The Enchanted Island of Yew | Page 8

really transformed to this youth?"
"It certainly seems so," returned Helda, who, being unabashed by the
marvels she had beheld, turned to gaze boldly upon the young knight.
"Do you still remember that a moment ago you were a fairy?" she
inquired.
"Yes, indeed," said he, smiling; "and I am really a fairy now, being but
changed in outward form. But no one must know this save yourselves,
until the year has expired and I resume my true station. Will you
promise to guard my secret?"
"Oh, yes!" they exclaimed, in chorus. For they were delighted, as any

children might well be, at having so remarkable a secret to keep and
talk over among themselves.
"I must ask one more favor," continued the youth: "that you give me a
name; for in this island I believe all men bear names of some sort, to
distinguish them one from another."
"True," said Seseley, thoughtfully. "What were you called as a fairy?"
"That does not matter in the least," he answered, hastily. "I must have
an entirely new name."
"Suppose we call him the Silver Knight," suggested Berna, as she eyed
his glistening armor.
"Oh, no!--that is no name at all!" declared Helda. "We might better call
him Baron Strongarm."
"I do not like that, either," said the Lady Seseley, "for we do not know
whether his arm is strong or not. But he has been transformed in a most
astonishing and bewildering manner before our very eyes, and I think
the name of Prince Marvel would suit him very well."
"Excellent!" cried the youth, picking up his richly graven shield. "The
name seems fitting in every way. And for a year I shall be known to all
this island as Prince Marvel!"

5. The King of Thieves
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