Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 3).djvu/636

 uproar and merriment; and, in the midst of dancing and singing, soldiers in glittering uniforms were persuading young men to enlist in the army, for the king of the country had entangled himself in a war, and had not enough men to carry it on successfully.

The smart appearance of the recruiting-sergeants, their fine uniforms, the glittering heaps of shillings on the table, round which the crowd danced, together with the sound of fiddles and the clinking of glasses, delighted the soldier so much that, in spite of his fatigue, he joined the dancing and merry-making, and drank one glass after another to the King's health. Before he knew what he had done he had a shako with a waving plume on his head, and a silver shilling in his pocket.

The next day he found himself once more installed in his former life, and soon after his regiment was ordered to advance and attack the enemy.

As Marzi was a very fine-looking man, and knew his duty well, he was very soon selected for the King's Body Guard. But this mark of favour made him many enemies among the other soldiers, for they did not see why a stranger who had not distinguished himself in the King's service should be chosen before them.

Now the King had once upon a time been given a magic ring, which made its possessor invincible while he wore it. Unfortunately it happened that just at this crisis when it would have been of most use to him, for his foe was a very formidable one, the King found that he had left his ring at home. The enemy's army marched against him, and fell on his men so suddenly that he was obliged to retreat in order to assemble fresh troops, and although he soon filled up his ranks, and led them once more against the foe, keeping up the spirits of his soldiers by his own brave example and by dazzling promises for the future, his efforts were fruitless. His hitherto unfailing luck seemed to have utterly deserted him, and his army suddenly becoming aware of their evil plight, saw that they would soon be completely defeated and taken prisoners, along with their leader.

Then the King called out in despair, "The man who fetches me my ring before we are overpowered by the enemy, shall have the hand of my only daughter as his reward."

But the danger that threatened them was so immediate, and the distance from the capital so great, that the quickest rider would not trust himself to be back in time, for at the very shortest it would take seven days and seven nights to cross the rivers and mountains, and plains that separated the capital from the camp. Everyone was fully aware of this, and no one offered to attempt the ride.

Then Marzi, remembering the three magic gifts the old beggar had endowed him with, stepped forward, and, saluting the King, he said: "Your Majesty shall have your ring immediately, and then I beg you will remember your promise;" and in a moment he shook himself and fled as fast as lightning through the tents of the warriors in the shape of a hare. He ran so quickly that the dust rose in great clouds behind him, which astonished everyone not a little.

Soon he came to a broad river, where he shook himself again, and swam across it in the shape of a silver salmon, and when he had reached the other side he shook himself once more, and flew in the shape of a dove, quicker than the wind, over hill and dale. Before the King in his camp could have dreamt it possible, Marzi had reached the palace; and, flying through an open window into the room of the beautiful Princess, he perched upon her knee.