〃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　matches；　and　held　it　in　front　of　the　Dragon's　mouth。　　Instantly　the　creature's　breath　caught　fire；　and　it　began　to　breathe　flames　a　yard　in　length。
  〃That's　better；〃　sighed　the　Dragon；　contentedly。　　〃I　hope　your　Majesty　is　now　satisfied。〃
  〃No；I　am　not　satisfied！〃　declared　King　Terribus。　　〃Why　do　you　not　lash　your　tail？〃
  〃Ah；　I　can't　do　that！〃　replied　the　Dragon。　　〃It's　all　stiffened　up　with　rheumatism　from　the　dampness　of　my　cave。　　It　hurts　too　much　to　lash　it。〃
  〃Well；　then；　gnash　your　teeth！〃　commanded　the　king。
  〃Tuttut！〃　answered　the　Dragon；　mildly；　〃I　can't　do　that；　either；　for　since　you　had　them　so　beautifully　carved　it　makes　my　teeth　ache　to　gnash　them。〃
  〃Well；　then；　what　are　you　good　for？〃　cried　the　king；　in　a　fury。
  〃Don't　I　look　awful？　　Am　I　not　terrible　to　gaze　on？〃　inquired　the　Dragon；　proudly；　as　it　breathed　out　red　and　yellow　flames　and　made　them　curl　in　circles　around　its　horns。　　〃I　guess　there's　no　need　for　me　to　suggest　terror　to　any　one　that　happens　to　see　me；〃　it　added；　winking　one　of　the　pie…plate　eyes　at　King　Terribus。
  The　king　looked　at　the　monster　critically；　and　it　really　seemed　to　him　that　it　was　a　frightful　thing　to　behold。　　So　he　curbed　his　anger　and　said；　in　his　ordinary　sweet　voice：
  〃I　have　called　you　here　to　destroy　these　two　strangers。〃
  〃How？〃　asked　the　Dragon；　looking　upon　Prince　Marvel　and　Nerle　with　interest。
  〃I　am　not　particular；〃　answered　the　king。　　〃You　may　consume　them　with　your　fiery　breath；　or　smash　them　with　your　tail；　or　grind　them　to　atoms　between　your　teeth；　or　tear　them　to　pieces　with　your　claws。　Only；　do　hurry　up　and　get　it　over　with！〃
  〃Hm…m…m！〃　said　the　Dragon；　thoughtfully；　as　if　it　didn't　relish　the　job；　〃this　one　isn't　Saint　George；　is　it？〃
  〃No；　no！〃　exclaimed　the　king；　irritably；　〃it's　Prince　Marvel。　　Do　get　to　work　as　soon　as　possible。〃
  〃Prince　MarvelPrince　Marvel；〃　repeated　the　Dragon。　　〃Why；　there　isn't　a　prince　in　the　whole　world　named　Marvel！　　I'm　pretty　well　posted　on　the　history　of　royal　families；　you　know。　　I'm　afraid　he's　Saint　George　in　disguise。〃
  〃Isn't　your　name　Prince　Marvel？〃　inquired　the　king；　turning　to　the　boyish…looking　stranger。
  〃It　is；〃　answered　Marvel。
  〃Well；　it's　mighty　strange　I've　never　heard　of　you；〃　persisted　the　Dragon。　　〃But　tell　me；　please；　how　would　you　prefer　to　be　killed？〃
  〃Oh；　I'm　not　going　to　be　killed　at　all；〃　replied　the　prince；　laughing。
  〃Do　you　hear　that；　Terribus？〃　asked　the　Dragon；　turning　to　the　king；　〃he　says　he　isn't　going　to　be　killed。〃
  〃But　I　say　he　is！〃　cried　Terribus。　　〃I　have　decreed　his　death。〃
  〃But　do　you　suppose　I'm　going　to　kill　a　man　against　his　will？〃　inquired　the　Dragon；　in　a　reproachful　voice；　〃and　such　a　small　man；　too！　　Do　you　take　me　for　a　common　assassinor　a　murderer？〃
  〃Do　you　intend　to　obey　my　orders？〃　roared　the　king。
  〃No；　I　don't；　and　that's　flat！〃　returned　the　Dragon；　sharply。　　〃It's　time　for　me　to　take　my　cough　medicine；　so　if　you've　nothing　more　to　say　I'll　go　back　to　my　cave。〃
