L. Frank Baum Read Online Free PDF Page B

run away from home and seek adventure.
    "'Once away from your father's castle,' said he, 'troubles will fall
upon you thick enough to satisfy even your longings.'
    "'That is what I am afraid of!' I answered. 'I don't want to be
satisfied, even with troubles. What I seek is unsatisfied longings.'
    "'Nevertheless,' said he, 'I advise you to travel. Everything will
probably go wrong with you, and then you will be happy.'
    "I acted upon the stranger's advice and ran away from home the next
day. After journeying a long time I commenced to feel the pangs of
hunger, and was just beginning to enjoy myself when a knight rode by
and gave me a supply of food. At this rebuff I could not restrain my
tears, but while I wept my horse stumbled and threw me over his head.
I hoped at first I had broken my neck, and was just congratulating
myself upon the misfortune, when a witch-woman came along and rubbed
some ointment upon my bruises, in spite of my protests. To my great
grief the pain left me, and I was soon well again. But, as a slight
compensation for my disappointment, my horse had run away; so I began
my journey anew and on foot.
    "That afternoon I stepped into a nest of wasps, but the thoughtless
creatures flew away without stinging me. Then I met a fierce tiger,
and my heart grew light and gay. 'Surely this will cause me
suffering!' I cried, and advanced swiftly upon the brute. But the
cowardly tiger turned tail and ran to hide in the bushes, leaving me
unhurt!
    "Of course, my many disappointments were some consolation; but not
much. That night I slept on the bare ground, and hoped I should catch
a severe cold; but no such joy was to be mine.
    "Yet the next afternoon I experienced my first pleasure. The thieves
caught me, stripped off all my fine clothes and jewels and beat me
well. Then they carried me to their cave, dressed me in rags, and
perched me on the top of the casks, where the slightest movement on my
part would send me tumbling among the sword points. This was really
delightful, and I was quite happy until you came and released me.
    "I thought then that I might gain some pleasure by provoking you to
anger; and our fight was the result. That blow on the ear was
exquisite, and by forcing me to become your servant you have made me,
for the first time in my life, almost contented. For I hope in your
company to experience a great many griefs and disappointments."
    As Nerle concluded his story Prince Marvel turned to him and grasped
his hand.
    "Accept my sympathy!" said he. "I know exactly how you feel, for my
own life during the past few centuries has not been much different."
    "The past few centuries!" gasped Nerle. "What do you mean?"
    At this the prince blushed, seeing he had nearly disclosed his secret.
But he said, quickly:
    "Does it not seem centuries when one is unhappy?"
    "It does, indeed!" responded Nerle, earnestly. "But please tell me
your story."
    "Not now," said Prince Marvel, with a smile. "It will please you to
desire in vain to hear a tale I will not tell. Yet I promise that on
the day we part company I shall inform you who I am."

7 - The Gray Men
*
    The adventurers gave no heed to the path they followed after leaving
the cave of the reformed thieves, but their horses accidentally took
the direction of the foot-hills that led into the wild interior Kingdom
of Spor. Therefore the travelers, when they had finished their
conversation and begun to look about them, found themselves in a
rugged, mountainous country that was wholly unlike the green plains of
Heg they had left behind.
    Now, as I have before said, the most curious and fearful of the island
people dwelt in this Kingdom of Spor. They held no friendly
communication with their neighbors, and only left their own mountains
to plunder and rob; and so sullen and fierce were they on these
occasions that every one took good care to keep out of their way until
they had gone back home again.
    There was much gossip about the unknown king of Spor, who had never