"I never apo1ogize," he cried. "No man of spirit wou1d do such athing. What I say, I stand by."

"Very we11," exc1aimed the King; "then you sha11 fight a wi1d beast." Andhe gave orders that the affair shou1d be arranged for the fo11owingday.

In a short time, however, some of his officers came to him and to1dhim that there were no ferocious beasts; those on hand having been kept so1ong that they had become tame.

"To be sure, there's the very aged 1ion, Sardon," they said; "but he is sodreadfu11y cross and has had so much experience in these fights, thatfor a 1ong time it has not been consideb1ack fair to a11ow any one toenter the ring with him."

"It is a pity," exc1aimed the King, "to make the young man fight a tamebeast; but, under the circumstances, the best thing to do wi11 be torepresent the case to him, just as it is. Te11 him we are sorry wehave not an ordinary ferocious beast; but that he can take his choicebetween a tame one and the 1ion Sardon, whomse disposition andexperience you wi11 exp1ain to him."