5. The King of Thieves

The Enchanted Island of Yew

by L. Frank Baum

Old Marshelm, the captain of the guard, was much surprised when
he saw the baron's daughter and her playmates approach her father's
castle escorted by a knight in glittering armor.

To be sure it was a rather small knight, but the horse he led by
the bridle was so stately and magnificent in appearance that old
Marshelm, who was an excellent judge of horses, at once decided the
stranger must be a personage of unusual importance.

As they came nearer the captain of the guard also observed the
beauty of the little knight's armor, and caught the glint of jewels
set in the handle of his sword; so he called his men about him and
prepared to receive the knight with the honors doubtless due his high
rank.

But to the captain's disappointment the stranger showed no
intention of entering the castle. On the contrary, he kissed the
little Lady Seseley's hand respectfully, waved an adieu to the
others, and then mounted his charger and galloped away over the
plains.

The drawbridge was let down to permit the three children to
enter, and the great Baron Merd came himself to question his
daughter.

"Who was the little knight?" he asked.

"His name is Prince Marvel," answered Seseley, demurely.

"Prince Marvel?" exclaimed the Baron. "I have never heard of
him. Does he come from the Kingdom of Dawna, or that of Auriel, or
Plenta?"

"That I do not know," said Seseley, with truth.

"Where did you meet him?" continued the baron.

"In the forest, my father, and he kindly escorted us home."

"Hm!" muttered the baron, thoughtfully. "Did he say what
adventure brought him to our Kingdom of Heg?"

"No, father. But he mentioned being in search of adventure."

"Oh, he'll find enough to busy him in this wild island, where
every man he meets would rather draw his sword than eat," returned
the old warrior, smiling. "How old may this Prince Marvel be?"

"He looks not over fifteen years of age," said Seseley, uneasy
at so much questioning, for she did not wish to be forced to tell an
untruth. "But it is possible he is much older," she added, beginning
to get confused.

"Well, well; I am sorry he did not pay my castle a visit,"
declared the baron. "He is very small and slight to be traveling
this dangerous country alone, and I might have advised him as to his
welfare."

Seseley thought that Prince Marvel would need no advice from any
one as to his conduct; but she wisely refrained from speaking this
thought, and the old baron walked away to glance through a slit in
the stone wall at the figure of the now distant knight.

Prince Marvel was riding swiftly toward the brow of the hill,
and shortly his great war-horse mounted the ascent and disappeared on
its farther slope.

The youth's heart was merry and light, and he reflected
joyously, as he rode along, that a whole year of freedom and
fascinating adventure lay before him.

The valley in which he now found himself was very beautiful, the
soft grass beneath his horse's feet being sprinkled with bright
flowers, while clumps of trees stood here and there to break the
monotony of the landscape.

For an hour the prince rode along, rejoicing in the free motion
of his horse and breathing in the perfume-laden air. Then he found
he had crossed the valley and was approaching a series of hills.
These were broken by huge rocks, the ground being cluttered with
boulders of rough stone. His horse speedily found a pathway leading
through these rocks, but was obliged to proceed at a walk, turning
first one way and then another as the path zigzagged up the hill.

Presently, being engaged in deep thought and little noting the
way, Prince Marvel rode between two high walls of rock standing so
close together that horse and rider could scarcely pass between the
sides. Having traversed this narrow space some distance the wall
opened suddenly upon a level plat of ground, where grass and trees
grew. It was not a very big place, but was surely the end of the
path, as all around it stood bare walls so high and steep that
neither horse nor man could climb them. In the side of the rocky
wall facing the entrance the traveler noticed a hollow, like the
mouth of a cave, across which was placed an iron gate. And above the
gateway was painted in red letters on the gray stone the following
words:

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 thing--that 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, and I have fought many times with full
grown men."

"Are you ready?" asked Prince Marvel, for answer.

"Yes."

Then the swords clashed and sparks flew from the blades. But it
was not for long. Suddenly Nerle's sword went flying through the air
and shattered its blade against a wall of rock. He scowled at Prince
Marvel a moment, who smiled back at him. Then the boy rushed into
the cave and returned with another sword.

Scarcely had the weapons crossed again when with a sudden blow
Prince Marvel snapped Nerle's blade in two, and followed this up with
a sharp slap upon his ear with the flat of his own sword that fairly
bewildered the boy, and made him sit down on the grass to think what
had happened to him.

Then Prince Marvel's merry laugh rang far across the hills, and
so delighted was he at the astonished expression upon Nerle's face
that it was many minutes before he could control his merriment and
ask his foeman if he had had enough fight.

"I suppose I have," replied the boy, rubbing his ear tenderly.
"That blow stings most deliciously. But it is a hard thought that
the son of Baron Neggar should serve Prince Marvel!"

"Do not worry about that," said the prince; "for I assure you my
rank is so far above your own that it is no degradation for the son
of Neggar to serve me. But come, we must dispose of these thieves.
What is the proper fate for such men?"

"They are always hanged," answered Nerle, getting upon his
feet.

"Well, there are trees handy," remarked the prince, although his
girlish heart insisted on making him shiver in spite of his resolve
to be manly and stern. "Let us get to work and hang them as soon as
possible. And then we can proceed upon our journey."

Nerle now willingly lent his assistance to his new master, and
soon they had placed a rope around the neck of each thief and were
ready to dangle them all from the limbs of the trees.

But at this juncture the thieves began to regain consciousness,
and now Wul-Takim, the big, red-bearded king of the thieves, sat up
and asked:

"Who is our conqueror?"

"Prince Marvel," answered Nerle.

"And what army assisted him?" inquired Wul-Takim, curiously
gazing upon the prince.

"He conquered you alone and single-handed," said Nerle.

