CHAPTER I_Bright-Wits, Prince of Mogadore

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 city,

Bright-Wits constantly pausing to exclaim at the size and magnificence

of the buildings; which surpassed those of his father's capital as gold

surpasses copper.

Arriving before the palace, Bright-Wits dismounted, and advanced,

accompanied only by Ablano. As they neared the magnificent edifice they

descried, seated upon a low porch, the figure of a fat and oily looking

old man, wearing on his head a huge turban topped with a golden crown

which was surmounted by a ruby large as a peacock's egg. The stranger

was puffing at his hookah and listening with disdain to the words of a

young maiden of marvellous beauty; who vainly essayed to call his

attention to the approach of the prince and Ablano. To the right of the

porch was suspended a great Mankalah rug made in the pattern of a large

checker board; but which on closer inspection appeared to be imperfectly

put together, as several of the squares were missing.

Ablano, approaching the stranger, made obeisance and said, "Know, thou

Illustrious One, that we are two travellers who, having heard of the

glory of your kingdom, seek your permission to dwell therein for a brief

space, that going hence to our own land, we may bring to our people the

tale of your splendour and greatness."

The fat stranger, turning his beady black eyes on Ablano, made answer in

surly fashion. "Think you that this palace is naught but a tavern for

the entertainment of stray mendicants?"

He would have continued had not Bright-Wits interrupted him, angrily

exclaiming, "Know, thou surly hind, that I am Bright-Wits, Prince of

Mogadore, and that yonder holy man, who honours me in being my guide and

father as I travel in search of knowledge and adventure, is Ablano the

Brahman, whose virtues are as many as the sands in the great desert of

Gobi, and the fame of whose wisdom reaches all men as the rays of the

sun at noon."

Now the fat stranger, alarmed by the fierce outburst of the prince,

scrambled hastily to his feet, and with profuse apologies welcomed the

travellers and bade them recline upon the porch while he summoned

attendants and refreshments. When their ungracious host had retired, the

damsel turned upon Bright-Wits a face which outshone the sun in its

splendour, and thus addressed him.

"Know, O prince, that I am the Princess Azalia, and that this great

palace, and the city and country for ten days' journey in every

direction, formed the kingdom of my father the Great Onalba, Rajah of

Parrabang. Here my days passed as in Paradise, until one year ago, when

my loved parent suddenly disappeared. At first no alarm was felt, for he

was wondrous wise, and fond of secluding himself from men that he might

study in peace and quietness. When, however, a month passing saw not his

return, the Vizier Garrofat, he who was but now upon the porch,

nicknamed the 'Old Woman,' because of his beardless face, called the

Council of Emirs together; whereupon it was solemnly decreed that my

beloved father had departed from this life. Now, I being a maid, and

moreover barely sixteen, could not govern in his stead, and Garrofat had

himself declared Regent until I should have arrived at the age of

eighteen years, by virtue of a decree which he claimed to have received

from the Rajah, my father. Now, moreover, this decree gave Garrofat the

right to accept as a husband for me any suitor who succeeded in

performing certain tasks, first of which was the repairing of the great

Mankalah rug hanging here beside you.

"You can see, O prince, that it is made up of separate pieces, each

containing from three to five squares, fourteen pieces in all. They must

be cut apart and rearranged so as to form a perfect checker board."

"But there are empty spaces, and I can see but thirteen pieces here,"

objected Bright-Wits.

"The missing piece hangs here at the side of the steps, and, as you see,

contains three squares," explained Azalia.

"This surely can be no difficult task to be so richly rewarded," cried

Bright-Wits.

"Then accomplish it, thou Clever One," laughed Azalia.

_The reader who wishes to learn what chance Bright-Wits has of

winning the promised reward, should cut out the rug on page at the

back of the book, and try the task himself. Cut with a scissors or

sharp knife along the heavy lines._

[Illustration: THE RUG.]