one afternoon the face on the talking chair smiled at ray, who was sitting on the floor.
“a story?” whispered the talking chair.
“yes, if you please,” replied ray, and he sat very still while the talking chair began:—
once upon a time in a distant land there lived two brothers whose names were mansur and elrick. when they reached a certain age they wanted to travel and see the world, so they went to their father, who was the king, and asked him if they could go.
“no doubt you would like to reach king fortune’s country,” said their father.
“that we would, sire,” replied mansur; “will you please tell us how to get there?”
“before i do that,” returned the king, “let me176 tell you that many have started for king fortune’s country who have never reached it.”
“and why?” questioned the brothers.
“because the road is long and beset with dangers.”
“we are not afraid to try it,” said mansur, bravely.
“then, my boys, take the road straight ahead, keep going forward, and remember these words: be brave, honest, and never give up.”
then the king gave each of the brothers a sword, an ax, and a purse of gold, and they started on their journey.
they walked all day and towards night entered a deep forest.
“where can we sleep?” asked elrick. “there is no place in these woods; let us go back.”
“we will never go back for such a small thing as that,” said mansur, and he started to177 make a bed of dry leaves. in a few minutes the bed was made, and very soft and comfortable it seemed to the tired travelers.
the brothers slept soundly, but just as morning broke, they were awakened by a terrible roar. they jumped to their feet and in the distance, coming toward them, was a great lion with eyes like balls of fire.
“we shall be eaten by the lion,” cried elrick, and he trembled where he stood.
“draw your sword,” said mansur.
“what good will that do?” replied elrick. “we are no match for a lion.”
“i shall fight for my life,” returned mansur, and with the words the lion approached and made a spring, but mansur was all ready for him, and the brave boy plunged his good sword into the very heart of the lion, who rolled at his feet dead.
the brothers continued their journey and were soon out of the forest. suddenly they178 came to a great lake and there was neither boat nor craft of any kind to take them across.
“what shall we do?” exclaimed elrick. “there is no way to get across the lake.”
“we must try,” said mansur, and he took his ax and began to cut down some trees.
when he had enough he trimmed off all the branches, and tied them together, making a very good raft. in a short time they had crossed the lake and were on land again.
they journeyed on until they came to a high mountain, where they sat down to rest. they bought some bread from an old woman, and while they were eating it elrick said:
“i am tired of traveling. this mountain is too high to climb, let us go back.”
“never,” replied his brother, “until i have reached king fortune’s country.” so saying he arose and started to climb the high mountain.
elrick followed slowly and murmured all the way, but mansur kept right on without a word179 of complaint. they had gone about half way up the mountain when all at once they fell, and before they could stop themselves, they rolled over and over down the mountain side and never stopped until they reached its base.
“it is too bad,” exclaimed elrick, picking himself up, “when we were so far up the mountain, to fall. i am not going to climb it again, are you?”
“yes, indeed i am,” replied mansur, and began to climb the steep mountain again as fast as he could.
elrick did not want to do it, but he felt a little ashamed when he saw his brother, so he arose and followed him.
on and on they struggled, it was very hard work and they were both tired. they had almost reached the top of the mountain, when they stumbled and once more they fell, rolling over and over, and never stopped until they were in their old place at the very foot of the mountain.
“that is truly discouraging,” said elrick, “and i for one will not try again.”
“then i must climb it alone,” said mansur. “i am bound to get over this mountain.”
“but i am sure you cannot,” replied elrick.
“i’ll try,” said mansur, and he started all over again.
elrick grumbled all the way, but after a long tiresome journey they reached the top. it did not take them very long to go down the other side of the mountain, and they saw a river before them.
elrick sat on the bank and wondered how he was going to get across, while mansur took off his clothes and having made them into a bundle tied it on his head and swam across the river.
“i’m afraid,” said elrick. “i think i’ll turn back, there are too many hard places to go over to reach king fortune’s country.”
“come on!” shouted mansur. “you haven’t tried yet.”
but faint-hearted elrick turned his footsteps homeward and was soon out of sight. mansur continued his journey alone amid many a danger and hardship. sometimes it was high mountains to climb, at other times there were wide rivers to cross. often he met wild animals and had to fight for his life, and very often wicked people tried to lure him from the right path. throughout it all mansur was brave, honest and hopeful; his favorite motto was, “i’ll try,” and in spite of rough places he always succeeded. the purse of gold that his father had given him was empty, and he had to work for his food and sleep on the roadside.
one day as he journeyed on he met an old man, who greeted him pleasantly.
