〃Will　you　allow　me　to　object　to　being　killed？〃　asked　the　prince。
  〃Certainly；〃　answered　the　king；　courteously。　　〃I　expect　you　to　object。　It　is　natural。　　But　it　will　do　you　no　good。〃
  Then　Terribus　turned　to　an　attendant　and　commanded：
  〃Send　hither　the　Fool…Killer。〃
  At　this　Prince　Marvel　laughed　outright。
  〃The　Fool…Killer！〃　he　cried；　〃surely　your　Majesty　does　me　little　credit。　　Am　I；　then；　a　fool？〃
  〃You　entered　my　kingdom　uninvited；〃　retorted　the　king；　〃and　you　tell　me　to　my　face　I　am　ugly。　　Moreover；　you　laugh　when　I　condemn　you　to　death。　　From　this　I　conclude　the　Fool…Killer　is　the　proper　one　to　execute　you。　　Behold！〃
  Marvel　turned　quickly；　to　find　a　tall；　stalwart　man　standing　behind　him。　　His　features　were　strong　but　very　grave；　and　the　prince　caught　a　look　of　compassion　in　his　eye　as　their　gaze　met。　　His　skin　was　fair　and　without　blemish；　a　robe　of　silver　cloth　fell　from　his　shoulders；　and　in　his　right　hand　he　bore　a　gleaming　sword。
  〃Well　met！〃　cried　Marvel；　heartily；　as　he　bowed　to　the　Fool…Killer。　〃I　have　often　heard　your　name　mentioned；　but　'tis　said　in　the　world　that　you　are　a　laggard　in　your　duty。〃
  〃Had　I　my　way；〃　answered　the　Fool…Killer；　〃my　blade　would　always　drip。　It　is　my　master；　yonder；　who　thwarts　my　duty。〃　　And　he　nodded　toward　King　Terribus。
  〃Then　you　should　exercise　your　right　on　him；　and　cleave　the　ugly　head　from　his　shoulders；〃　declared　the　prince。
  〃Nay；　unless　I　interfered　with　the　Fool…Killer；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　should　soon　have　no　subjects　left　to　rule；　for　at　one　time　or　another　they　all　deserve　the　blade。〃
  〃Why；　that　may　be　true　enough；〃　replied　Prince　Marvel。　　〃But　I　think；　under　such　circumstances；　your　Fool…Killer　is　a　needless　servant。　　So　I　will　rid　you　of　him　in　a　few　moments。〃
  With　that　he　whipped　out　his　sword　and　stood　calmly　confronting　the　Fool…Killer；　whose　grave　face　never　changed　in　expression　as　he　advanced　menacingly　upon　his　intended　victim。　　The　blades　clashed　together；　and　that　of　the　Fool…Killer　broke　short　off　at　the　hilt。　　He　took　a　step　backward；　stumbled　and　fell　prone　upon　the　rocky　floor；　while　Prince　Marvel　sprang　forward　and　pressed　the　point　of　his　sword　against　his　opponent's　breast。
  〃Hold！〃　cried　the　king；　starting　to　his　feet。　　〃Would　you　slay　my　Fool…Killer？　　Think　of　the　harm　you　would　do　the　world！〃
  〃But　he　is　laggard　and　unfaithful　to　his　calling！〃　answered　the　prince；　sternly。
  〃Nevertheless；　if　he　remove　but　one　fool　a　year　he　is　a　benefit　to　mankind；〃　declared　the　king。　　〃Release　him；　I　pray　you！〃
  Then　the　victor　withdrew　his　sword　and　stood　aside；　while　the　Fool…Killer　slowly　got　upon　his　feet　and　bowed　humbly　before　the　king。
  〃Go！〃　shouted　Terribus；　his　eye　flashing　angrily。　　〃You　have　humiliated　me　before　my　enemy。　　As　an　atonement　see　that　you　kill　me　a　fool　a　day　for　sixty　days。〃
  Hearing　this　command；　many　of　the　people　about　the　throne　began　to　tremble；　but　the　king　paid　no　attention　to　their　fears；　and　the　Fool…Killer　bowed　again　before　his　master　and　withdrew　from　the　chamber。
  9。　　The　Royal　Dragon　of　Spor
