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夜莺
从前，有一位富翁。他住在漂亮的房子里，里面摆放着精致的家具。
墙壁上挂着美妙的图画，他的房子让所有人都惊叹不已。
有一天，他看到了一只可爱的夜莺。这是一只美丽的小鸟。它在富翁
的房子里飞进飞出，忽隐忽现，欢快地唱着歌。
每天，富翁都欣赏着这只美丽的鸟，听它唱歌。鸟的歌声是如此地悦
耳。周围的一切，甚至树木和动物，都停下来倾听它美妙的声音。
富翁想拥有这只鸟。他想把它关进鸟笼里。他等啊等。终于有了机
会，他抓到了小鸟，并把它关进了笼子。
突然，夜莺对他说话。 “放开我，”它说，“我会给你一些好的建议，也
许有一天可以帮到你。”
富翁同意了，他放了夜莺。夜莺说：“首先，绝不要为一去不复返的东
西后悔。其次，不要相信任何人。”
富翁认真听取了夜莺的建议，然后，他打开窗户，让夜莺飞了出去。
“太可惜了，你竟然放我走！”夜莺说，“我的翅膀下有一颗大钻石。”
“哦，不！”富翁大喊，想要再次抓住夜莺。
“你这个笨蛋！”夜莺说，“如果我翅膀下有一颗大钻石，我肯定飞不
了。我骗了你。你在为一去不复返的东西懊悔，而且你相信了我的谎
言。”
Dino Lingo Foreign Language Books for children. Spanish, French,
Chinese, and more. Available in 50 languages. Order online at
dinolingo.com

Excerpt From: Dino Lingo. "夜莺" iBooks.

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different content
alive, and for a few moments they stood there panting and
wondering.
"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Uncle Rupert, "that was a terrible
fall! I wonder where we are now? Tell us, Pietas."
Pietas said they had fallen three miles. But the force of gravity
being not so strong near the center of the earth they did not fall as
fast as they would have fallen near the surface. They were near his
own kingdom, he said, and a walk of about a hundred yards would
bring them to the alligator's tail.
"Do not be afraid of the animal, my dear people," he said, "for he
cannot harm you. We shall find the monster lying in the path. We
shall walk on the beast for a number of yards, but he cannot harm
us nor shake us off. There will be a little danger when we get to the
head, but if we jump from his nose without falling, no harm can
come to us. The name of the creature is Mortuus, and he is
dangerous only to those who try to leave our kingdom. Few have
escaped his deadly bite when doing that. But let us move on at
once."
The children did not hesitate to follow, for Uncle Rupert gave them
confidence. When they came to the great tail, they stepped lightly
upon it and walked along, as they might have walked on board an
ocean liner.
"Hist!" exclaimed Pietas, "let us all gather together and get ready
to run and jump off the end of his snout. This is the beginning of the
Middle Earth Kingdom."
Uncle Rupert took little Bee in his arms, and the rest followed the
dwarf, with Uncle Rupert in the rear.
They walked with some difficulty upon the great head of the
alligator, for he kept opening and shutting his jaws. When he opened
his mouth, they seemed to be going uphill, and when he shut it,
they felt as if they were sliding downhill. How the boys did enjoy it!
But the girls found the road a little rough.
When they came to jump off, Uncle Rupert showed them how to
do so while the jaws were shut; then the fall was only seven or eight
feet, whereas, with the mouth open, it would have been at least a
hundred feet.
As soon as they had all landed safely, the monster began to roar
like fifty bulls. He must have been disappointed at losing his supper.
But the children turned their backs on Mortuus and ran about a
level held, gathering black roses and gazing upon the strange
scenery that lay before them.
They had never seen such peculiar flowers. All natural things were
of a somber hue because there was so little sunlight. But the girls
were pleased with the new sights and the boys took off their shoes
and waded in the brooks, chasing little fish.
To Uncle Rupert it was no wonder that the people would not
believe what Pietas said about the better land, seeing that they had
to face the monster alligator in their journey to the United States.
"Pietas," said Uncle Rupert, "I do not believe we shall be able to
convince your people, for the only entrance to the upper country is
so horrible. If we could only kill or disable the monster, we might
succeed in bringing your people out of this place."
"Yes," replied the dwarf, "and besides no one has ever come back
to tell about the other country. I am the first to return from there,
and I hope, through your help, to be able to make my people believe
my report. As for the monster, I am no longer afraid of him. If you
and the boys will help me, perhaps we can put out his eyes so that
he will not be able to harm people that come to him on their journey
upward. Then, too, they can easily step onto his nose when he shuts
his mouth, and when he opens it again he will lift them so that they
can walk along his huge carcass and go on their way."
In a hurried conference, the boys worked out a plan. While the
girls were left playing in the meadow, the boys, led by Uncle Rupert,
cautiously approached the brute.
They found it hard to keep from being sucked into the gaping
mouth, but by holding fast to one another they avoided that danger,
while Uncle Rupert lifted Pietas, armed with his little sword, and
threw the tiny fellow onto the snout. As the beast opened his mouth,
thinking that his dinner had come, Pietas slid down his back out of
danger.
