To his Majesty the terrors of this goblin cave are but ajest which frightens the old and only rouses the young to courage. Theking may find the recesses of the cavern filled with gold and jewels; hewho goes with him may share them. This boy is my first recruit: whofollows?"By this time a whole group of courtiers, young and old, had assembledabout Don Alonzo, and every man below thirty years was ready to pledgehimself to the enterprise. But the older courtiers and the archbishopOppas were beseeching the king to refrain. "Respect, O king," they said,"the custom held sacred by twenty-seven of thy predecessors. Give us butan estimate of the sum that may, in thy kingly mind, represent the wealththat is within the cavern walls, and we will raise it on our own domains,rather than see the sacred tradition set at nought." The king's onlyanswer was, "Follow me," Don Alonzo hastily sending the boy Luis tocollect the younger knights who had already pledged themselves to theenterprise. A gallant troop, they made their way down the steep stepswhich led from the palace to the cave. The news had spread; the ladies hadgathered on the balconies, and the bright face of one laughing girl lookedfrom a bower window, while she tossed a rose to the happy Luis. Alas, itfell short of its mark and hit the robes of Archbishop Oppas, who stoodwith frowning face as the youngster swept by.
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