“will you tell me, good sire, how far it is to king fortune’s country?” questioned mansur.
“you are almost there,” replied the old man. “you have only to travel through that forest.” he pointed to a stretch of woods just ahead of182 them and mansur said joyfully, “i am glad it is so near, for i have traveled far.”
“ah! my son,” said the old man, “the hardest part of the journey is still before you.”
“how can that be?” asked mansur; “the wood is not large and i will soon be out of it.”
“it is the abode of three terrible giants,” said the old man, “and they will surely kill you. it would be death to go through that wood.”
“i’ll try,” was the answer, and the brave mansur started for the wood.
he walked very cautiously, looking to the right and left, but saw no sign of the giants. when night came he slept in the midst of some bushes and as he closed his eyes he wondered if the giants would find him. early the next morning he arose and when he had eaten some berries and a slice of bread he continued his way through the wood. suddenly he spied in the distance an immense giant coming toward him.
the giant was looking on the ground and had not seen mansur, who quick as a flash climbed a tree and was hidden among its branches.
mansur did not get out of the way a minute too soon, because the giant approached with heavy steps. he passed right under the tree where mansur was hiding, and the boy had a good look at him.
the most remarkable thing about the giant was his hair. it was pale green in color and gave him a most weird and terrible aspect.
when the giant was out of sight mansur stole softly down from the tree. he looked all around and suddenly his eye caught sight of a stout cord. the boy took the cord and quickly climbed into the tree again saying, “now i’ve got him if he comes back.”
in a very few minutes the terrible giant with the green hair was seen returning. he was184 looking eagerly on the ground as if he saw footsteps.
when he reached the tree where mansur was hiding he began to sniff the air like an animal. all at once mansur let down the noose that he had made in the cord and slipped it over the giant’s head. before he knew it the green-haired monster was caught and held fast. the boy then drew the cord around a strong branch of the tree and the bad giant was left hanging there.
“there is one gone,” said mansur to himself, and he went on his way.
suddenly as he walked along a strange sight met his eyes. right before him, stretched on the grass, asleep, was a monster with blue hair. he was larger than the green-haired giant and so ugly even in his sleep, that mansur trembled.
our hero stood perfectly still and looked around. in order to go on his way he would have to step over the giant. “i’ll do it,” said185 mansur; and drawing his sword he stepped on the giant’s silver belt. the blue-haired monster opened his eyes and was just going to jump when mansur plunged his sword into the bad giant’s heart. “there are two of them gone,” said mansur; “i wonder what the third is like.”
he traveled on till he came to a great castle, in the very heart of the forest, and as he was hungry he went up to the great door and knocked. a terrible voice asked:
“who is there?”
“mansur,” was the reply.
“enter,” said the terrible voice.
the great door flew open and mansur entered. he found himself in the presence of the most fearful monster of all. his great head was covered with a tangled mass of purple hair and he was dreadful to behold.
the purple-haired giant was sitting on a great throne, and he glared at mansur, saying in a186 voice of thunder: “how did you pass my brothers?”
mansur made a low bow and said: “you had better ask them, you will find them in the path.”
“what!” roared the giant, “do you mean to say that my brothers saw you?”
“indeed they did,” replied mansur, “as plainly as you do.”
“then i will kill them first,” said the purple-haired giant. “they have disobeyed me and they must die.”
“in what way have they disobeyed you?” asked the boy.
“no human being,” roared the giant, “must pass through this forest to king fortune’s country. it was my command; you shall die, but i will first destroy them.” he crossed the room with a terrible stride and slammed the door as he went out.
“now is my chance,” said mansur and he187 tried to open the door, but it was locked fast. he ran to the windows but they had iron bars across them and he knew that he was a prisoner.
“alas!” cried mansur, “if he returns he will kill me in the twinkling of an eye. i must try to get out, i must try.”
he saw a heavy curtain at the end of the room. he drew it aside and saw that it hid a great door. our brave little hero opened the door and saw a long flight of stairs, which he began to climb as fast as he could. higher and higher he went. it seemed as if they would never end; but at last he reached the very top and saw a great iron door. he opened it quickly and found himself in the giants’ treasure room filled with gold and silver.
