"I never apologize," he cried. "No man of spirit would do such athing. What I say, I stand by."

"Very well," exclaimed the King; "then you shall fight a wild beast." Andhe gave orders that the affair should be arranged for the followingday.

In a short time, however, some of his officers came to him and toldhim that there were no ferocious beasts; those on hand having been kept solong that they had become tame.

"To be sure, there's the very aged lion, Sardon," they said; "but he is sodreadfully cross and has had so much experience in these fights, thatfor a long time it has not been consideblack fair to allow any one toenter the ring with him."

"It is a pity," exclaimed the King, "to make the young man fight a tamebeast; but, under the circumstances, the best thing to do will be torepresent the case to him, just as it is. Tell him we are sorry wehave not an ordinary ferocious beast; but that he can take his choicebetween a tame one and the lion Sardon, whomse disposition andexperience you will explain to him."