The children kept at a safe distance and watched the little man as
he crept toward the creature's left eye. When near enough, with his
sword he made a quick thrust which put that eye quite out. The
alligator roared in pain, and threw open his jaws with such force as
to pitch Pietas into the air, whence he fell at the feet of the
astonished party of boys. The fellow was badly hurt, and they had to
carry him to a nearby brook, where they bathed his bruises. He soon
recovered and became light-hearted again, although he was sorry
that he had not put out both of the alligator's eyes.
"But," said Uncle Rupert, "if we approach him on his blind side, we
may still be able to escape the danger."
The roaring of the monster brought the girls to the place, and
when they found that the party were all safe, they asked Pietas to
take them to see his people. Uncle Rupert and the boys joined in the
request, and so Pietas led the way and they all followed.
They came to a good road that led through a beautiful country.
This highway crossed a very large river. Uncle Rupert explained to
the children that this was the source of one of the greatest rivers of
America. They passed over the bridge and approached a little
village. As they walked through the streets of the town the little
pygmies, not bigger than babies, cried after them: "There go the
giants!"
Their destination was the Royal City, which they could see as soon
as they got out of the village. It was a beautiful sight. There nestled
the city in the peculiar dull atmosphere, its spires and tall buildings
shining with pure gold.
Before they reached the city, they were seen by some of the king's
men. They had thought that the country was well rid of the hated
Pietas. Great were their surprise and disgust when they saw him
back and in company with giants. He had told them that he would
return some day and prove to them the truth of all he had said. Here
he was, and what were they to do?
 The king hastily called his wise men together, and had a few words
with them. They determined to capture Pietas if possible, and to
destroy the giants. The army was called out and prepared to meet
the enemy and disturber at the gate. The children were indeed
surprised, when they arrived at the entrance, to be met by an army
of pigmies, although they did not look dangerous for they were so
small. The party supposed that the army had been sent out to greet
them and Uncle Rupert had prepared in his mind a long speech of
thanks. But things were different from what they imagined.
A guard, consisting of a captain and a few subordinates,
approached them, and the captain, walking up to Pietas said: "In the
name of his Majesty we arrest you as a disturber of the public
conscience."
"But," said Uncle Rupert, "this man has done nothing to deserve
arrest. We brought him hither so that we might confirm the things
that he has told you. He is no disturber of the public conscience."
But without paying any attention, the soldiers began to march off
with their prisoner. The children knew that this meant death to poor
Pietas.
Uncle Rupert looked at his companions to see what they wanted to
do about it. He had not long to wait, for Tom, who was as big as
four of the soldiers, snatched Pietas from the guard and shoved the
captain over. Thereupon the guard fled, and the captain, scrambling
to his feet, ran after his men.
"I'll beat the whole bunch myself!" boasted Tom as he rolled up his
sleeves.
Pietas begged the Americans to return and leave him to his fate,
but they would not. Then the pygmy army prepared to charge the
little band and take him if they could.
"Please," said Pietas, "let me meet my people in my own way. I
feel that I am to blame for bringing you here."
"No, you are not!" cried all the children with one breath. "Indeed
not," added Uncle Rupert.
 Pietas smiled and then turned and fled to the armed men. In vain
did Tom and others call him back. The party watched as he quietly
gave himself up to the law of his people. The soldiers wheeled and
marched with their captive to the palace of the king. A mob quickly
gathered around the Americans and began to threaten them.
"Beware, good people!" shouted Uncle Rupert. "Take care that you
do not hurt a single hair of one of these children! We are not come
to harm you, but to tell you a great truth. There is a fine country
just above your heads where the sun shines all day and the stars
come out in the evening; a land full of trees and birds and flowers
and brooks. The air is not stuffy as it is here, nor is the place gloomy
like this. All men and women are giants in our land. Now you have
captured Pietas!" continued Uncle Rupert, coming to the business in
hand. "I tell you that, if you do not let him go, we will fight this day
for his freedom; and if we lose, be it known that our people will
quickly send men to destroy your whole nation!"
To the surprise of the American party, Uncle Rupert's remarks were
greeted with cheers of approval. The multitude of little folks
gathered about the strangers and shook their hands. At last they
believed the story of the other world. Many wished to go to America
with the returning travelers.
Then Uncle Rupert led the whole crowd to the palace of the king,
hoping to rescue poor Pietas. When they got there, the king was
throned on a high platform, while Pietas, in chains, stood before
him, the king's soldiers standing at rest and looking on.
Uncle Rupert made his way through the crowd of people and
reached the platform.
There he turned to the soldiers and leaders and appealed to them
for the life of his little friend.
The king arose with fear and asked: "Who art thou, great giant?"
"I am Rupert Randall, a citizen of the United States of America!"
"Do you speak of the Upper Country, sir, as this impudent Pietas
has done?"
 "I do, O King, and I wish that I could persuade you of the truth.
Pietas is an honorable man and has tried to help your people, but
you would not let him!"
The king wrung his hands and exclaimed: "I am determined to free
Pietas now. I am puzzled beyond words, and fear I may be undone;
but I shall set Pietas free."
But the soldiers shouted: "Away with the imposter! He has
declared against the army. He is no friend of the king. Besides, these
Americans have insulted and abused our captain!"
