Bright-Wits, Prince of Mogadore | Page 7

thick or thin lines into vacant spots, until all three
colours, and a square, a triangle, and a circle can be found in each
heavy lined circle and in each row of spots. Seven days you may have
to accomplish this task for which your life may be the forfeit."
"But what do you mean by rows of spots, and how about the tenth
spot?" demanded Bright-Wits, showing no concern over this new test.
"Well wert thou named Bright-Wits," sneered Garrofat. "But I will
explain. The rows of spots are the three lines of spots numbered as
follows, II-V-VIII, I-IV-VII, and III-VI-IX. The tenth spot is left vacant
for the first move. And further, you must cross no spot already
occupied by a disk."
[Illustration: THE NINE DISKS.]
[Illustration: THE NINE DISKS.]
"If I succeed in solving this puzzle, have you any more tests before
giving me the reward which I have already won?" asked the prince.
"That is for me to decide," replied Garrofat with a scowl. "As I have

already told you, my love for Azalia, and respect for the wishes of her
dead parent, the wise Rajah Onalba, compel me to use every possible
resource to insure her future happiness. How better could I do this than
by proving to the world that I have bestowed her upon the wisest of
princes? The table will be carried to your apartment, and I wish again
to remind you that failure now means more than a whipping. Though
you shall have that too, for good measure."
"Give yourself no concern on that head," replied Bright-Wits boldly.
"For, by Allah, the whips are not yet braided which shall sting my
shoulders through any device of thine."
"Bravely said, my dear Bright-Wits," cackled Doola. "But be careful
not to swallow any of the disks; your stomach might find them hard to
digest."
"Thrust not thy ugly nose into my affairs," cried the prince, turning
savagely upon Doola. "And look to it that you find not in your own
stomach two hands' breadth of my dagger without your being put to the
trouble of swallowing it or of digesting it thereafter." Then at a sign
from Ablano he retired from the room.
During the next week, Bright-Wits spent much of his time on the
solution of this latest problem. While the prince was thus engaged,
Ablano and Azalia held many consultations in the little pavilion under
the trees. More like father and child they seemed. A secret
understanding appeared to exist between them; which caused
Bright-Wits many pangs of jealousy; despite the respect and affection
in which he held his master the Holy Brahman. He was certain that they
were concealing something from him. Yet when he tried to discover the
mystery in their actions Azalia would but laugh at him; while Ablano
gently chided his impatience, saying unto him, "All things are as Allah
hath ordered. It is but for us to await his meaning without impatience.
Yet be thou not cast down, for the end draweth nigh." Put off, but far
from satisfied, Bright-Wits must needs be content.
Now all this time Garrofat and Doola were busy with a little scheme of
their own that promised to remove one, and perhaps both, of these

meddlesome strangers from the kingdom.
When the seventh day again came round, Bright-Wits repaired to the
Audience Chamber and was considerably puzzled to find several
hundred soldiers drawn up in the court. Among them he discerned
some of his own guards, distinguishable by their high crowned turbans.
His wonder was still further increased by the excessive good humour of
Garrofat and his wily brother Doola. Smilingly they waited while
slaves bore in the great table; and with exclamations of delight greeted
Bright-Wits as he demonstrated his success in mastering the great game
of Onalba.
_If the reader will cut out the little circular disks which he will find at
the back of the book, and place them at random on the numbered spots,
leaving number ten vacant for his first move, he may find Bright-Wits'
task to be less difficult than it looks._
CHAPTER VI
BRIGHT-WITS PICKS AN ESCORT FOR A JOURNEY AND FOILS
THE WICKED DESIGN OF GARROFAT
"Verily dost thou deserve success, my dear Prince," smirked Garrofat.
"Your probation is almost over. Now before I demand any further proof
of your wisdom, it is my desire that you travel over the kingdom for a
brief time that you may acquaint yourself with the country and people
over whom it appears you are destined to rule, by the grace of Allah,
and the help of your own bright wits. With you will go a guard of
fifteen soldiers, as befits your rank and station."
Now on hearing this strange announcement, Ablano pierced Garrofat
with his eyes. Then