Part 16 (2/2)
”I crossed the kitchen on tiptoe,” said Red Rex. ”I challenge any man of my size to go more softly. Not a sound in the little house; no trace of you. My dark lantern showed me two doors. I knew one must lead to the pantry,--but which? Do you know what I did? Ah, I am clever! I put my ear to each door in turn. At one I heard no sound. At the other, presently, I caught the noise of gentle snoring. Just then,--some one sneezed.”
”Yes,” said Harold; ”I tried to smother it, but I could not do so.”
”By that sneeze I knew certainly that this was your bedroom, and that the other must be the pantry. I kept very quiet, and there was no more sound from you. I hoped you were asleep. I opened the pantry door very gently, and crept in. I flashed my lantern upon the shelves. Ah! There they were,--six beautiful, brown, luscious apple pies, as you had said.
Um! Um! I could hardly wait to begin. I pulled out my dagger and attacked one of them. It melted in the mouth like magic! Just then I heard a hullabaloo from your bedroom. What lungs you have, you rascal!”
”I yelled as loudly as I could,” said Harold modestly. ”But Robert can make more noise.”
”I hope I may never hear him, then!” cried Red Rex. ”Well; I heard the key turn in the lock, and knew you had trapped me, you dog! I heard steps on the stair, and knew I had no time to waste. Hastily I put the five remaining pies in my basket and made for the window. I knew it would never do for me to be caught in Kisington! To be sure, there was a truce. But I did not know how your Magistrates might regard the right of a King to take his own way with a truce. What triumph for your city to capture me, the besieging War-Lord! It might not be. But your pantry window is of a smallness! I nearly perished in my attempt to squeeze through. The gla.s.s cut my hand and my forehead. I thought once I was stuck for good. Some one clutched at my shawl. I let it go. It is priceless, woven tissue of the East; but I let it go.”
”We have it safe,” said Harold.
”I shall never claim it,” a.s.serted Red Rex. ”Well, soon I was safe outside. I found myself in your back garden, on the city wall. You folk are so careless,--to build houses on a city wall! From there one can drop into safety without any trouble. I did so. It is your own fault if fugitives escape from your city,--say I. Whatever happens to you, it is your own fault,--say I!”
”Then it will be your own fault if I tell this tale of you to our City Fathers to-morrow,--say I.” Harold looked at Red Rex mischievously.
”Nay,” said the Red King hastily. ”You must not betray me. This tale must not become common history. No one will understand my point of view.
I begin to think that no one will see my bravery in making this attempt.
So few persons are open-minded and generous! You will not tell your City Fathers, Harold? _n.o.blesse oblige_, remember. You are my guest, and I have told you a tale in return for yours. I could detain you by force, breaking the truce yet once more. But I will not do so. I suppose I am a fool!”
Harold had been thinking hard. ”No; I will not tell the story,--but on two conditions.”
”What are they?” asked Red Rex.
”The first is this,” said Harold. ”For the sake of the pies you stole (one of which was your own), during the siege of Kisington you shall spare from force or damage that part of the city in which stands my mother's little house.”
”Gladly will I promise that,” agreed the Red King.
”Spare the _north_, then,” said Harold, pointing. ”You must not aim any weapons against the north.”
”The north is safe,” repeated Red Rex. ”I agree not to point weapon or aim force against the north section of your city.”
”Then all Kisington is saved!” cried Harold. ”Already, before now, Your Majesty has promised to spare the _east_,--for the sake of Gerda's garden; the _west_,--for the children's school, in the name of your Hope. Now you promise to spare the _north_. The south only remains,--and that is _here_, Your Majesty, outside the walls!”
Red Rex grinned sheepishly. ”Harold,” he said. ”You have outwitted me, and outplayed me. Kisington is indeed safe from me. I have no choice now but to raise the siege and go my way home. And to tell you the truth, I shall not be sorry to spare the town. Since visiting, even so briefly, within your walls, seeing the kind-faced people, the goodly buildings, and especially the n.o.ble library, I have conceived an affection for the place. I am glad of an excuse not to destroy it. If it were possible, indeed, I would that I might see the interior of that house of books. I would fain know more of the Chronicles of Kisington.”
”Why may it not be, Your Majesty?” said Harold. ”We will say nothing of this night's adventure. Come to-morrow with a flag of truce and be our guest, even as I have been yours. I will show you our library. Maybe you will hear another tale, even in that n.o.ble home of books.--But first you must hear to my second condition.”
”True; I forgot that,” said Red Rex gravely. ”What is your second demand, Harold?”
”It is this,” said Harold with a twinkle in his eye. ”Your Majesty tells a tale so well, I fain would hear another. To-morrow you shall tell me a tale. I make that my second condition.”
Red Rex hesitated, hummed and hawed. ”Needs must,” he said at last.
”Though I am no story-teller, I will think up some yarn from the tales I have heard in my travels, and that you shall hear, my boy. But surely, I need tell it to no others than yourself?”
The Red King looked so miserable at the idea of talking to an audience that Harold laughed and said,--”Nay, Your Majesty. Let me have the treat to myself. I will come here as before, after school, hear the story, and then bring you back with me. The town will receive you as an honored guest, and we will make high carnival.”
”Agreed,” said Red Rex.
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