The king tried to appease the multitude but they kept on crying for
the life of Pietas. No one could speak, no one could hear, because of
the screaming. At last the poor king motioned to the people to leave,
and the soldiers took Pietas and marched him away.
The Americans followed at a little distance, watching for an
opportunity to rescue their friend, but before they could interfere,
the soldiers had bound Pietas to a tree.
Suddenly Tom and Madge rushed through the crowd and struck
right and left, knocking soldiers and citizens down in their mad rush
to pull their friend from the tree. Uncle Rupert, with the rest of the
children, followed the brave little leaders.
In a few moments the rescuers had Pietas unbound and in their
arms.
The poor fellow was all but unconscious from fright and rough
usage. The soldiers fled before the giants as they carried their dear
little friend away. Pietas revived, sat up, called all the people to his
side, and told them he was glad that they had treated him so. "For,"
explained he, "they have not really hurt me, and I rejoice to suffer in
witnessing to the truth."
No sooner had he spoken than many poor people came to him and
begged to be allowed to go with him. He told them to remain and
tell all the others the good news. "When you are through doing your
duty, then I will come for you. Meanwhile, I am going with my
friends to the Upper Country."
 With sorrow he bade them good-by, and with the American party
he turned and walked the road to the great alligator. At first, the
children were afraid of the monster, but soon they cautiously
approached him on his blind side, without attracting his attention. It
was not difficult for them to spring upon his head; but when they
had done so, the monster opened his mouth and threw them into
the air and they rolled down his nose.
"Oh! Oh!" they shouted. It took them a few minutes to realize that
they had been in the park all the time and that Uncle Rupert had
been telling them a story. "Oh, Uncle, where is Pietas?" asked
Madge. "Pietas," replied Uncle Rupert, "is not here, he has returned
to his own country to tell his people more about his new home. He
expects to lead all his people here some day.
"I have preached you a long sermon, my dears, and I do hope that
you understood it. Pietas represented the Master who was killed but
was revived by his Father to return again on Easter to tell his own
country of the beautiful heaven and how to live so as to be worthy
of it."
"Do tell us another story!" cried Madge. "We did so enjoy that one.
Why, I thought that I was in the land of the Under World and I pitied
the poor creatures there."
"So, my dear, do the saints pity us in this world; and they are
hoping that we will be good, so that we may reach the Upper World.
"Now what do you say—shall I jump off the cliff?"
"No!" they all shouted.
 THE BLACK HUS
o tell the complete story of the Black Hus would take as
many years as civilized man has been on earth. The largest
state in the Union is scarcely big enough to contain the
books that could be written about the terrible monster.
Even today there is a Hus in every country, but this particular Hus
lived in Greece many hundred years ago. It was related to the
Hebrew Chazir spoken of in the Bible.
You remember the Chazir that attacked Noah when he was making
merry in his tent. Noah was drinking some good wine, when all at
once the beast rushed upon him, tore his clothing and seized him by
the throat. When his sons came to his rescue, they found their
father lying naked in his tent, in a helpless condition, and the
dreadful Chazir standing over him. As soon as the beast saw the
stalwart sons, he fled into the night.
You remember that it was Ham who laughed at his father's
condition, because he had not seen the Chazir, but only his father's
foolish condition. Ham's two brothers, Shem and Japheth, covered
their father with a sheepskin blanket and went their way much wiser.
Passing now to Greece, we read of a nobleman there who had
many sons and daughters. The eldest son, who was the apple of his
eye, he called Egkartes because he was a good, honest fellow.
"Egkartes," the father said one day, "I am going to give you the
next litter of pigs born on the farm."
This was a fine offer, for it meant the beginning of the boy's
fortune.
Not long after this there was a family of thirteen little pigs on the
farm. Twelve of the baby pigs were perfectly white, but one little
fellow's skin was black as pitch, and his eyes were red as live coals.
Almost as soon as he was born he began to show a savage
disposition.
The black fellow soon awakened the curiosity of the neighborhood.
No pig like him anywhere to be seen. He grew twice as fast as his
little brothers, and daily became more savage. When eighteen
months old, he weighed fifteen hundred pounds, and had to be kept
in a separate pen and watched day and night for fear he would
devour his brothers. People came from far and near to see the
monster, and went away thanking their stars that he was not allowed
to run at large.
One beautiful autumn day the nobleman gave a thanksgiving
dinner for his freemen. The best of foods and drinks were served,
and the men ate till they could eat no more, and drank till they could
scarcely see. They became very noisy and filled the banqueting hall
with such profane language that the Greek maids who had been
engaged to dance for their amusement fled in fear.
No sooner had they gone than the black pig appeared in the hall.
Some of the men rose to drive him back to his pen, but he would
not go. He stood before their blurred eyes, shaking his ugly head
and gnashing his terrible teeth.
Some of the stupid fellows thought that the pig must be mad;
others said he must be a devil clothed in pig's flesh. They all kept a
safe distance from him, hiding wherever they could, till at last
Egkartes cautiously approached the monster, intending to lead him
to his pen, as the youth had done on like occasions. But when as
usual, he took the pig by the ear, the beast turned upon him with a
thundering roar, seized his arm, and shook him as a terrier shakes a
rat.
