d himself was very beautiful, the soft
grass beneath his horse's feet being sprinkled with bright flowers,
while clumps of trees stood here and there to break the monotony of the
landscape.

For an hour the prince rode along, rejoicing in the free motion of his
horse and breathing in the perfume-laden air. Then he found he had
crossed the valley and was approaching a series of hills. These were
broken by huge rocks, the ground being cluttered with boulders of rough
stone. His horse speedily found a pathway leading through these rocks,
but was obliged to proceed at a walk, turning first one way and then
another as the path zigzagged up the hill.

Presently, being engaged in deep thought and little noting the way,
Prince Marvel rode between two high walls of rock standing so close
together that horse and rider could scarcely pass between the sides.
Having traversed this narrow space some distance the wall opened
suddenly upon a level plat of ground, where grass and trees grew. It
was not a very big place, but was surely the end of the path, as all
around it stood bare walls so high and steep that neither horse nor man
could climb them. In the side of the rocky wall facing the entrance
the traveler noticed a hollow, like the mouth of a cave, across which
was placed an iron gate. And above the gateway was painted in red
letters on the gray stone the following words:

WUL-TAKIM
KING OF THIEVES
------
HIS TREASURE HOUSE
KEEP OUT

Prince Marvel laughed on reading this, and after getting down from his
saddle he advanced to the iron gate and peered through its heavy bars.

"I have no idea who this Wul-Takim is," he said, "for I know nothing at
all of the ways of men outside the forest in which I have always dwelt.
But thieves are bad people, I am quite sure, and since Wul-Takim is the
king of thieves he must be by far the worst man on this island."

Then he saw, through the bars of the gate, that a great cavern lay
beyond, in which were stacked treasures of all sorts: rich cloths,
golden dishes and ornaments, gemmed coronets and bracelets, cleverly
forged armor, shields and battle-axes. Also there were casks and bales
of merchandise of every sort.

The gate appeared to have no lock, so Prince Marvel opened it and
walked in. Then he perceived, perched on the very top of a pyramid of
casks, the form of a boy, who sat very still and watched him with a
lo