  〃Now；〃　said　Terribus；　regarding　the　prince　gloomily；　〃I　must　dispose　of　you　in　another　way。〃
  For　a　moment　he　dropped　his　scarlet　head　in　thought。　　Then　he　turned　fiercely　upon　his　attendants。
  〃Let　the　Wrestler　come　forward！〃　he　shouted；　as　loudly　as　his　mild　voice　would　carry。
  Instantly　a　tall　blackamoor　advanced　from　the　throng　and　cast　off　his　flowing　robe；　showing　a　strong　figure　clad　only　in　a　silver　loincloth。
  〃Crack　me　this　fellow's　bones！〃　commanded　Terribus。
  〃I　beg　your　Majesty　will　not　compel　me　to　touch　him；〃　said　Prince　Marvel；　with　a　slight　shudder；　〃for　his　skin　is　greasy；　and　will　soil　my　hands。　　Here；　Nerle！〃　he　continued；　turning　to　his　esquire；　〃dispose　of　this　black　man；　and　save　me　the　trouble。〃
  Nerle　laughed　pleasantly。　　The　black　was　a　powerfully　built　man；　and　compared　with　Nerle　and　the　prince；　who　had　but　the　stature　of　boys；　he　towered　like　a　very　giant　in　size。　　Nevertheless；　Nerle　did　not　hesitate　to　spring　upon　the　Wrestler；　who　with　a　quick　movement　sent　the　boy　crashing　against　the　stone　pavement。
  Nerle　was　much　bruised　by　the　fall；　and　as　he　painfully　raised　himself　to　his　feet　a　great　lump　was　swelling　behind　his　left　ear；　where　his　head　had　struck　the　floor；　and　he　was　so　dizzy　that　the　room　seemed　swimming　around　him　in　a　circle。　　But　he　gave　a　happy　little　laugh；　and　said　to　the　prince；　gratefully：
  〃Thank　you　very　much；　my　master！　　The　fall　is　hurting　me　delightfully。　I　almost　feel　as　if　I　could　cry；　and　that　would　be　joy　indeed！〃
  〃Well；〃　answered　the　prince；　with　a　sigh；　〃I　see　I　must　get　my　hands　greased　after　all〃for　the　black's　body　had　really　been　greased　to　enable　him　to　elude　the　grasp　of　his　opponents。
  But　Marvel　made　a　quick　leap　and　seized　the　Wrestler　firmly　around　the　waist。　　The　next　moment；　to　the　astonishment　of　all；　the　black　man　flew　swiftly　into　the　air；　plunged　through　one　of　the　open　windows　high　up　in　the　wall；　and　disappeared　from　view。　　When　the　king　and　his　people　again　turned　their　wondering　eyes　upon　the　prince　he　was　wiping　his　hands　carefully　upon　a　silk　handkerchief。
  At　this　sight　a　pretty　young　girl；　who　stood　near　the　throne；　laughed　aloud；　and　the　sound　of　her　laughter　made　King　Terribus　very　angry。
  〃Come　here！〃　he　commanded；　sternly。　　The　girl　stepped　forward；　her　face　now　pale　and　frightened；　while　tear…drops　trembled　upon　the　lashes　that　fringed　her　downcast　eyes。　　〃You　have　dared　to　laugh　at　the　humiliation　of　your　king；〃　said　Terribus；　his　horrid　face　more　crimson　than　ever；　〃and　as　atonement　I　command　that　you　drink　of　the　poisoned　cup。〃
  Instantly　a　dwarf　came　near；　bearing　a　beautiful　golden　goblet　in　his　crooked　hands。
  〃Drink！〃　he　said；　an　evil　leer　upon　his　face。
  The　girl　well　knew　this　goblet　contained　a　vile　poison；　one　drop　of　which　on　her　tongue　would　cause　death；　so　she　hesitated；　trembling　and　shrinking　from　the　ordeal。
  Prince　Marvel　looked　into　her　sweet　face　with　pitying　eyes；　and　stepping　quickly　to　her　side；　took　her　hand　in　his。
  〃Now　drink！〃　he　said；　smiling　upon　her；　〃the　poison　will　not　hurt　you。〃