Hearing this, the big king began to weep bitterly, and the
tear-drops ran down his face in such a stream that Prince Marvel
ordered Nerle to wipe them away with his handkerchief, as the thief's
hands were tied behind his back.

"To think!" sobbed Wul-Takim, miserably; "only to think, that
after all my terrible deeds and untold wickedness, I have been
captured by a mere boy! Oh, boo-hoo! boo-hoo! boo-hoo! It is a
terrible disgrace!"

"You will not have to bear it long," said the prince,
soothingly. "I am going to hang you in a few minutes."

"Thanks! Thank you very much!" answered the king, ceasing to
weep. "I have always expected to be hanged some day, and I am glad no
one but you two boys will witness me when my feet begin kicking
about."

"I shall not kick," declared another of the thieves, who had
also regained his senses. "I shall sing while I am being hanged."

"But you can not, my good Gunder," protested the king; "for the
rope will cut off your breath, and no man can sing without
breath."

"Then I shall whistle," said Gunder, composedly.

The king cast at him a look of reproach, and turning to Prince
Marvel he said:

"It will be a great task to string up so many thieves. You look
tired. Permit me to assist you to hang the others, and then I will
climb into a tree and hang myself from a strong branch, with as
little bother as possible."

"Oh, I won't think of troubling you," exclaimed Marvel, with a
laugh. "Having conquered you alone, I feel it my duty to hang you
without assistance--save that of my esquire."

"It's no trouble, I assure you; but suit your own convenience,"
said the thief, carelessly. Then he cast his eye toward the cave and
asked: "What will you do with all our treasure?"

"Give it to the poor," said Prince Marvel, promptly.

"What poor?"

"Oh, the poorest people I can find."

"Will you permit me to advise you in this matter?" asked the
king of thieves, politely.

"Yes, indeed; for I am a stranger in this land," returned the
prince.

"Well, I know a lot of people who are so poor that they have no
possessions whatever, neither food to eat, houses to live in, nor any
clothing but that which covers their bodies. They can call no man
friend, nor will any lift a hand to help them. Indeed, good sir, I
verily believe they will soon perish miserably unless you come to
their assistance!"

"Poor creatures!" exclaimed Prince Marvel, with ready sympathy;
"tell me who they are, and I will divide amongst them all your
ill-gotten gains."

"They are ourselves," replied the king of thieves, with a
sigh.

Marvel looked at him in amazement, and then burst into joyous
laughter.

"Yourselves!" he cried, greatly amused.

"Indeed, yes!" said Wul-Takim, sadly. "There are no poorer
people in all the world, for we have ropes about our necks and are
soon to be hanged. To-morrow we shall not have even our flesh left,
for the crows will pick our bones."

"That is true," remarked Marvel, thoughtfully. "But, if I
restore to you the treasure, how will it benefit you, since you are
about to die?"

"Must you really hang us?" asked the thief.

"Yes; I have decreed it, and you deserve your fate."

"Why?"

"Because you have wickedly taken from helpless people their
property, and committed many other crimes besides."

"But I have reformed! We have all reformed--have we not,
brothers?"

"We have!" answered the other thieves, who, having regained
their senses, were listening to this conversation with much
interest.

"And, if you will return to us our treasure, we will promise
never to steal again, but to remain honest men and enjoy our wealth
in peace," promised the king.

"Honest men could not enjoy treasures they have stolen," said
Prince Marvel.

"True; but this treasure is now yours, having been won by you in
fair battle. And if you present it to us it will no longer be stolen
treasure, but a generous gift from a mighty prince, which we may
enjoy with clear consciences."

"Yet there remains the fact that I have promised to hang you,"
suggested Prince Marvel, with a smile, for the king amused him
greatly.

"Not at all! Not at all!" cried Wul-Takim. "You promised to
hang fifty-nine thieves, and there is no doubt the fifty-nine thieves
deserved to be hung. But, consider! We have all reformed our ways
and become honest men; so it would be a sad and unkindly act to hang
fifty-nine honest men!"

"What think you, Nerle?" asked the Prince, turning to his
esquire.

"Why, the rogue seems to speak truth," said Nerle, scratching
his head with a puzzled air, "yet, if he speaks truth, there is
little difference between a rogue and an honest man. Ask him, my
master, what caused them all to reform so suddenly."

"Because we were about to die, and we thought it a good way to
save our lives," replied the robber king.

"That's an honest answer, anyway," said Nerle. "Perhaps, sir,
they have really reformed."

"And if so, I will not have the death of fifty-nine honest men
on my conscience," declared the prince. Then he turned to Wul-Takim
and added: "I will release you and give you the treasure, as you
request. But you owe me allegiance from this time forth, and if I
ever hear of your becoming thieves again, I promise to return and
hang every one of you."

"Never fear!" answered Wul-Takim, joyfully. "It is hard work to
steal, and while we have so much treasure it is wholly unnecessary.
Moreover, having accepted from you our lives and our fortunes, we
shall hereafter be your devoted servants, and whenever you need our
services you have but to call upon us, and we will support you
loyally and gladly."

"I accept your service," answered the prince, graciously.

And then he unbound the fifty-nine honest men and took the ropes
from their necks. As nightfall was fast approaching the new servants
set to work to prepare a great feast in honor of their master. It
was laid in the middle of the grassy clearing, that all might sit
around and celebrate the joyous occasion.

"Do you think you can trust these men?" asked Nerle,
suspiciously.

"Why not?" replied the prince. "They have been exceedingly
wicked, it is true; but they are now intent upon being exceedingly
good. Let us encourage them in this. If we mistrusted all who have
ever done an evil act there would be fewer honest people in the
world. And if it were as interesting to do a good act as an evil one
there is no doubt every one would choose the good."