Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 3).djvu/635



ARZI had been a soldier for many years, and was much beloved by his comrades, for he was as merry as he was brave, and generous almost to a fault; but, unfortunately, the king under whom this popular soldier served never went to war with any of his neighbours; so, seeing that he was not likely to make a career in the army, Marzi determined to buy his discharge and to return to his relations.

He arrived at home to find that his father was just dead, and his goods were in the act of being divided among his heirs. Although the soldier had never expected a large inheritance, still he was a good deal surprised to receive as his portion nothing more nor less than a silver penny. But he accepted this fresh stroke of ill luck as cheerfully as he had done every other; and, turning his back on his old home, he set out on his travels very little richer than when he returned to his father's house.

He wandered on for some time through field and meadow, till he reached a wood. Here he was stopped by a poor old beggar with grey hair, who begged him pitifully for alms. Without a moment's thought, Marzi plunged his hand into his pocket, and presented the old man on the spot with his whole inheritance.

The beggar thanked him gratefully, and said—

"Your generosity shall be richly rewarded. Joy and blessing shall follow you wherever you go. Only speak, and whatever you wish shall be granted to you."

Marzi was much astonished at the old man's words, but answered promptly—

"Since it is only to wish I have, I would rather have the power of changing myself at will into a dove, into a hare, and into a salmon than anything else in the world."

"Your desire is granted," said the beggar. "Go your way, and think sometimes of me." And hardly had he said these words than he vanished.

The sudden apparition and the strange words of the old beggar so filled the soldier's mind that he never noticed that he had passed over the boundary of his native country. Before sunset Marzi found himself in a strange capital, where all was