Tales out of school

by Frank R. Stockton

And the fairy disappeared, much to Sybil’s regret, who had a hundred questions to ask him about her brother’s appearance, and treatment. He had not even told her what his plan was for her brother’s escape. But he did not come back, and she was obliged to be satisfied with the information she had.

The programme was carried out in every particular. Christern acted his part of beggar so well that he managed to get near the postern door, unsuspected, with the fairy snugly tucked into a fold of his ragged dress. On arriving at the place the fairy concealed himself in some vines. At the appointed signal three magnificent cocks appeared abreast on the top of the hill.

THREE MAGICAL COCKS.

The like of these cocks had never been seen in that country, and they immediately attracted the attention of everybody. But when they opened their mouths, and began to sing the words of a war song, the sentinels forgot everything, and deserted their posts to get as near the wonderful songsters as possible without alarming them.

Now was the time to slip into the castle easily. But the whole plan had liked to have miscarried through a circumstance unforeseen by the fairies who had contrived it. Christern was fully as much delighted and astonished with the magical cocks, as the sentinels; and was on the point of rushing off with the men, when the fairy, fortunately, perceived his intention, and, darting out of the postern door, which was open, he pulled Christern’s hair so vigorously that the old man was reminded of his duty, and felt heartily ashamed that he had, for a moment, forgotten his dear young master.

The fairy conducted Christern, at once, to Maghar’s room. He had found out where the key of the door was kept, and Christern unlocked it. Maghar was lying on a bed of straw in a corner of a stone cell. He looked sick with despair. He did not move when the door opened, but, as soon as he heard Christern’s voice, he sprang up instantly. His pale face flushed, his dulled eyes brightened, and, from that moment, he was filled again with life, hope, and vigor.

The method of escape planned by the fairies was a desperate one. This was the reason the fairy had taken care to disappear before Sybil could ask him what it was. He knew she would think it impossible. But the fairies had full faith in its success, if only Maghar would have the nerve and the courage to go through his part.

At certain hours sentinels went the rounds of the castle rooms to see that all was right. The fairy knew this, and had planned this visit just after the morning round. These sentinels had rather a monotonous life, and were glad enough sometimes, especially of an evening, to stop awhile and have a chat with a prisoner who could tell them as much as Maghar; consequently he was to take occasion at the next visit of the sentinels to invite conversation; to skilfully introduce the subject of horseback riding; to boast of his own powers in this line; and to declare that if he had a horse he knew of at his old home, he could make the leap from the top of the tower across the chasm, and land safely on the opposite side on the hill that he could see from his window. The sentinels would not credit this, but would talk of it in the court-yard, and, finally, it would reach the ears of the governor of the castle and his officers. Their curiosity would be aroused to see if he would really have the courage to make the attempt. As for the successful accomplishment of such a leap, they would consider it impossible. The young knight would be dashed to pieces at the foot of the tower. But it would be a good way to get rid of him. They could let it be known that he had perished through his own fool-hardiness. They would give him permission to make the leap, and ask where the horse was to be found. Maghar was to direct them to the cave of the magician, taking care not to let them know that he was anything more than a simple hermit. The magician would have a horse ready—one that he had endowed with such magical powers that it would make the leap with ease. And besides myriads of fairies would be hovering around, invisible to all eyes except Maghar’s, and these would help to keep up his courage. As for getting the horse up the castle stairs that was easily managed. Maghar had only to play an air on the flute, and the horse would follow him up stairs or down.

This was the plan of the fairies. Christern was appalled when he heard it. But Maghar embraced it at once. It was better, he told Christern, to be dashed to pieces at the bottom of the abyss than to suffer the slow torture of starvation.