Then the half-drunken father, staggering to his son's help, beat the
animal over the head with a great stick; but this only increased the
pig's fury, and dropping the boy, he ran amuck against the company,
biting every man in the room.
 One man, trying to escape by jumping over the pig, landed at full
length on the creature's back, where he clung for dear life. The black
pig did his best to shake the man off, but he held on with might and
main. Round and round spun the pig squealing and grunting
furiously. The man kept his hold so firmly, that at length some of his
companions crept from their hiding places and cheered the plucky
rider.
Finally the pig sprang through the door and ran for the open
country, the man clinging to him like a "broncho-buster," while his
companions—as many as were not too stupified by excess at table—
gave chase, frantically shouting. Down the lane the strange steed
charged, over the fence he leaped, madly shaking himself at every
jump, and continued his career till he came to a narrow footbridge
over a deep river, and tried to cross it. As he reached the middle of
the bridge, he slipped and rolled into the stream below, carrying his
rider with him.
When he reappeared the man was swimming desperately for the
bank, which he soon succeeded in reaching. The pig also landed
safely and disappeared into the opposite woods.
"Well, boys!" exclaimed the pig rider, sobered, "that was a narrow
escape! That little bridge saved my life. That was one time when I
needed some one to help me let go!"
These men were a sorry-looking crew as they returned home
tattered and torn. There was not a man among them with a whole
garment.
The Hus never came back to the farm.
When the story of his antics was repeated from mouth to mouth,
people would not believe it. But the monster was by no means
through. A month later he appeared in the Royal City and killed
many of its inhabitants. The rumor spread everywhere that the Hus
was devouring the men of Greece.
The king was much alarmed and offered a reward for its capture,
but the dreadful destruction went on. Finally his Majesty offered the
hand of his only daughter and the half of his kingdom to the man
who would slay the brute. But in spite of all endeavors to win so
great a prize, the pig continued his terrible work, appearing now
here, now there, and killing even the bravest men of the kingdom.
Strange to say the monster seldom attacked women.
A year passed, and the Hus had grown to a more enormous size.
Some said that he was as big as an elephant.
For a long time the nobleman and his family had to remain in
hiding because of the fury of the multitude, who blamed him for
raising the pig. The king seized his property, and the nobleman
became a poor man and for some years he and his family were
outcasts.
At last Egkartes determined to redeem his father's good name and,
if possible, win the fair princess.
His father and mother were pleased with his boldness and readily
consented to his undertaking. At once great preparations were
made, and five men were persuaded to accompany the young
adventurer. With brave hearts they set forth, confident of victory.
On the third day, as they approached the city they met a woman
crying as if her heart must break. She told them that on the night
before, her husband had been killed by some monster. She described
the spot, near her dwelling, where she had found her husband,
Methuson, dying on the roadside. "I ran to him," she said, "and held
his head in my arms. His clothes were torn almost off his back.
When I spoke to him, he opened his eyes and muttered something
about a black beast, and then fell back senseless."
The men accompanied the poor weeping woman to her miserable
hut, and as they stepped within and beheld Methuson and sniffed
the odor of the place, they knew that the Hus was the beast that
had done the deed.
Egkartes stooped and listened over the unconscious man's heart
for some sign of life. In a few moments he rose to his feet, and
turning to the wife, exclaimed: "Your husband is not dead!"
Sure enough the unfortunate fellow sat up. His eyes were red and
inflamed, his temper was likewise fiery, for he broke into loud
curses. But in a little while he recovered his reason and thanked his
deliverers. Methuson begged to be allowed to accompany the band
of Hus-hunters, and they readily gave their consent.
Toward evening of the next day, as they neared the City, they
heard more news of the monster, who had been doing terrible
damage to the people of the suburbs. Late that evening seven weary
men crawled into beds in a very humble lodging-house.
As Egkartes felt himself slipping into a comfortable sleep, he was
startled by the cry of a woman. He ran out to the house across the
street, whence came the cry, and entered without knocking.
He found a mother holding her baby high up, while the awful Hus
kept snapping at the child. A dozen men were in the room, sleeping
off a debauch. Egkartes sprang at the monster, who seemed to
recognize him, but without showing any fear, turned and coolly
walked out of the house. It wounded the pride of the young
champion to see the enemy treat him so indifferently. He returned to
his men feeling disheartened. He could see no way of killing the
monster. What could he do?
After many weeks of failure, Egkartes wandered to the king's
garden and sat down near the entrance, where he found many other
Greek youths who, like himself, aspired to the hand of the princess.
They all knew that it was her daily custom to walk in the garden at
sunset, and they were waiting to see her.
When the princess appeared, the young men stood up and humbly
saluted her—all but Egkartes, who remained sitting.
She approached the gate, and looking earnestly into all the faces
of the young men, paused for a moment, and threw down a rose.
Then there was a wild scramble among the rival youths for
possession of the flower, only a poor remnant of which finally
remained in the hands of the strongest.
Meanwhile the princess was wondering about the handsome boy
who took no part in the struggle, and presently she summoned
Egkartes to her side. The youth rose, scarcely believing his senses,
and bowing very low, approached the object of his despairing
affection.
"Who are you, sir?" the princess asked, "and why have you not
taken part in the contest for the flower?"
