well；〃　said　he；　〃go　and　search　the　castle；　and　I　will　remain　with　our　friends。　　But　if　anything　happens　to　you；　I　shall　call　the　Red　Rogue　to　account。〃

So　Nerle　entered　the　castle；　passing　by　the　huge　form　of　its　owner；　who　only　nodded　to　the　boy　and　grinned　with　delight。

The　esquire　found　himself　in　the　great　hall　and　began　to　look　around　him；　but　without　seeing　any　one。　　Then　he　advanced　a　few　steps　and；　to　his　surprise；　discovered　a　large　mirror；　in　which　were　reflected　the　faces　and　forms　of　three　girls；　as　well　as　his　own。

〃Why；　here　they　are！〃　he　attempted　to　say；　but　he　could　not　hear　his　own　voice。　　He　glanced　down　at　himself　but　could　see　nothing　at　allfor　his　body　had　become　invisible。　　His　reflection　was　still　in　the　glass；　and　he　knew　that　his　body　existed　the　same　as　before；　but　although　he　yet　saw　plainly　the　hall　and　all　that　it　contained；　he　could　see　neither　himself　nor　any　other　person　of　flesh。

After　waiting　a　considerable　time　for　his　esquire　to　reappear　Prince　Marvel　became　impatient。

〃What　have　you　done　with　Nerle？〃　he　asked　of　the　Red　Rogue。

〃Nothing；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I　have　been　here；　plainly　within　your　sight；　every　moment。〃

〃Let　me　go　and　find　him！〃　exclaimed　King　Terribus；　and　rushed　into　the　castle　before　the　prince　could　reply。　　But　Terribus　also　encountered　the　enchanted　mirror；　and　the　prince　waited　in　vain　for　his　return。

Then　Wul…Takim　volunteered　to　go　in　search　of　the　others；　and　drew　his　big；　sharp　sword　before　entering　the　hall。　　But　an　hour　passed　by　and　he　did　not　return。

The　Red　Rogue　was　overjoyed　at　the　success　of　his　stratagem；　and　could　scarce　refrain　from　laughing　outright　at　the　prince's　anxiety。

Marvel　was　really　perplexed。　　He　knew　some　treachery　was　afoot；　but　could　not　imagine　what　it　was。　　And　when　the　pretty　High　Ki　declared　their　intention　of　entering　the　castle；　he　used　every　endeavor　to　dissuade　them。　　But　the　twin　girls　would　not　be　denied；　so　great　was　their　curiosity。　　So　the　prince　said：

〃Well；　we　will　all　go　together；　so　that　the　Ki　and　I　may　be　able　to　protect　you。〃

The　Red　Rogue　gladly　granted　them　admittance；　and　they　passed　him　and　entered　the　great　hall。

The　place　appeared　to　them　to　be　completely　empty；　so　they　walked　along　and　came　opposite　the　mirror。　　Here　all　stopped　at　once；　and　the　twin　High　Ki　uttered　exclamations　of　surprise；　and　the　twin　Ki　shouted；　〃Great　Kika…koo！〃

For　there　in　the　glass　were　the　reflections　of　the　three　girls　and　Nerle　and　King　Terribus　and　Wul…Takim。　　And　there　were　also　the　reflections　of　the　twin　High　Ki　and　the　twin　Ki。　Only　Prince　Marvel's　reflection　was　missing；　and　this　was　because　of　his　fairy　origin。　　For　the　glass　could　reflect　and　hold　only　the　forms　of　mortals。

But　the　prince　saw　the　reflections　of　all　the　others；　and　then　made　the　discovery　that　the　forms　of　the　Ki　and　the　High　Ki　had　become　invisible。　　No　one　except　himself　appeared　to　be　standing　in　the　great　hall　of　the　Red　Rogue's　castle！　　Yet　grouped　within　the　glass　were　the　likenesses　of　all　his　friends；　as　well　as　those　of　Lady　Seseley　and　her　companions；　and　all　were　staring　back　at　him　earnestly；　as　if　imploring　him　to　save　them。

The　mystery　was　now　explained；　and　Prince　Marvel　rushed　from　the　hall　to　find　the　treacherous　Red　Rogue。　　But　that　clever　trickster　had　hidden　himself　in　an　upper　room；　and　for　the　present　was　safely　concealed。

For　a　time　Prince　Marvel　could　not　think　what　to　do。　　Such　magic　was　all　unknown　to　him；　and　how　to　free　the　imprisoned　forms　of　his　friends　was　a　real　problem。　　He　walked　around　the　castle；　but　no　one　was　in　sight；　the　Rogue　having　given　orders　to　all　his　people　to　keep　away。　　Only　the　tethered　horses　did　he　see；　and　these　raised　their　heads　and　whinnied　as　if　in　sympathy　with　his　perplexity。

Then　he　went　back　into　the　hall　and　searched　all　the　rooms　of　the　castle　without　finding　a　single　person。　　On　his　return　he　stopped　in　front　of　the　mirror　and　sorrowfully　regarded　the　faces　of　his　friends；　who　again　seemed　to　plead　for　relief。

And　while　he　looked　a　sudden　fit　of　anger　came　over　him　at　being　outwitted　by　this　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna。　　Scarcely　knowing　what　he　did；　he　seized　his　sword　by　the　blade　and　struck　the　mirror　a　powerful　blow　with　the　heavy　hilt。　　It　shattered　into　a　thousand　fragments；　which　fell　clattering　upon　the　stone　floor　in　every　direction。　　And　at　once　the　charm　was　broken；　each　of　his　friends　now　became　visible。　　They　appeared　running　toward　him　from　all　parts　of　the　castle；　where　they　had　been　wandering　in　their　invisible　forms。

