WUL…TAKIM　　　　　　　　　　KING　OF　THIEVES　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HIS　TREASURE　HOUSE　　　　　　　　　　　　　　KEEP　OUT
  Prince　Marvel　laughed　on　reading　this；　and　after　getting　down　from　his　saddle　he　advanced　to　the　iron　gate　and　peered　through　its　heavy　bars。
  〃I　have　no　idea　who　this　Wul…Takim　is；〃　he　said；　〃for　I　know　nothing　at　all　of　the　ways　of　men　outside　the　forest　in　which　I　have　always　dwelt。　　But　thieves　are　bad　people；　I　am　quite　sure；　and　since　Wul…Takim　is　the　king　of　thieves　he　must　be　by　far　the　worst　man　on　this　island。〃
  Then　he　saw；　through　the　bars　of　the　gate；　that　a　great　cavern　lay　beyond；　in　which　were　stacked　treasures　of　all　sorts：　rich　cloths；　golden　dishes　and　ornaments；　gemmed　coronets　and　bracelets；　cleverly　forged　armor；　shields　and　battle…axes。　　Also　there　were　casks　and　bales　of　merchandise　of　every　sort。
  The　gate　appeared　to　have　no　lock；　so　Prince　Marvel　opened　it　and　walked　in。　　Then　he　perceived；　perched　on　the　very　top　of　a　pyramid　of　casks；　the　form　of　a　boy；　who　sat　very　still　and　watched　him　with　a　look　of　astonishment　upon　his　face。
  〃What　are　you　doing　up　there？〃　asked　the　prince。
  〃Nothing；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃If　I　moved　the　least　little　bit　this　pile　of　casks　would　topple　over；　and　I　should　be　thrown　to　the　ground。〃
  〃Well；〃　returned　the　prince；　〃what　of　it？〃
  But　just　then　he　glanced　at　the　ground　and　saw　why　the　boy　did　not　care　to　tumble　down。　　For　in　the　earth　were　planted　many　swords；　with　their　sharp　blades　pointing　upward；　and　to　fall　upon　these　meant　serious　wounds　and　perhaps　death。
  〃Oh；　ho！〃　cried　Marvel；　〃I　begin　to　understand。　　You　are　a　prisoner。〃
  〃Yes；　as　you　will　also　be　shortly；〃　answered　the　boy。　　〃And　then　you　will　understand　another　thingthat　you　were　very　reckless　ever　to　enter　this　cave。〃
  〃Why？〃　inquired　the　prince；　who　really　knew　little　of　the　world；　and　was　interested　in　everything　he　saw　and　heard。
  〃Because　it　is　the　stronghold　of　the　robber　king；　and　when　you　opened　that　gate　you　caused　a　bell　to　ring　far　down　on　the　hillside。　　So　the　robbers　are　now　warned　that　an　enemy　is　in　their　cave；　and　they　will　soon　arrive　to　make　you　a　prisoner；　even　as　I　am。〃
  〃Ah；　I　see！〃　said　the　prince；　with　a　laugh；　〃It　is　a　rather　clever　contrivance；　but　having　been　warned　in　time　I　should　indeed　be　foolish　to　be　caught　in　such　a　trap。〃
  With　this　he　half　drew　his　sword；　but　thinking　that　robbers　were　not　worthy　to　be　slain　with　its　untarnished　steel；　he　pushed　it　back　into　the　jeweled　scabbard　and　looked　around　for　another　weapon。　　A　stout　oaken　staff　lay　upon　the　ground；　and　this　he　caught　up　and　ran　with　it　from　the　cave；　placing　himself　just　beside　the　narrow　opening　that　led　into　this　rock…encompassed　plain。　　For　he　quickly　saw　that　this　was　the　only　way　any　one　could　enter　or　leave　the　place；　and　therefore　knew　the　robbers　were　coming　up　the　narrow　gorge　even　as　he　had　himself　done。
  Soon　they　were　heard　stumbling　along　at　a　rapid　pace；　crying　to　one　another　to　make　haste　and　catch　the　intruder。　　The　first　that　came　through　the　opening　received　so　sharp　a　blow　upon　the　head　from　Prince　Marvel's　oak　staff　that　he　fell　to　the　ground　and　lay　still；　while　the　next　was　treated　in　a　like　manner　and　fell　beside　his　comrade。
  Perhaps　the　thieves　had　not　expected　so　sturdy　an　enemy；　for　they　continued　to　rush　through　the　opening　in　the　rocks　and　to　fall　beneath　the　steady　blows　of　the　prince's　staff　until　every　one　of　them　lay　senseless　before　the　victor。　　At　first　they　had　piled　themselves　upon　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　me。〃