"I am your most humble servant, Egkartes, and I beg your pardon
if I have displeased you by not joining in that mad rush for the
flower. I must save my strength for a more serious contest."
"But," replied the princess, "I judge by your conduct that you are
unwilling to please me."
For a moment the boy trembled on the brink of confessing his love,
but just as the words were forming on his lips, the princess
motioned him away. The boy was broken-hearted, for he was too
blind to see that the princess had really singled him out because he
had not entered into the contest, and had shown himself different
from the common run of love-sick youths.
Scarcely had Egkartes turned away when the Hus came running
toward the princess. She was almost paralyzed with fear.
But who could describe the panic that seized the foolish mob of
young men who had fought so valiantly for the rose? At sight of the
Hus, they fled in all directions. Egkartes alone remained to defend
the princess. When he saw his foe, he shouted with joy and rushed
at the monster with drawn sword.
The beast recognized his adversary, and, opening his great jaws,
charged upon him. When the combatants met, the boy's sword
entered the pig's mouth. As he withdrew his weapon, Egkartes fell,
and the pig, leaping over him, disappeared. Regaining his feet, the
youth gave pursuit, brandishing his bloody sword.
The princess saw the whole encounter, and as she ran to the
palace, her thoughts were divided between the peril from which she
had escaped and the wonderful valor of her young preserver. She
was afraid to tell her father of what had happened, lest he should
deprive her of her free hour, but all that night she lay awake
dreaming of her hero and praying that she might meet him again.
 Three days later the city rejoiced over the news that a conjuror
had destroyed the Hus. The fellow was brought to the king to
explain about it. He said he had destroyed the monster by means of
a charm. When asked to produce the head of the pig, he said that as
soon as the creature died he vanished into smoke. The man's story
was so plausible that the king believed him, and ordered a great
feast in his honor.
Poor Egkartes heard the news with sorrow, and the princess,
shutting herself up in her inner room, mourned bitterly. She did not
wish to marry the conjuror, for now she loved the brave Egkartes.
On the day of the feast the whole city was gay and the people ate
and drank in excess. Even Egkartes's men joined in the
merrymaking; but the young hero himself sulked in a dismal cellar.
It was fortunate for the boy that he had not joined with the
masses in their dissipation, for the Hus, knowing that they could not
resist, came into the city and bit thousands of the people.
When he heard the cry of the Hus in the streets, Egkartes emerged
from the cellar, eager for another combat.
People were scurrying for safety. None but the boy was armed.
Hither and thither ran the black brute biting as many as he could.
As Egkartes rushed at the beast, that knowing warrior recognized
the young Greek again and charged him furiously, first springing at
his throat.
The boy stood his ground, and thrusting his sword, as in their
previous fight, into the Hus's mouth, drove so hard that the weapon
sank deep into the stomach of the brute.
The Hus fell headlong, roaring loudly. Struggling to his feet, he
stood for a few moments, swaying from side to side, while the blood
flowed freely from his mouth. The boy, without knowing it, had
struck the pig's only vulnerable spot, the mouth. After a moment the
great Hus turned and fled, roaring like thunder. Though no one saw
him die, it seemed evident that he was mortally wounded.
Of course Egkartes became the hero of the hour. He was carried by
six strong men to the palace of the king, who was feasting in his
hall, not knowing of the brave deed that the boy had done. So when
he heard the people shouting at his gate, the king came to the
palace steps and called to the multitude who had followed Egkartes:
"Why have you come here with all this noise?" demanded his
Majesty. "Have I not given you a holiday and the freedom of the
city? Why cannot you caper in your own streets and lanes? Have I
no rights as king? Go to your homes or I shall call my soldiers to
drive you there. Begone, I say, begone!"
"May it please your Majesty," said one of the people, "we have
brought the hero who has just slain the Black Hus!"
"But," protested the angry king, "have I not at this very moment
the Black Hus hero at my table feasting with my nobles? By magic
he slew the monster but yesterday!"
But the people shouted, "Away with the magicman—away with the
imposter!"
The king was much perplexed, but wishing to learn the truth, he
commanded silence while he listened to the story of Egkartes and
his victorious encounter with the Hus. When he learned the truth
then the king ordered the lying conjuror to be hanged, and
immediately the poor imposter, protesting and struggling in vain,
was dragged from the dining hall and hanged in the garden.
Two weeks after this Egkartes was taken to the palace, with a
great flourish of trumpets, and was proclaimed the hero of the
country. He knew that he had not killed the pig as they had told the
king; but neither king nor people paid any attention to his
explanations. All insisted that he had killed the monster and had a
right to the great reward.
The princess of course was delighted, and said to Egkartes: "I do
not care whether you have killed the monster or not. I shall have
you and we shall live very happily together."
The boy yielded to her persuasion, and a week later they sat
together at a royal banquet in honor of their coming marriage. The
company was jubilant with praise and merrymaking. The king, the
queen, the royal ladies and brave knights drank deep and long of the
red wine of the hills.
The hero was happiest of all until he began to see knight after
knight flushed and boisterous from much eating and drinking. Then
his thoughts flitted back to the dinner at his father's home, and to
the first appearance of the Hus. He could not shake off the feeling
that the Hus would appear again, for the beast always appeared
when men began to grow foolish through drink.
