Nevertheless, White Wing had nothing to fear from the stalwart and imperious ruler, for the bird was truly his most treasured possession; and if he were in an evil mood, the Emperor would often betake himself to White Wing's splendid garden, and there he would toy with the bird, asking him many questions, and seeming always content to find his answer in the flamingo4's sagacious looks, or a chance nod of the creature's head.
There were the troops of lovely children, too, whose quarters were a whole part of the palace itself, and these were a delight to White Wing, for they were gentle with him and fed him all sorts of dainties from their little brown hands.
Among these was a lovely little girl who grew to be a favorite of the Emperor's and was deeply attached to White Wing.
One day, to the latter's great distress5, he saw traces of tears on the child's face as she came hurrying across the enclosed garden to the sunken pool where White Wing was looking down into the water at the gold fish. There happened to be no one in the great courtyard at that moment but the child and the stately bird. She looked around first, to be sure that what she was about to say would not be overheard.
"Oh, Prince of the Dawn, dear Prince," she began, "do you know what has happened? I have run away from the others just to tell you. It's the saddest thing in the world. The Emperor is sending all the children away to the farthermost corner of the land to keep them in hiding. And only the soldiers and the priests are to live here now. There is only one hour left, for down below the great walls there are thousands of bearers and mules6 laden7 with everything, and a whole army of escorts. Maybe we shall never come back."
Then she threw herself at White Wing's feet and clutched the flowers on the border of the fountain as she cried.
But this was only the beginning of the troubles in that great palace. What the princess had told White Wing explained much that he had observed, but what the child did not know, and what the Emperor feared the most, was the plotting that went on against his own life and the rivalries8 among his generals. The kingdom was being attacked to the eastward9. Up that same valley that White Wing had followed in his flight, a terrible army was marching against the capital of this realm. It was an army of men from the other side of the world. Such conquerors10 they were as even the Emperor himself had never dreamed of.
But now excited slaves came rushing in and bore the child off. She had scarcely time to say farewell, and poor White Wing heard her sobs11 as they died away through the courtyards and arched corridors. Yes, his palace was being deserted12, and he could walk through empty rooms and suddenly stilled hallways without meeting a soul. Everybody was in the lower courtyard watching the departure of the household.
But just as White Wing, much depressed13 and filled with wonder, came to a little doorway14 in a corner of the great upper hall, he heard voices. They were the Emperor's councilors, he knew, but why they should be there now when everybody was so busy elsewhere, he wondered. They were not talking as usual, but whispering, and a great curtain had been drawn15 across the doorway.
White Wing knew that the chamber16 was lighted by a window that opened to a tiny courtyard of its own. To reach this court without passing through the room was impossible to any one but such as White Wing. He could mount the walls by a short flight from the garden, and descend17 within the secret yard.
This he did, for he was bound to learn what the priests and councilors were up to. The Emperor was not with them, and he felt sure that it was something treacherous18 that they were doing.
He was just in time as he settled down on the stone copings outside the great window. First he looked to make sure that his shadow was not visible across the pavement. He was assured of his safety, and knew that his arrival there had not been betrayed by so much as a ruffle19 of his beautiful wings.
The voices were deciding the fate of the Emperor and of White Wing too. The priests were to tell the Emperor that he must sacrifice the thing that he loved the most and that he must do it with his own hand. And it was to be arranged that as he knelt at the great altar of black stone to kill the bird, an arrow should be sent from a secret place on the walls, so that the Emperor with his back turned to the court should perish then and there.
White Wing's blood ran cold. This, then, was why his great master had always been fearful and morose20, and often cruel. His own house was full of men that hated him and were yet his own brothers. They were ready now, just as the kingdom was rallying to save itself, to seize it all into their own hands. They would be rid of him, and his mysterious bird too, for they feared in a childish way that White Wing had been sent to the Emperor by some divine agent, and they hated the innocent creature because they were both fearful and jealous of him.
They were now deciding which one of them should let fly the arrow which should kill the Emperor. White Wing could hear them rattling21 the jeweled discs or dice22 with which he had often seen them playing. Evidently the process of making the decision was a complicated one, for he heard the little carved discs rattling in their box a number of times. Then there was silence and a voice which he knew was that of the Emperor's half-brother spoke23 in clear tones:
"I am glad that it has fallen on me!"
Suddenly the sound of drums and horns and a great deal of shouting broke the silence. The Emperor had said farewell to his household, and in great clamor the slaves and the favorites and the troops of beautiful children were departing from the city. The Emperor's heralds24 were calling his councilors to the great audience chamber. White Wing heard the treacherous creatures scuttle25 from the little room in haste, and he heard the dice which they had been using rattle26 to the floor as they upset a table in their hurry to get out. Slowly and cautiously, he looked into the room. It was deserted. Then he went in and looked around him and picked up one of the little dice. It was a small, black jewel, curiously27 engraven. He tucked it under his wing and stalked quietly through the curtained doorway, and down the long corridor with its shadowy arches until it brought him to the sunny courts that bounded his own walled garden.
What he achieved by this simple act of sagacity is quickly told. The Emperor, who had known nothing of the secret council, guessed immediately that it had taken place when White Wing dropped the black counter at his feet. They were alone in the garden, and it was late in the evening. The bird little knew that this was not one of the gaming dice at all, but the sacred dice used to settle life and death decisions in the Emperor's secret debates with his court.