  〃True；〃　said　the　boy；　brightening　up；　〃therefore　our　score　is　now　even。　　But　take　care　not　to　affront　me　again；　for　hereafter　I　will　show　you　no　mercy！〃
  Prince　Marvel　looked　at　the　boy　with　wonder。　　He　was　about　his　own　size；　yet　strong　and　well　formed；　and　he　would　have　been　handsome　except　for　the　expression　of　discontent　upon　his　face。　　Yet　his　manner　and　words　were　so　absurd　and　unnatural　that　the　prince　was　more　amused　than　angered　by　his　new　acquaintance；　and　presently　laughed　in　his　face。
  〃If　all　the　people　in　this　island　are　like　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　have　lots　of　fun　with　them。　　And　you　are　only　a　boy；　after　all。〃
  〃I'm　bigger　than　you！〃　declared　the　other；　glaring　fiercely　at　the　prince。
  〃How　much　bigger？〃　asked　Marvel；　his　eyes　twinkling。
  〃Oh；　ever　so　much！〃
  〃Then　fetch　along　that　coil　of　rope；　and　follow　me；〃　said　Prince　Marvel。
  〃Fetch　the　rope　yourself！〃　retorted　the　boy；　bluntly。　　〃I'm　not　your　servant。〃　Then　he　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　coolly　walked　out　of　the　cave　to　look　at　the　pile　of　senseless　robbers。
  Prince　Marvel　made　no　reply；　but　taking　the　coil　of　rope　on　his　shoulder　he　carried　it　to　where　the　thieves　lay　and　threw　it　down　beside　them。　　Then　he　cut　lengths　from　the　coil　with　his　sword　and　bound　the　limbs　of　each　robber　securely。　　Within　a　half…hour　he　had　laid　out　a　row　of　thieves　extending　half　way　across　the　grassy　plain；　and　on　counting　their　number　he　found　he　had　captured　fifty…nine　of　them。
  This　task　being　accomplished　and　the　robbers　rendered　helpless；　Prince　Marvel　turned　to　the　boy　who　stood　watching　him。
  〃Get　a　suit　of　armor　from　the　cave；　and　a　strong　sword；　and　then　return　here；〃　he　said；　in　a　stern　voice。
  〃Why　should　I　do　that？〃　asked　the　boy；　rather　impudently。
  〃Because　I　am　going　to　fight　you　for　disobeying　my　orders；　and　if　you　do　not　protect　yourself　I　shall　probably　kill　you。〃
  〃That　sounds　pleasant；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃But　if　you　should　prove　my　superior　in　skill　I　beg　you　will　not　kill　me　at　once；　but　let　me　die　a　lingering　death。〃
  〃Why？〃　asked　the　prince。
  〃Because　I　shall　suffer　more；　and　that　will　be　delightful。〃
  〃I　am　not　anxious　to　kill　you；　nor　to　make　you　suffer；〃　said　Marvel；　〃all　that　I　ask　is　that　you　acknowledge　me　your　master。〃
  〃I　won't！〃　answered　the　boy。　　〃I　acknowledge　no　master　in　all　the　world！〃
  〃Then　you　must　fight；〃　declared　the　prince；　gravely。　　〃If　you　win；　I　will　promise　to　serve　you　faithfully；　and　if　I　conquer　you；　then　you　must　acknowledge　me　your　master；　and　obey　my　commands。〃
  〃Agreed！〃　cried　the　boy；　with　sudden　energy；　and　he　rushed　into　the　cave　and　soon　returned　clad　in　armor　and　bearing　a　sword　and　shield。　On　the　shield　was　pictured　a　bolt　of　lightning。
  〃Lightning　will　soon　strike　those　three　girls　whose　champion　you　seem　to　be；〃　he　said　tauntingly。
  〃The　three　girls　defy　your　lightning！〃　returned　the　prince　with　a　smile。　　〃I　see　you　are　brave　enough。〃
  〃Brave！　　Why　should　I　not　be？〃　answered　the　boy　proudly。　　〃I　am　the　Lord　Nerle；　the　son　of　Neggar；　the　chief　baron　of　Heg！〃
  The　other　bowed　low。
  〃I　am　pleased　to　know　your　station；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　called　Prince　Marvel；　and　this　is　my　first　adventure。〃
  〃And　likely　to　be　your　last；〃　exclaimed　the　boy；　sneeringly。　　〃For　I　am　stronger　than　you