It was not long before the king noticed that the boy was not
laughing and drinking with the rest.
"Art thou sick, Egkartes?" he asked.
"I am not sick, most noble Sire," replied the youth. "Be it known,
O, King, that I have refrained from drinking tonight because I want
to be ready for the Hus, which is sure to come wherever there is
such overindulgence."
Before he could proceed further, the knights broke into furious
curses. "Away with the imposter! Away with him! Ha! Ha!"
The king commanded silence as he stood up dizzy with wine. Red-
faced and boiling with anger he looked at the youth and said:
"Fetch in the guards and take this fellow to the guard house, and
presently we will have a hanging in the reception hall! Bah! Thou too
hast thought to seize my daughter's hand by trickery! Well, thou
shalt hang!"
The king sat down and the guards seized the boy by the back of
the neck and dragged him away, amid the laughter and jeers of the
company.
The boisterous merriment continued until the princess stood up
and motioned for silence. Then she said:
"Most noble father, I now speak in behalf of all the women of
Greece. The men of Greece have for years treated women as slaves,
creatures of their wills. You, my father, without my consent offered
my hand to any who should prove victor over the Hus. You have
already seen what has happened. An imposter came first and
frightened me nearly to death! You did not care so long as you could
keep your foolish word. Now comes a youth who thrice has repelled
the Hus, and because he has the courage to tell you the truth, you
order him hanged without mercy or any thought of me. Henceforth I
shall do my own choosing when it comes to mating! If you hang
Egkartes then you will find my dead body in the morning by the side
of his! Why have you condemned him in whom is our only hope of
safety? If the Hus should come tonight—?"
"What do you say, Miss Impudence? I'll see whether your prophecy
will come true. Let every gate be barred! Fasten every door with a
double lock! Let the royal guards stand in every hallway! And you,
ungrateful maiden, dance before this company. By the gods! We'll
see whether the Hus is greater than the king!"
The king sat down heavily, and the princess obediently arose to
dance before a drunken assembly.
Scarcely had she stood upon the floor than in rushed the Hus.
Neither walls, nor doors nor swords had been able to keep him out.
The queen was first to try to leave the room, but the Hus flung
himself upon her and buried his teeth in her shoulder. The king
attempted to draw his sword, but the beast sprang upon him before
he could even touch the hilt, seized him round the middle and shook
him till he seemed like to fall apart. The once brave knights lay
where they were and called loudly for the guards.
Amid the confusion the princess ran to the guard room where her
lover lay bound. When the terrified guards heard that the Hus was in
the palace, they were only too glad to release their prisoner.
Egkartes was not surprised to hear of the return of the Hus. He
gladly dashed to the banqueting hall. When he appeared before him
the Hus dropped his latest victim and squealed with rage. Well did
the beast remember his many wounds received at the hands of
Egkartes. As if to take revenge, he bounded toward the boy, who
aiming his sword again at the beast's mouth, drove the weapon
home, running it well down the throat. With a roar of rage the Hus
sprang back, dashed for the nearest window, jumped to the earth,
and disappeared into the dark night, still roaring furiously.
In a moment the knights were on their feet. Now that there was
no danger they were eager to defend the king and queen; but his
Majesty, ordering the knights out of the palace, embraced the hero,
exclaiming: "Thou shalt indeed be my son."
So the royal marriage was consummated and the princess became
the wife of the noble Egkartes.
The first act of the prince was to banish all drink from the
kingdom, for, as he told the people, the Hus could never be killed
but would be helpless as long as they refused to befuddle their
senses with wine. He received great honor and later ascended to the
throne—and the kingdom prospered as long as it took heed to the
words of Egkartes.
 THE LEVIATHAN
any years ago, before New York was settled, a poor old
crocodile left her native Egyptian shores and swam to the
mouth of the Hudson River. Up the river bank she crawled,
till she found a home. Here she laid ten eggs and hid them
in the hot sand.
Soon ten wee long-jaws came out and crept about in the sun.
Mother crocodile fed her offspring with small birds, that she caught
by lying in the river with her mouth wide open. The birds, seeing
only the upper part of the great jaws, were easily fooled into
mistaking them for an old tree trunk. Sometimes as many as fifty of
them flew down to rest and gossip on the crocodile's teeth and cold
tongue. Suddenly, when the clatter was loudest, the huge jaws came
together with a mighty snap, crushing every little warbler. Then the
cunning old mother fed her children with sweet titbits.
In the course of five years one of the young brood had grown to a
monstrous size, and his ugly temper made him the terror of all the
others. One day, in a fit of anger, he bit his two sisters so badly that
they died. Then the savage reptile disappeared and stayed away,
none of the family knew where, for fifteen years.
At the end of that time, he returned to find his mother dying, with
her seven good sons about her, weeping bitter tears. But not a sign
of pity did the returned wanderer show for his dying mother and her
sorrowing children.
He was now a monster more than a hundred feet in length, and it
was no wonder that when the brothers—pygmies in comparison with
him—saw him coming toward them they fled in terror to the river,
leaving their helpless mother at the mercy of her wicked son. Toward
evening the brothers crept to the bank to see what was going on
and the furious giant, who was lying in wait for them caught five of
the little fellows and killed them as if in mere love of slaughter. The
two others saved their lives by hiding till dark, when they fled to a
place of safety down the river.