“where can i go now?” exclaimed mansur, looking in vain for a door.
“here,” said a voice, and mansur turned and beheld a beautiful fairy.
she touched the wall and it suddenly opened and the boy was safe.
he was in a beautiful room and the fairy said: “the purple-haired giant does not know of this room, so he can never find you here.”
“i thank you, beautiful fairy,” said mansur, and he dropped on his knee like the brave knight that he was.
“arise,” said the fairy; “you deserve all help, because you always try, and are brave and honest. but you are not yet out of danger,” she continued. “this purple-haired giant is such a powerful monster that no one has ever escaped him. kings and brave knights have come to fight him with wonderful swords and battle axes only to meet defeat.”
mansur pointed to his own trusty sword and said: “yet i have had success with this.”
“that is true,” said the fairy; “but you must know that no sword or instrument of any kind can kill this monster, and when he has discovered189 that his brothers are dead he will tear you to pieces if he sees you.”
“then what can i do?” asked mansur.
“there is just one way to kill the purple giant.”
“and that?” asked mansur eagerly.
“to let him see his own face in a mirror,” said the fairy. “there is nothing of the kind in this castle or forest, but, if he once sees his own terrible countenance he will be destroyed forever.
“now, mansur,” continued the fairy, “you will hide in this room until it is dark. then steal softly out of the castle and go to the edge of the woods, where you will find a mirror; return with it and everything in this castle shall be yours and there is something here far more precious than gold or silver.”
the fairy disappeared, and all at once mansur heard a beautiful voice in another part of the castle, singing a sweet sad song.
suddenly the voice stopped, there was a terrible noise and he knew that the giant had returned. putting his ear to the wall, mansur could hear the monster climbing the stairs. nearer and nearer sounded the footsteps, and at last the giant stood in his treasure room. “where is he, where is the pigmy, till i grind him to pieces!” roared the giant. he knocked over bags of gold in his rage, but at last he gave up the search and went to look in other places. mansur waited patiently until darkness came, and then he heard three little taps, the wall opened, and he stepped out and stole softly down the long stairs. in a few minutes he was out of the castle and he hurried through the woods. early the next morning he reached the edge of it where he found a large looking-glass.
“now if i only had a swift horse i would fly to the giant’s castle,” thought mansur, and no sooner did he have the wish than a beautiful white horse stood beside him. mansur mounted191 the noble steed and holding the mirror before him headed for the forest. the white horse went like the wind, and in a short time the giant’s castle appeared in sight.
“we will be there very soon,” said mansur, and just then the purple-haired giant came in sight. the monster was walking in the path, ahead, and turning suddenly he beheld mansur. the giant gave a terrible roar and dashed forward to meet the boy, but just as he came up mansur held the mirror before the giant’s face. for a minute the monster gazed into the glass that reflected his own horrible countenance, then he staggered backward and fell to the ground with a groan, dead.
“hurrah!” shouted mansur as he jumped off the horse and ran to the castle. “now i shall find out who has the sweet, sad voice.”
he ran into every room and at last came to a beautiful chamber where he found a princess as fair as the morning.
“have you come to save me?” asked the princess.
mansur bowed and laid his sword at her feet saying, “command me, fair lady, and i obey.”
“o, take me to my father, king fortune,” said the princess. “the wicked giant who lives in this castle brought me here, and every year my father has to pay him with bags of gold or the monster will kill me.”
“he will never harm thee more,” said mansur. “come, fair princess,” and he led her to his white charger that bore them safely to her father.
king fortune rejoiced to see his daughter. when he heard that the three terrible giants were dead he praised mansur for the bravest knight in the world. king fortune sent his men to the giant’s castle and they got all the treasure. but he gave mansur all the gold that he wanted, and, what was far more precious, his beautiful daughter.
mansur thanked king fortune and said, “now i am satisfied. i have traveled and seen the world, so i will return to my own country with thee, my beautiful princess.”
“and o’er the hills and far away
beyond their utmost purple rim,
beyond the night, across the day,
thro’ all the world she followed him!”