"Now," said Terribus, regarding the prince gloomily, "I must dispose of you in another way."
Instantly a tall blackamoor advanced from the throng3 and cast off his flowing robe, showing a strong figure clad only in a silver loincloth.
"Crack me this fellow's bones!" commanded Terribus.
"I beg your Majesty4 will not compel me to touch him," said Prince Marvel5, with a slight shudder6; "for his skin is greasy7, and will soil my hands. Here, Nerle!" he continued, turning to his esquire, "dispose of this black man, and save me the trouble."
Nerle laughed pleasantly. The black was a powerfully built man, and compared with Nerle and the prince, who had but the stature8 of boys, he towered like a very giant in size. Nevertheless, Nerle did not hesitate to spring upon the Wrestler, who with a quick movement sent the boy crashing against the stone pavement.
Nerle was much bruised9 by the fall, and as he painfully raised himself to his feet a great lump was swelling10 behind his left ear, where his head had struck the floor, and he was so dizzy that the room seemed swimming around him in a circle. But he gave a happy little laugh, and said to the prince, gratefully:
"Thank you very much, my master! The fall is hurting me delightfully11. I almost feel as if I could cry, and that would be joy indeed!"
"Well," answered the prince, with a sigh, "I see I must get my hands greased after all"--for the black's body had really been greased to enable him to elude12 the grasp of his opponents.
But Marvel made a quick leap and seized the Wrestler firmly around the waist. The next moment, to the astonishment13 of all, the black man flew swiftly into the air, plunged14 through one of the open windows high up in the wall, and disappeared from view. When the king and his people again turned their wondering eyes upon the prince he was wiping his hands carefully upon a silk handkerchief.
At this sight a pretty young girl, who stood near the throne, laughed aloud, and the sound of her laughter made King Terribus very angry.
"Come here!" he commanded, sternly. The girl stepped forward, her face now pale and frightened, while tear-drops trembled upon the lashes16 that fringed her downcast eyes. "You have dared to laugh at the humiliation17 of your king," said Terribus, his horrid18 face more crimson19 than ever, "and as atonement I command that you drink of the poisoned cup."
"Drink!" he said, an evil leer upon his face.
The girl well knew this goblet contained a vile23 poison, one drop of which on her tongue would cause death; so she hesitated, trembling and shrinking from the ordeal24.
Prince Marvel looked into her sweet face with pitying eyes, and stepping quickly to her side, took her hand in his.
"Now drink!" he said, smiling upon her; "the poison will not hurt you."
She drank obediently, while the dwarf chuckled25 with awful glee and the king looked on eagerly, expecting her to fall dead at his feet. But instead the girl stood upright and pressed Marvel's hand, looking gratefully into his face.
"You are a fairy!" she whispered, so low that no one else heard her voice. "I knew that you would save me."
"Keep my secret," whispered the prince in return, and still holding her hand he led her back to her former place.
King Terribus was almost wild with rage and disappointment, and his elephant nose twisted and squirmed horribly.
"So you dare to thwart26 my commands, do you!" he cried, excitedly. "Well, we shall soon see which of us is the more powerful. I have decreed your death--and die you shall!"
"Ho, there! Keepers of the royal menagerie--appear!"
Three men entered the room and bowed before the king. They were of the Gray Men of the mountains, who had followed Prince Marvel and Nerle through the rocky passes.
"Bring hither the Royal Dragon," cried the king, "and let him consume these strangers before my very eyes!"
The men withdrew, and presently was heard a distant shouting, followed by a low rumbling28 sound, with groans29, snorts, roars and a hissing30 like steam from the spout31 of a teakettle.
The noise and shouting drew nearer, while the people huddled32 together like frightened sheep; and then suddenly the doors flew open and the Royal Dragon advanced to the center of the room.
This creature was at once the pride and terror of the Kingdom of Spor. It was more than thirty feet in length and covered everywhere with large green scales set with diamonds, making the dragon, when it moved, a very glittering spectacle. Its eyes were as big as pie-plates, and its mouth--when wide opened--fully as large as a bath-tub. Its tail was very long and ended in a golden ball, such as you see on the top of flagstaffs. Its legs, which were as thick as those of an elephant, had scales which were set with rubies33 and emeralds. It had two monstrous34, big ears and two horns of carved ivory, and its teeth were also carved into various fantastic shapes--such as castles, horses' heads, chinamen and griffins--so that if any of them broke it would make an excellent umbrella handle.
The Royal Dragon of Spor came crawling into the throne-room rather clumsily, groaning35 and moaning with every step and waving its ears like two blankets flying from a clothesline.
The king looked on it and frowned.
"Why are you not breathing fire and brimstone?" he demanded, angrily.
"Why, I was caught out in a gale36 the other night," returned the Dragon, rubbing the back of its ear with its left front paw, as it paused and looked at the king, "and the wind put out my fire."
"Then why didn't you light it again?" asked Terribus, turning on the keepers.
"So--ho!" 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, contentedly38. "I hope your Majesty is now satisfied."
"Ah, I can't do that!" replied the Dragon. "It's all stiffened39 up with rheumatism40 from the dampness of my cave. It hurts too much to lash it."
"Well, then, gnash your teeth!" commanded the king.
"Tut--tut!" 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, winking41 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 frightful42 thing to behold43. So he curbed44 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 fiery45 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 relish46 the job; "this one isn't Saint George, is it?"
"No, no!" exclaimed the king, irritably47; "it's Prince Marvel. Do get to work as soon as possible."
"Prince Marvel--Prince 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 mighty48 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 assassin--or 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!" shrieked49 the king, stamping his foot in passion. "You've outlived your usefulness! You're a coward! You're a traitor50! You're a--a--a--"
"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 winked51 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 undue52 confusion, and every one, including the king, seemed glad to be rid of him.
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1
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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wrestler
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| n.摔角选手，扭 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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15
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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29
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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30
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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31
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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32
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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34
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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36
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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40
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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41
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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42
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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43
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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44
curbed
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| v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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46
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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47
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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48
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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49
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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51
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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52
undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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