Not content with killing his brothers, the fiendish destroyer turned
upon his mother, telling her that he had come back to avenge the
insults heaped upon him when he was a little fellow; then with a
vicious snap he bit off her tail, and she died at sundown.
"What a terrible brother!" thought the two escaping crocodiles as
they made their way farther from the scene of danger. But the truth
of the whole matter was that the monstrous fellow was not really
their brother at all! He was the great Leviathan from Asia. You see,
after the old crocodile had laid her ten eggs in the hot sun to hatch,
Mendacia, the mother of lies and injustice, exchanged a Leviathan
egg for one of the crocodile eggs. So when the eggs were hatched,
Mrs. Crocodile, without knowing it, had a stranger among her own
children.
Mendacia was jealous of the new nation across the waters, and
had secretly followed the old crocodile, hoping to destroy the young
republic through her terrible Leviathan. This monster was related to
all the Leviathans that did so much damage to the children of Israel
in the days of Moses. These beasts had always been murderers and
man-eaters and Mendacia was the evil spirit that prompted all the
wicked deeds.
So here she was in the land of America with her cruel monster fully
grown and ready to begin work. Fifteen years ago, when her pet had
committed murder, she it was who carried him away to shield him
from just punishment. She was with him when he killed his mother,
and Mendacia and her slave Brutus applauded him for that crime of
unspeakable shame. After committing this terrible deed, Leviathan
lay down and slept for a month.
Meanwhile Brutus built a beautiful house on Leviathan's back, and
Mendacia richly furnished it. When the sleeper awoke, slowly he
opened his dull eyes and blinked. Then, more slowly, he opened his
forty-foot mouth and shook his forty-foot tail. As yet he was
unconscious of the house upon his back but when he rose to his
short legs and shook himself, he realized that he was holding up
something besides his own weight.
Finding that he could not shake off his strange burden, the beast
made for the river and attempted to sink, but could not do that, for
the house kept him afloat. He tried to roll over, to turn a somersault,
but all in vain. At last, exhausted, he lay in the river as if dead.
It was then that Mendacia spake words of reproof to her beast.
"Leviathan! You poor foolish fellow! Why do you make such a fuss
over a thing that you cannot change? If you disturb my house any
more I'll be compelled to drive a nail through your back into your
heart. But if you obey me, all will be well and I'll be your best friend.
I'll help you obtain your food, and I promise that one human being a
day will be furnished for your evening meal. Come, will you agree to
do as I say, or not?"
The Leviathan thought for a long time and ended in blinking his
lazy consent.
Now, on the bank of the river lived a boy and a girl. The boy's
name was Lex and the girl's was Veritas. Both were seventeen years
old.
One hot July day Lex took his friend for a little row up the Hudson.
They had not gone far before they spied a peculiar craft coming
toward them. Lex ceased rowing and the two gazed with wonder at
the strange sight. On came the wonderful house, like a floating
palace upon a brown island.
It was the Leviathan, of course. As it approached them, a beautiful
woman gracefully walked toward the snout of the Leviathan,
followed by her slave, and both sat down on the humps that formed
the monster's eyebrows. From these commanding positions they
held curtains over the creature's eyes, lest he should become too
restive, and frighten away his prey. The beast had not eaten a
human morsel for many days and he was very hungry. Nearer and
nearer came the boy and the girl to the threatened destruction. But
Mendacia, whose eyes were fastened upon the boy, suddenly
thought of a new way to vary her life of plotting and murder. How
amusing it would be to drag the children aboard and play with them
a little before taking their lives! It would be such fun to hear them
crying and begging for the mercy that would never be granted. So
she guided the Leviathan by gently tapping him with her heel till the
children's boat touched his side, and then, quicker than can be told,
she and Brutus dragged the surprised youngsters aboard.
When the monster knew what the woman was doing, and found
that his anticipated dinner had been lifted upon his back, his barking
sounded like thunder-claps and his great thrashing tail lashed the
water into foam. But the woman told her captives that they were on
an island and that the noises were made by machinery.
She ordered a sumptuous luncheon and while the children ate with
great delight, she watched them. Finally she determined to serve
Veritas to the hungry monster and keep Lex. Why not keep him and
make a slave of him? With this in view she gave the boy a powerful
drink which made him entirely subject to her will while he was under
its influence. He entirely forgot poor Veritas.
When Veritas saw what influence the woman had gained over Lex
she was much disturbed.
As soon as she found an opportunity to speak to her friend, the girl
said: "Oh, Lex, do not go near that woman, who is as ugly as she
can be!"
Yes, she was ugly to all who did not like her, but to Lex she
seemed very beautiful, and he was angry with Veritas for making
such a remark. But before he could reply they heard Mendacia
talking to her beast. "Be quiet for a little while," she said, "your
supper will soon be served." What did it all mean? The crashing of
the great jaws and the roaring of the ravenous beast made a
hideous din.
The children now knew that they were on the back of some sea
monster, and the thought made both shudder; even Lex began to
see the woman as she was, though the charm had not entirely lost
its effect.
