The King sailed away, looking back withsomething like affection on his winsome little playmate.It was months before Arthur came that way again. Again the merry childmet him, having grown a good deal since their earlier meeting. "How is mylittle wrestler?" said Arthur. "Try me," said the boy; and the king tossedhim again in his arms, finding the delicate limbs firmer, and the slenderbody heavier than before, though easily manageable. The island was asgreen and more cultivated, there were more men working in the fields, andArthur noticed that their look was not cheerful, but rather as of thosewho had been discouraged and oppressed.It was, however, a charming sail to the island, and, as it became morefamiliar, the king often bade his steersman guide the pinnace that way. Hewas often startled with the rapid growth and increased strength of thelaughing boy, Hanner Dyn, while at other times he seemed much as beforeand appeared to have made but little progress. The youth seemed nevertired of wrestling; he always begged the king for a trial of skill, andthe king rejoiced to see how readily the young wrestler caught at thetricks of the art; so that the time had long passed when even Arthur'sstrength could toss him lightly in the air, as at first. Hanner Dyn wasgrowing with incredible rapidity into a tall young fellow, and instead ofthe weakness that often comes with rapid growth, his muscles grew everharder and harder.
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