They　called　out　joyful　greetings　to　one　another；　and　then　all　of　them　surrounded　the　prince　and　thanked　him　earnestly　for　releasing　them。

The　little　Lady　Seseley　and　her　friends；　Berna　and　Helda；　were　a　bit　shy　in　the　presence　of　so　many　strangers；　but　they　alone　knew　the　prince's　secret；　and　that　he　was　a　fairy　transformed　for　a　year；　so　they　regarded　him　as　an　old　and　intimate　acquaintance；　and　after　being　introduced　by　him　to　the　others　of　his　party　they　became　more　at　ease。

The　sweet　little　High　Ki　maids　at　once　attracted　Seseley；　and　she　loved　them　almost　at　first　sight。　　But　it　was　Nerle　who　became　the　little　lady's　staunchest　friend；　for　there　was　something　rather　mystical　and　unnatural　to　him　about　the　High　Ki；　who　seemed　almost　like　fairies；　while　in　Seseley　he　recognized　a　hearty；　substantial　girl　of　his　own　rank　in　life。

While　they　stood　talking　and　congratulating　one　another　outside　of　the　castle；　the　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna　appeared　among　them。　　He　had　heard　the　noise　of　the　smashing　of　his　great　mirror；　and　had　come　running　downstairs　from　his　hiding…place　to　find　his　cunning　had　all　been　for　naught　and　his　captives　were　free。

A　furious　anger　then　took　possession　of　the　Rogue；　and　forgetting　his　personal　weakness　he　caught　up　a　huge　battle…ax　and　rushed　out　to　hurl　himself　upon　Prince　Marvel；　intending　to　do　him　serious　injury。

But　the　prince　was　not　taken　unawares。　　He　saw　the　Red　Rogue　coming　and　met　him　with　drawn　sword；　striking　quickly　at　the　arm　that　wielded　the　big　ax。　　The　stroke　was　as　sure　as　it　was　quick；　and　piercing　the　arm　of　the　giant　caused　him　to　drop　the　ax　with　a　howl　of　pain。

Then　Prince　Marvel　seized　the　Red　Rogue　by　the　earwhich　he　was　just　tall　enough　to　reachand　dragged　him　up　the　steps　and　into　the　castle；　the　big　fellow　crying　for　mercy　at　every　step　and　trembling　like　a　leaf　through　cowardice。

But　down　the　hall　Marvel　marched　him；　seeking　some　room　where　the　Rogue　might　be　safely　locked　in。　　The　great　curtain　that　covered　the　second　enchanted　mirror　now　caught　Prince　Marvel's　eye；　and；　still　holding　his　prisoner　by　the　ear；　he　reached　out　his　left　hand　and　pulled　aside　the　drapery。

The　Red　Rogue　looked　to　see　what　his　captor　was　doing；　and　beheld　his　own　reflection　in　the　magic　mirror。　　Instantly　he　gave　a　wild　cry　and　disappeared；　his　body　becoming　absolutely　invisible；　while　his　coarse　red　countenance　stared　back　from　the　mirror。

And　then　Prince　Marvel　gave　a　sigh　of　relief　and　dropped　the　curtain　over　the　surface　of　the　mirror。　　For　he　realized　that　the　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna　had　at　last　met　with　just　punishment　and　was　safely　imprisoned　for　all　time。



25。　　The　Adventurers　Separate


When　Prince　Marvel　and　his　friends　had　ridden　away　from　the　castle　the　savage　followers　of　the　Red　One　came　creeping　up　to　listen　for　their　master's　voice。　　But　silence　reigned　in　every　part　of　the　castle；　and　after　stealing　fearfully　through　the　rooms　without　seeing　any　one　the　fellows　became　filled　with　terror　and　fled　from　the　place；　never　to　return。

And　afterward　the　neighbors　whispered　that　the　castle　was　haunted　by　the　spirit　of　the　terrible　Red　Rogue；　and　travelers　dared　not　stop　in　the　neighborhood；　but　passed　by　quickly　and　with　averted　faces。

The　prince　and　his　party　rode　gaily　along　toward　the　Kingdom　of　Heg；　for　Nerle　had　invited　them　all　to　visit　his　father's　castle。　　They　were　very　happy　over　their　escape；　and　only　the　little　Lady　Seseley　became　sad　at　times；　when　she　thought　of　her　father's　sad　fate。

The　Baron　Neggar；　who　was　Nerle's　father；　was　not　only　a　wealthy　nobleman；　but　exceedingly　kind　and　courteous；　so　that　every　member　of　Prince　Marvel's　party　was　welcomed　to　the　big　castle　in　a　very　hospitable　manner。

Nerle　was　eagerly　embraced　by　both　his　father　and　mother；　who　were　overjoyed　to　see　him　return　safe　and　sound　after　his　wanderings　and　adventures。

〃And　have　you　been　cured　of　your　longing　for　something　that　you　can　not　have？〃　asked　the　baron；　anxiously。

〃Not　quite；〃　said　Nerle；　laughing；　〃but　I　am　more　reconciled　to　my　lot。　　For　I　find　wherever　I　go　people　are　longing　for　just　the　things　they　can　not　get；　and　probably　would　not　want　if　they　had　them。　　So；　as　it　seems　to　be　the　fate　of　most　mortals　to　live　unsatisfied；　I　shall　try　hereafter　to　be　more　contented。〃

These　words　delighted　the　good　baron；　and　he　gave　a　rich　and　magnificent　feast　in　honor　of　his　son's　return。

The　High　Ki