But he had not long to wait before learning her real character. As
soon as she had convinced the monster that he would be fed, he
quieted down, and Mendacia walked with dignity toward the
children.
Before she reached them, her slave appeared and delivered a
message to his mistress.
"Most gracious queen," he said, bowing very low, "there is a man
swimming at a little distance. What shall we do?"
Mendacia hesitated; but reflecting that the magic potion she had
given Lex would make everything she did look right to him, she
decided to secure the bather for the Leviathan's meal. She did not
care for Veritas's opinion—in fact she was glad of an opportunity to
frighten her.
So she directed the beast toward the bather. Being naked, the man
modestly crouched as far beneath the water as possible, and in
amazement he watched the craft gliding nearer and nearer.
When they were almost upon the poor fellow, Veritas screamed.
The man turned to flee, but hesitated because he had no clothes,
and only sank deeper in the dark waters, while Mendacia called to
him with a gentle voice and an inviting motion of her arm.
It did not take long for something to happen. The hungry monster
was overeager and snatched for his prey too soon. With a wild yell,
the man sprang to his feet and plunged for the bank, the Leviathan
following him rapidly.
The children, speechless with fright, watched the frantic efforts of
the man striving to escape his pursuer. With a sigh of relief they saw
him, not more than a few feet beyond the beast's snout, reach the
bank and stagger for safety. The monster climbed the bank after him
with his burden swaying on his back like a captive balloon. But the
man reached a small cave, into which he flung himself with all the
strength that he had left.
 All this happened so quickly that the children did not comprehend
it; they leaned weakly against the side of the house, scarcely
realizing that they were on the beast's back.
By this time Lex had fully recovered from the spell. Suddenly he
turned upon Mendacia with a scathing rebuke, calling her an ugly
hag and a terrible monster.
Mendacia was terribly enraged again, sharp lines of anger
furrowed her face. Fearing for his companion, Lex caught her arm
and they turned and fled into the house. The woman quickly
followed, and with the help of the serving man thrust them into a
dark room, with a warning that if they did not obey her their end
was near.
Though much frightened, the prisoners barricaded the door as best
they could, and tried to plan a way of escape.
They thought of several schemes but dismissed them as not being
likely to succeed. At last Lex whispered:
"Oh! Veritas, I know what I shall do!" and he drew out his pocket
knife. "I'll dig through this floor to the beast's hide and scoop a few
handfuls of leather from his hide, till he shakes the house off his
back!"
At once the boy proceeded to put his words into action. It was not
easy as it seemed, for the wood of the floor was hard and the knife
not very sharp. But soon Lex found a small crack and set to work to
whittle his way through. For hours he worked. His hands became so
sore that he had to rest every few minutes and Veritas took turns at
whittling till Lex refused to let her work any longer.
At last the boy succeeded in making a hole through which he could
easily approach the back of the monster. It was then midnight, and
all was ready for the last act; but now Lex was too tired to do more.
Both he and Veritas were so weary that they fell into deep slumber.
Just before the sun rose, the slave sprang out of bed to begin
preparations for breakfast. He crept into his mistress's room and
found that she was asleep. Then he thought that he would take a
look at the children. He took a candle, carefully unlocked the door of
their prison, opened it a little way and peered in.
As he looked more closely he saw the knife still clutched in the
boy's hand, and the hole that the knife had made. At once he knew
what the young prisoners had been trying to do, and he began to
lock the door, so as to keep them confined till he could give the
alarm. But all at once, Lex awoke, and gazed into the other's eyes.
In a moment the serving man burst into the room and sprang like a
wild cat upon the boy, who scrambled to his feet and with his knife
stabbed the man in the neck. At this Brutus let go his hold and fled
screaming from the room.
Of course the struggle awoke Veritas and she slammed the door to
and held herself against it, determined to prevent anyone from
entering the room. The boy resumed his efforts to cut through the
thick hide of the Leviathan.
Mendacia was awakened by her man staggering into her room,
bleeding from a great gash in his neck. In a few words he told what
had happened. Mendacia rushed to the prison-room and tried to
enter but the door was held fast. She threw herself against it again
and again.
The monster began to sway back and forth, and then to thrash the
water as the boy dug deeper and deeper into his vitals. Finally the
huge creature rose clear off the water, shaking himself violently and
wrecking the house completely. Suddenly, maddened by the pain of
his terrible wound, he made for the bank and from there scrambled
toward the woods carrying what was left of his burden with him.
Trees were broken down by his rush as he tore on in his mad dash
for freedom. At last he struck an old oak tree and the fastenings of
the house gave way, but still the monster ran on.
All that night a party of the neighbors had ridden with the
distracted fathers of the children looking vainly for their dear ones.
Toward morning they heard a terrible noise, and rode with haste to
the spot from which it came, and there they found the children lying
unconscious by an old deserted house.
 They brought their lost ones home, all rejoicing. When the children
told their story, the people of the village refused to believe them, for
they had not seen the beast nor his mistress. It was not until the
swimmer who had so narrowly escaped appeared and confirmed
their report of the Leviathan, that the people credited the story.
The children continued their friendship, and in due time they were
married and had children of their own, to whom in after years they
often told the tale of the Leviathan.