Part 6 (1/2)
”Is Niblius truthful?”
”He was never known to tell a lie in all his life,” answered Primeval.
”Then Purrier must be very treacherous,” rejoined the king.
”He is,” said the counsellor.
”It is no new thing,” remarked the king, ”for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: KING m.u.f.fLER. ”It is no new thing,” remarked the king, ”for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel.”]
”True, O king, and the crafty gain their end by seeming to be in the right.”
”If not found out,” said m.u.f.fler. ”Crafticus,” he added, indignantly, ”such trickery, if practised by all my subjects, would break up my mighty realm. And, besides, you showed no mercy. I do therefore sentence you to be struck down by the lion Thunderpeal, my grumbling uncle, or, if you choose, to be torn in pieces by the tiger Clawnailia, my cruel cousin, or to the mercy of anyone as cruel-hearted as yourself, and if you can escape their terrible clutches, good and well.
I am sorry for you, and I am doubly sorry that talent like yours should be so much abused.”
”I bow to your will, O King,” said Crafticus meekly.
The fox's wife and children now came forward to bid him farewell forever. They were beautiful creatures, especially the little foxes, and their cries were heart-rending. They looked wistfully into the eyes of the condemned Crafticus, and placed their heads gently and affectionately beside his drooping head.
When Thunderpeal advanced by the counsellor's request to separate them, he had much difficulty in pus.h.i.+ng them away, and king m.u.f.fler's big heart was touched with sorrow.
Then Crafticus stood alone by the side of Thunderpeal, who waited impatiently the signal to strike him down.
”O king,” said Crafticus, ”may I speak one word?”
”You may, but make haste, for my uncle's face is getting dark and cloudy.”
”You gave me my choice of a slayer, O king?”
”I did, but of one as cruel as yourself.”
”You placed me in their mercy, O king?”
”I did, and I am very sorry for you, but the law must take its course.”
”Then, O king m.u.f.fler, I choose my wife.”
On hearing this the king's eyes opened wide, while Thunderpeal broke into a roar of anger, but a flash of m.u.f.fler's eyes sent him howling away. Then the king turned toward his counsellor and said--
”Well, well, isn't Crafticus clever? He catches at words as a lawyer handles them among mankind. Who would have thought that he would turn my words in his own favor?” Then m.u.f.fler laughed, and said--”he deserves to escape. After all, it was only a goose, and the goose was my own, and I can well afford the loss.” And he laughed till his mane shook. ”Go, Crafticus,” he added, ”and be slain by the mercy of your wife--by one indeed as cruel as yourself when it is a case of geese and ganders.”
Crafticus bowed low and answered--
”I am deeply thankful, O king m.u.f.fler, for your justice and sympathy.”
”Before you go,” said the king, ”there is one command I desire to make.”