  〃Go；　go；　go！〃　shrieked　the　king；　stamping　his　foot　in　passion。　〃You've　outlived　your　usefulness！　　You're　a　coward！　　You're　a　traitor！　You're　aaa〃
  〃I'm　a　dragon　and　a　gentleman！〃　answered　the　monster；　proudly；　as　the　king　paused　for　lack　of　a　word；　〃and　I　believe　I　know　what's　proper　for　dragons　to　do　and　what　isn't。　　I've　learned　wisdom　from　my　father；　who　got　into　trouble　with　Saint　George；　and　if　I　fought　with　this　person　who　calls　himself　Prince　Marvel；　I'd　deserve　to　be　a　victim　of　your　Fool…Killer。　　Oh；　I　know　my　business；　King　Terribus；　and　if　you　knew　yours；　you'd　get　rid　of　this　pretended　prince　as　soon　as　possible！〃
  With　this　speech　he　winked　at　Prince　Marvel；　turned　soberly　around　and　crawled　from　the　room。　　One　of　the　keepers　got　too　near　and　the　Dragon's　breath　set　fire　to　his　robe；　the　flames　being　with　difficulty　extinguished；　and　the　gold　ball　on　the　end　of　the　Dragon's　tail　struck　a　giant　upon　his　shins　and　made　him　dance　and　howl　in　pain。
  But；　aside　from　these　slight　accidents；　the　monster　managed　to　leave　the　throne…room　without　undue　confusion；　and　every　one；　including　the　king；　seemed　glad　to　be　rid　of　him。
  10。　　Prince　Marvel　Wins　His　Fight
  When　the　door　had　closed　on　the　Royal　Dragon；　King　Terribus　turned　again　to　Prince　Marvel；　while　his　crimson　face　glowed　with　embarrassment；　and　his　front　eye　rolled　with　baffled　rage　as　he　thought　how　vain　had　been　all　his　efforts　to　kill　this　impudent　invader　of　his　domains。
  But　his　powers　were　by　no　means　exhausted。　　He　was　a　mighty　kingthe　mightiest　of　all　in　the　Enchanted　Island；　he　believedand　ways　to　destroy　his　enemies　were　numerous。
  〃Send　for　a　hundred　of　my　Gray　Men！〃　he　suddenly　cried；　and　a　courtier　ran　at　once　to　summon　them。　　The　Gray　Men　would　obey　his　orders　without　question；　he　well　knew。　　They　were　silent；　stubborn；　quick；　and　faithful　to　their　king。　　Terribus　had　but　to　command　and　his　will　would　be　obeyed。
  They　entered　the　room　so　quietly　that　Nerle　never　knew　they　were　there　until　he　turned　and　found　the　hundred　gray　ones　standing　close　together　in　the　center　of　the　hall。　　Then　Prince　Marvel　came　to　Nerle's　side　and　whispered　something　in　his　ear。
  〃Will　you　obey　my　orders？〃　they　heard　the　king　ask。　　And　the　Gray　Men；　with　their　eyes　fixed　upon　their　master；　nodded　all　their　hundred　heads　and　put　their　hands　upon　the　dangerous　three…tined　forks　that　were　stuck　in　every　one　of　the　hundred　belts。
  Prince　Marvel　handed　one　end　of　a　coiled　rope　to　Nerle；　and　then　they　both　sprang　forward　and　ran　around　the　spot　where　the　hundred　Gray　Men　stood　huddled　together。　　Then　they　were　pulled　closer　together　than　beforecloser；　and　still　closerfor　the　prince　and　Nerle　had　surrounded　them　with　the　rope　and　were　tying　the　two　ends　together　in　a　tight　knot。　　The　rope　cut　into　the　waists　of　those　on　the　outside；　and　they　pressed　inward　against　their　fellows　until　there　was　scarcely　space　to　stick　a　knife…blade　between　any　two　of　them。　　When　the　prince　had　tied　the　rope　firmly　King　Terribus；　who　had　been　looking　on　amazed；　saw　that　his　hundred　Gray　Men　were　fastened　together　like　a　bundle　of　kindling…wood；　and　were　unable　to　stir　hand　or　foot。
