IMPERISHABLE 249

At daybreak the soldiers of the besieging army awoke, and
not being able to find their king, were seized with such a
panic of terror that they retreated in great disorder. The
ruler of the besieged city would not at first believe that the
enemy had really disappeared, and indeed went himself to
see if it was true: of a truth there remained nothing of the
enemy’s camp but a few deserted tents whitening on the plain.
At that moment Niezguinek came up with his brothers, and
said, “Sire, the enemy has fled, and we were unable to detain
them, but here is their king whom we have made prisoner,
and whom I deliver up to you.”

The ruler replied, ‘I see, indeed, that you are a brave
man among brave men, and I will reward you. This royal
prisoner is worth a large ransom to me; so speak,—what would
you like me to do for you?”

“‘T should wish, sire, that my brothers and I might enter
the service of your majesty.”

“‘T am quite willing,” answered the king. Then, having
placed his prisoner in charge of his guards, he made Niez-
guinek general, and placed him at the head of a division of
his army ; the eleven brothers were given the rank of officers.

When Niezguinek appeared in uniform, and with sabre
in hand mounted his splendid charger, he looked so hand-
some and conducted the manceuvres so well that he sur-
passed all the other chiefs in the country, thus causing much
jealousy, even among his own brothers, for they were vexed
that the youngest should outshine them, and so determined
to ruin him.

In order to accomplish this they imitated his handwrit-
ing, and placed such a note before the king’s door while