TWILIGHT LAND

Now, one pleasant day when King Solomon was walk-
ing in his garden with his hands behind his back, and his
thoughts busy as bees with this or that, he came face to
face with a Demon, who was a prince of his kind. ‘‘ Ho,
little man!” cried the evil spirit, in a loud voice, “art not
thou the wise King Solomon who conjures my brethren
into brass chests and glass bottles? Come, try a fall at
wrestling with me, and whoever conquers shall be master
over the other for all time. What do you say to such an
offer as that?”

“T say aye!” said King Solomon, and, without another
word, he stripped off his royal robes and stood bare-
breasted, man to man with the otker.

The world never saw the like of that wrestling match
betwixt the king and the Demon, for they struggled and
strove together from the seventh hour in the morning to
the sunset in the evening, and during that time the sky
was clouded over as black as night, and the lightning
forked and shot, and the thunder roared and bellowed,
and the earth shook and quaked.

But at last the king gave the enemy an under twist,
and flung him down on the earth so hard that the apples
fell from the trees; and then, panting and straining, he.
held the evil one downs re on neck. Thereupon the
sky presently cleared again, and all was as pleasant as
a spring day.

King Solomon bound the Demon with spells, and made
him serve him for seven years. First, he had him build
a splendid palace, the like of which was not to be seen
within the bounds of the seven rivers ; then he made him
set around the palace a garden, such as I for one wish I

may see some time or other. Then, when the Demon
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