  And；　while　he　still　gazed　open…mouthed　at　the　strange　sight；　Prince　Marvel　tilted　the　bundle　of　men　up　on　its　edge　and　rolled　it　out　of　the　door。　　It　went　rolling　swiftly　through　the　courtyard　and　bounded　down　the　castle　steps；　where　the　rope　broke　and　the　men　fell　sprawling　in　all　directions　on　the　marble　walk。
  King　Terribus　sighed；　for　such　treatment　of　his　Gray　Men；　whom　he　dearly　loved；　made　him　very　unhappy。
  But　more　than　ever　was　he　resolved　to　kill　these　impudent　strangers；　who；　in　the　very　heart　of　his　kingdom　where　thousands　bowed　to　his　will；　dared　openly　defy　his　power。　　So；　after　a　moment's　thought；　Terribus　beckoned　to　a　dwarf　who；　robed　in　gay　and　glittering　apparel；　stood　near　his　throne。
  〃Summon　the　royal　Dart　Slingers！〃　he　said；　with　a　scowl。
  The　little　man　bowed　and　hastened　away；　to　return　presently　with　twenty　curiously　crooked　dwarfs；　each　armed　with　a　sling　and　a　quiver　full　of　slender；　sharp…pointed　darts。
  〃Slay　me　these　strangers！〃　exclaimed　the　king；　in　his　gruffest　voice。
  Now　Nerle；　when　he　beheld　these　terrible　Dart　Slingers；　of　whom　he　had　heard　many　tales　in　his　boyhood；　began　to　shiver　and　shake　with　fright；　so　that　his　teeth　rattled　one　upon　another。　　And　he　reflected：　〃Soon　shall　I　be　content；　for　these　darts　will　doubtless　pierce　every　part　of　my　body。〃
  The　dwarfs　formed　a　line　at　one　side　of　the　gloomy　throne…room；　and　Prince　Marvel；　who　had　been　earnestly　regarding　them；　caught　Nerle　by　the　arm　and　led　him　to　the　opposite　wall。
  〃Stand　close　behind　me　and　you　will　be　safe；〃　he　whispered　to　his　esquire。
  Then　each　dwarf　fixed　a　dart　in　his　sling；　and　at　a　word　from　their　chief　they　all　drew　back　their　arms　and　launched　a　shower　of　the　sharp　missiles　at　the　strangers。
  Swift　and　true　they　sped；　each　dart　intended　to　pierce　the　body　of　the　youthful　knight　who　stood　so　calm　before　them。　　Prince　Marvel　had　raised　his　right　arm；　and　in　his　hand　was　a　small　leather　sack；　with　a　wide　mouth。　　As　the　darts　flew　near　him　a　strange　thing　happened：　they　each　and　all　swerved　from　their　true　course　and　fell　rattling　into　the　leathern　sack；　to　the　wonder　of　the　royal　slingers　and　the　dismay　of　King　Terribus　himself。
  〃Again！〃　screamed　the　king；　his　usually　mild　voice　hoarse　with　anger。
  So　again　the　dwarfs　cast　their　darts；　and　again　the　leathern　sack　caught　them　every　one。　　Another　flight　followed；　and　yet　another；　till　the　magic　sack　was　packed　full　of　the　darts　and　not　a　dwarf　had　one　remaining　in　his　quiver。
  Amid　the　awed　silence　of　the　beholders　of　this　feat　the　merry　laughter　of　Prince　Marvel　rang　loud　and　clear；　for　the　sight　of　the　puzzled　and　terrified　faces　about　him　was　very　comical。　　Plucking　a　dart　from　the　sack　he　raised　his　arm　and　cried：
  〃Now　it　is　my　turn。　　You　shall　have　back　your　darts！〃
  〃Hold！〃　shouted　the　king；　in　great　fear。　　〃Do　not；　I　beg　you；　slay　my　faithful　servants。〃　　And　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　he　dismissed　the　dwarfs；　who　were　glad