Bright-Wits, Prince of Mogadore

Bright-Wits, Prince of Mogadore, by

Burren Laughlin and L. L. Flood This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Bright-Wits, Prince of Mogadore
Author: Burren Laughlin and L. L. Flood
Release Date: May 23, 2006 [EBook #18441]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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BRIGHT-WITS
[Illustration]
BURREN LOUGHLIN AND L.L. FLOOD
PRINCE OF MOGADORE
[Illustration]
H.M. CALDWELL CO. PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND BOSTON
Copyright, 1909 BY H.M. CALDWELL CO.
_Electrotyped and Printed by THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, U.S.A._

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. BRIGHT-WITS ARRIVES IN PARRABANG, WHERE HE MEETS THE BEAUTIFUL AZALIA AND BEGINS HIS EXTRAORDINARY TASKS 1
II. THE VILLAINY OF GARROFAT AND DOOLA. THE PRINCE SOLVES THE RIDDLE OF THE RUG, AND FINDS A NEW TASK AWAITING HIM 9
III. BRIGHT-WITS LEARNS THAT HIS MARRIAGE WITH AZALIA DEPENDS ON THREE FOUNTAINS AND THREE GATES IN THE PALACE GROUNDS 16
IV. THE PRINCE SOLVES THE GAME OF ONALBA, AND DIVIDES THE LAND OF ZOLTAN, THE AGA, TO THE DISMAY OF GARROFAT 23
V. BRIGHT-WITS GROWS JEALOUS. ABLANO COUNSELS THE PRINCE TO BE PATIENT 29
VI. BRIGHT-WITS PICKS AN ESCORT FOR A JOURNEY AND FOILS THE WICKED DESIGN OF GARROFAT 35
VII. THE PRINCE RETURNS TO FIND THAT ABLANO THE BRAHMAN HAS MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED 40
VIII. RETURN OF ABLANO. GARROFAT AND DOOLA DECIDE ON DESPERATE MEASURES. THE FINAL TEST 46
IX. THE LAST DECREE OF ONALBA. DOWNFALL OF THE PLOTTERS. BRIGHT-WITS RECEIVES HIS REWARD 54
HOW PRINCE BRIGHT-WITS SOLVED THE PUZZLES 59

THE PUZZLES PRINCE BRIGHT-WITS HAD TO SOLVE
PAGE
THE RUG 8
THE EIGHT PROVINCES 14
THE THREE FOUNTAINS AND THE THREE GATES 18
THE FIVE SHIELDS 21
THE ZOLTAN'S ORCHARD 25
THE NINE DISKS 30
THE SOLDIERS AND GUARDS 36
THE ENDLESS CHAIN 38
DOOLA'S GAME 42
THE EIGHT PIECES OF MONEY 47
THE SERPENT 52

BRIGHT-WITS
PRINCE OF MOGADORE
CHAPTER I
BRIGHT-WITS ARRIVES IN PARRABANG, WHERE HE MEETS THE BEAUTIFUL AZALIA AND BEGINS HIS EXTRAORDINARY TASKS
Long ago, before geographies were invented, so that it were useless to seek for the kingdom on any modern map, there lived a wise King who had but one son, of whom he was exceeding fond. Under the guidance of learned teachers the young prince had read the Koran according to the seven traditions, studied the writings of the poets and the science of the stars, and had become skilled in all the arts and manly exercises to a degree far surpassing the people of his age; so that his fame had spread and he was known far and near as "Bright-Wits," Prince of Mogadore. In person, the prince was comely beyond the beauty of men; and he possessed the strength and courage of the lion, together with the gentleness of the dove.
Now when Bright-Wits had reached his eighteenth year, the king called him to his side and said, "My son, you have arrived at the age when it befits you to fare forth into the world that your education may be completed by a knowledge of the ways of men. That when the Great Yama shall gather me to His bosom you will be prepared to assume the government of this kingdom and to conduct its affairs wisely and well. And, lest your inexperience should lead you from the paths of wisdom, I have arranged that you be accompanied on your journey by Ablano, the Holy Brahman, who has lately come to our realm. On the morrow, then, you will be prepared to start in company with an escort of horsemen and a train of camels as befits your rank and station."
At dawn the caravan was drawn up outside the gates of the city, and Bright-Wits, after embracing his father, mounted a richly caparisoned horse, and rode away with Ablano, the Brahman, riding on a camel at his side. Now, although Bright-Wits was arrayed in the richest of garments, the Brahman was simply appareled in the white robes of his order; his only ornament being three great rings of gold encircling the cone above his turban. His face, which was dark as that of an African, his snowy beard, and his air of majestic dignity gave him a most noble and striking appearance.
For some days the caravan journeyed forward, Bright-Wits filled with constant wonder by the sight of strange cities and people. At last, after weeks of travel they came upon a defile in the mountains, and passing through, emerged on a wide plain. Far to the north they could discern the golden towers of an immense palace rising high above a large and prosperous city. Thither they pursued their way, entering at last the great gate in the outer walls they proceeded through the