Tales out of school

by Frank R. Stockton

The old man and the fairy, being in fear of discovery, made the interview as short as possible. They returned to the postern door, the fairy went outside through the loop-hole, gave his signal, and again the wonderful cocks appeared on the hill. This time they sang a merry song, and kept time to the music with their feet. Again the sentinels were charmed into deserting their posts, and Christern and the fairy got safely away.

Maghar had his talk with the guards, and, by the next afternoon, everybody in the castle, from the governor to the stable boys, had heard of his great boast about the leap. Everything turned out just as the fairy had said. The governor, and his officers, glad to have some sport, proposed to Maghar that he should make good his boast. They felt certain he would be killed, and in that way they would happily be rid of him. But they did not tell him this. He agreed to the proposition, without manifesting any eagerness, but stipulated that he should have food, and drink to strengthen him, and that his sword and armor should be restored to him. These requests were granted. It was no longer necessary to starve him as he was to be killed another way.

The good magician had the horse ready for the messengers. The animal knew exactly what was expected of him; and, when Maghar was led down by his guards to the yard to see the steed, it rubbed its head against his shoulders as if glad to see him, which action convinced the spectators that the two were old acquaintances, whereas they had never seen each other until that moment.

It was a powerfully-built horse, of a roan color, with bright, intelligent eyes, and a flowing mane, and tail of pure white. Everybody admired it, and the next day the battlements of the castle were crowded with people to witness the daring feat of horsemanship. The top of the northern tower was left clear for the horse and rider. The top of the southern tower was reserved for the governor, and his officers.

These remained below, at first, to witness the ascent of the stairs, which, in itself, was a remarkable thing for a horse to do. Maghar walked up the stairs playing an inspiriting air on the flute, and the horse followed him readily but slowly up the long and winding ascent, to the very top of the northern tower.

“THE HORSE STUMBLED ON THE NARROW BATTLEMENT.”

The great personages then took their places on the other tower, and Maghar got upon the back of the horse.

Up to this moment he had been perfectly cool and self-possessed; but now, as he looked across the yawning chasm, forty feet wide, at the wall of the precipice opposite, a spasm of fear came over him. He did not see the cloud of fairies about him. His hand trembled, and he held the bridle so unsteadily that the horse stumbled on the narrow battlement. The stones of the old tower were loose, and several large ones went down into the abyss with a thundering sound, frightful to hear. One of the hind feet of the horse slipped over the edge of the wall, turning Maghar a little in the saddle, so that he looked down into the awful abyss.

At this sight he made a superhuman exertion to right himself in the saddle, and, by this violent impetus he threw the horse over so much to the opposite side that it was able to regain its foothold on the tower. Perhaps, too, the fairies helped it a little. Maghar saw these friendly little people now, and the sight gave him new courage.