Puzzled as the Emperor was at first, he was not long in establishing his conclusions. He had just been told by the priests that he must sacrifice the white flamingo, and his half-brother had been alarmingly affectionate, having even caressed28 his shoulder as he thanked the great ruler for having placed him at the head of certain troops which were of the greatest importance in the forthcoming battles.
Then the Emperor knew what to do. He said nothing but was exceedingly watchful29. Coming early in the morning to White Wing he bade the great bird good-by.
"You must fly over to your own people, dear bird," he said. "My enemies will eventually kill you if you do not go. And perhaps, when these great invaders30 have taken my city, I shall be reduced to slavery. You have been my greatest pleasure, and you have served here all that you were intended to. You have saved my life, for the scheme to kill me while I was to be offering you in sacrifice has all come out. I drew confession31 from certain of the councilors when I had them in the dungeons32 but an hour ago. Never would I have suspected them but for your wonderful means of warning me."
Then, in the earliest dawn, before the blazing sun had blanched33 the palace walls, White Wing soared slowly into the air, leaving the great Emperor standing34 alone by the deserted altar. There were no cheering crowds as there had been when he came to that terrible city, and in their stead were camps and tents and all the sights of preparing war upon the plains. But the Emperor's hands were upraised and his face was very splendid as he gazed off into the heavens whither his wonderful white flamingo was disappearing.
All that consoled the bird in the sorrow of leaving his master was the thought of having saved the great man's life. But for that, he would have died from misery35, believing that he should have stayed there until his own life was taken. He little knew that thousands of his own kind were waiting for him. But such was the case, and he soon learned as he flew toward the setting sun, retracing36 his journey, that he was already the prince of birds. Whole flocks of beautiful parrots, and great orioles, and tropic thrushes would greet him and fly in hosts ahead of him. From the great city down through the wide valley and the dark forests to the coast, he traveled with couriers to tell all the birds of his coming. And as he passed, at last, out over the ocean to find the island whence he had come, there were flocks and flocks of flamingoes overtaking and surrounding him.
One strange thing he saw, and that was a fleet of ships with sails greater than ever he had dreamed of. These were galleons38 of the conquerors, come to destroy the city of barbaric splendors where White Wing had been a courtier. But he did not know this, and only marveled at the sight.
At last, when his escort had grown to such numbers that, flying as they did in single file, the line of birds seemed to arch the sky from east to west, he came to the coast which he knew to be his own. Then to the selfsame stretch of coral beach, where the palms were leaning over the dunes39 exactly as he had left them. With slackened speed and flying lower and lower until he caught the scent40 of the old familiar earth, he skimmed above the lagoon41 and was suddenly over his home! White Wing flew straight to his mother.
The thousand relatives and as many new ones were there too, and with the arrival of White Wing's friends, who had glided42 in, one after another, the confusion of greetings in Flamingotown was deafening43.
From then until his death, which was not to be for many, many years, White Wing, whose adventures had become known until they were household words, was the ruler of all flamingoes everywhere.
That he was beneficent, you may be sure. And for one thing, quite the greatest thing in his life, he instituted a change in family life by decreeing that all the gentlemen should take their turn in helping44 the lady birds to hatch their eggs. It is from his reign45 that this admirable custom dates, as Mrs. Leatherback will assure you.
As for that generous lady, she came to have her part in the history of the times. For the great explorers who came to ravish the kingdom where White Wing received such honors, happened to take Mrs. Leatherback captive on one of the islands. They took her aboard ship and were all for taking her back with them to the great court of Spain. But even after they had branded her with the arms of the court of Castile and Aragon, and had secured her to the deck of the galleon37, she eluded46 them and fell into the sea. Consequently she has lived these hundreds of years a member, as she is pleased to think, of the greatest court in Europe. She soon came in the round of her journeys to White Wing's island and there she visited him a long time. So they could recount their adventures; and he has never ceased to love her for the cheer she gave him that first night of his lonely journey. For her part, she is only too proud of her Prince Flamingo, as she calls him, thereby47 disputing honors with the gentle mother bird, who has always been too happy to talk much about her little White Wing.
So all the above is just as the Heron tells it. And he is the one who knows Mrs. Leatherback the best, and he has had it from her many times. Moreover, he always ends with the wish that in some way that old turtle could have the last desire of her life fulfilled. Strange as it may seem, she has never seen the wonderful device of the Spanish Arms which was branded and carved upon her back. It gives her a wry48 neck to attempt it and she has given up trying. So she always lives in hope of finding a looking-glass some day at the bottom of the sea.
But meanwhile she contents herself with getting her friends to tell her how it looks, and it is because the Heron is very particular to do this, and do it well, thereby making the old lady feel comfortable, that he can always get her to relate the story of Prince Flamingo.
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1
fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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smolder
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| v.无火焰地闷烧；n.焖烧，文火 | |
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splendors
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| n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫 | |
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flamingo
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| n.红鹳，火烈鸟 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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7
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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8
rivalries
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| n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 ) | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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12
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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13
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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14
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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15
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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24
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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25
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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32
dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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33
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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36
retracing
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| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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37
galleon
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| n.大帆船 | |
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38
galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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39
dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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40
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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41
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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42
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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43
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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44
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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45
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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46
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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47
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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48
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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