  She　drank　obediently；　while　the　dwarf　chuckled　with　awful　glee　and　the　king　looked　on　eagerly；　expecting　her　to　fall　dead　at　his　feet。　　But　instead　the　girl　stood　upright　and　pressed　Marvel's　hand；　looking　gratefully　into　his　face。
  〃You　are　a　fairy！〃　she　whispered；　so　low　that　no　one　else　heard　her　voice。　　〃I　knew　that　you　would　save　me。〃
  〃Keep　my　secret；〃　whispered　the　prince　in　return；　and　still　holding　her　hand　he　led　her　back　to　her　former　place。
  King　Terribus　was　almost　wild　with　rage　and　disappointment；　and　his　elephant　nose　twisted　and　squirmed　horribly。
  〃So　you　dare　to　thwart　my　commands；　do　you！〃　he　cried；　excitedly。　〃Well；　we　shall　soon　see　which　of　us　is　the　more　powerful。　　I　have　decreed　your　deathand　die　you　shall！〃
  For　a　moment　his　eye　roved　around　the　chamber　uncertainly。　　Then　he　shouted；　suddenly：
  〃Ho；　there！　　Keepers　of　the　royal　menagerieappear！〃
  Three　men　entered　the　room　and　bowed　before　the　king。　　They　were　of　the　Gray　Men　of　the　mountains；　who　had　followed　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　through　the　rocky　passes。
  〃Bring　hither　the　Royal　Dragon；〃　cried　the　king；　〃and　let　him　consume　these　strangers　before　my　very　eyes！〃
  The　men　withdrew；　and　presently　was　heard　a　distant　shouting；　followed　by　a　low　rumbling　sound；　with　groans；　snorts；　roars　and　a　hissing　like　steam　from　the　spout　of　a　teakettle。
  The　noise　and　shouting　drew　nearer；　while　the　people　huddled　together　like　frightened　sheep；　and　then　suddenly　the　doors　flew　open　and　the　Royal　Dragon　advanced　to　the　center　of　the　room。
  This　creature　was　at　once　the　pride　and　terror　of　the　Kingdom　of　Spor。　It　was　more　than　thirty　feet　in　length　and　covered　everywhere　with　large　green　scales　set　with　diamonds；　making　the　dragon；　when　it　moved；　a　very　glittering　spectacle。　　Its　eyes　were　as　big　as　pie…plates；　and　its　mouthwhen　wide　openedfully　as　large　as　a　bath…tub。　　Its　tail　was　very　long　and　ended　in　a　golden　ball；　such　as　you　see　on　the　top　of　flagstaffs。　　Its　legs；　which　were　as　thick　as　those　of　an　elephant；　had　scales　which　were　set　with　rubies　and　emeralds。　　It　had　two　monstrous；　big　ears　and　two　horns　of　carved　ivory；　and　its　teeth　were　also　carved　into　various　fantastic　shapessuch　as　castles；　horses'　heads；　chinamen　and　griffinsso　that　if　any　of　them　broke　it　would　make　an　excellent　umbrella　handle。
  The　Royal　Dragon　of　Spor　came　crawling　into　the　throne…room　rather　clumsily；　groaning　and　moaning　with　every　step　and　waving　its　ears　like　two　blankets　flying　from　a　clothesline。
  The　king　looked　on　it　and　frowned。
  〃Why　are　you　not　breathing　fire　and　brimstone？〃　he　demanded；　angrily。
  〃Why；　I　was　caught　out　in　a　gale　the　other　night；〃　returned　the　Dragon；　rubbing　the　back　of　its　ear　with　its　left　front　paw；　as　it　paused　and　looked　at　the　king；　〃and　the　wind　put　out　my　fire。〃
  〃Then　why　didn't　you　light　it　again？〃　asked　Terribus；　turning　on　the　keepers。
  〃Wewe　were　out　of　matches；　your　Majesty！〃　stammered　the　trembling　Gray　Men。
  〃Soho！〃　yelled　the　king；　and　was　about　to　order　the　keepers　beheaded；　but　just　then　Nerle　pulled　out　his　match…box；　lit　one　of　the