But when the man heard this he shook his head sorrowfully as if what they told him was grievous news indeed.
"I, too, had thought of going there," he said; "but that was before I knew of the lions in the way."
"Lions in the way!" cried the travelers, looking at each other with startled eyes.
"Aye, lions," repeated the man solemnly, "the fiercest and largest that ever man saw. Their very roaring shakes the ground, and many a traveler has been devoured by them, so people say. As for myself, I have not seen them. To hear of them is enough for me."
"And for me," said one of the travelers; and in spite of all his companions might do or say to persuade him, he would go no farther.
"The king's house may be beautiful as the morning and as full of wonders as the sky is full of stars, but what good will it be to me if I am eaten by the lions?" said he.
And his friends were forced to journey on without him.
As they went they talked of the lions in the way and the one said to the other:
"Think you it is true, or but an idle tale?"
"True or not we shall pass in safety. Have we not the king's own word for it?" said the other; and he led the way with such great strides that his friend could scarcely keep pace with him.