me."

"True," said the boy, brightening up; "therefore our score is now even.
But take care not to affront me again, for hereafter I will show you no
mercy!"

Prince Marvel looked at the boy with wonder. He was about his own
size, yet strong and well formed, and he would have been handsome
except for the expression of discontent upon his face. Yet his manner
and words were so absurd and unnatural that the prince was more amused
than angered by his new acquaintance, and presently laughed in his face.

"If all the people in this island are like you," he said, "I shall have
lots of fun with them. And you are only a boy, after all."

"I'm bigger than you!" declared the other, glaring fiercely at the
prince.

"How much bigger?" asked Marvel, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, ever so much!"

"Then fetch along that coil of rope, and follow me," said Prince Marvel.

"Fetch the rope yourself!" retorted the boy, bluntly. "I'm not your
servant." Then he put his hands in his pockets and coolly walked out of
the cave to look at the pile of senseless robbers.

Prince Marvel made no reply, but taking the coil of rope on his
shoulder he carried it to where the thieves lay and threw it down
beside them. Then he cut lengths from the coil with his sword and
bound the limbs of each robber securely. Within a half-hour he had
laid out a row of thieves extending half way across the grassy plain,
and on counting their number he found he had captured fifty-nine of
them.

This task being accomplished and the robbers rendered helpless, Prince
Marvel turned to the boy who stood watching him.

"Get a suit of armor from the cave, and a strong sword, and then return
here," he said, in a stern voice.

"Why should I do that?" asked the boy, rather impudently.

"Because I am going to fight you for disobeying my orders; and if you
do not protect yourself I shall probably kill you."

"That sounds pleasant," said the boy. "But if you should prove my
superior in skill I beg you will not kill me at once, but let me die a
lingering death."

"Why?" asked the prince.

"Because I shall suffer more, and that will be delightful."

"I am not anxious to kill you, nor to make you suffer," said Marvel,
"all that I ask is that you acknowledge me your master."

"I won't!" answered the boy. "I acknowledge no master in all the
world!"

"Then you must fight," declared the prince, gravely. "If you win, I
will promise to serve you faithfully; and i