The Prisoner of Zembla

It seems there may be a mix-up regarding the author. "The Prisoner of Zenda" is a novel by Anthony Hope, not O. Henry. Published in 1894, it is a classic adventure story that centers around a young Englishman, Rudolf Rassendyll, who becomes embroiled in a political intrigue in the fictional European country of Ruritania. Rassendyll discovers that he closely resembles the imprisoned king, Rudolf IV, and takes on the king’s identity in a daring bid to save him from a coup. The tale is filled with romance, chivalry, and swashbuckling adventure, exploring themes of identity, duty, and loyalty. If you were looking for a specific work by O. Henry, please let me know!

• Short story

								
By Anthony Hoke

So the king fell into a furious rage, so that none durst go near him
for fear, and he gave out that since the Princess Astla had disobeyed
him there would be a great tourney, and to the knight who should prove
himself of the greatest valor he would give the hand of the princess.

And he sent forth a herald to proclaim that he would do this.

And the herald went about the country making his desire known, blowing
a great tin horn and riding a noble steed that pranced and gamboled;
and the villagers gazed upon him with awe and said: "Lo, that is one
of them tin horn gamblers concerning which the chroniclers have told
us."

And when the day came, the king sat in the grandstand, holding the
gage of battle in his hand, and by his side sat the Princess Astla,
looking very pale and beautiful, but with mournful eyes from which she
scarce could keep the tears, and the knights who came to the tourney
gazed upon the princess in wonder at her beauty, and each swore to win
her so that he could marry her and board with the king. Suddenly the
heart of the princess gave a great bound, for she saw among the
knights one of the poor students with whom she had been in love.

The knights mounted and rode in a line past the grandstand, and the
king stopped the poor student, who had the worst horse and the poorest
caparisons of any of the knights, and said:

"Sir knight, prithee tell me of what that marvelous shaky and
rusty-looking armor of thine is made?"

"Oh, king," said the young knight, "seeing that we are about to engage
in a big fight, I would call it scrap iron, wouldn't you?"

"Ods bodikins!" said the king. "The youth hath a pretty wit."

    * * * * *

The tourney lasted the whole day and at the end but two of the knights
were left, one of them being the princess's lover.

"Here's enough for a fight, anyhow," said the king. "Come hither, oh
knights, will ye joust for the hand of this lady fair?"

"We joust will," said the knights.

The two knights fought for two hours and at length the princess's
lover prevailed and stretched the other upon the ground. The
victorious knight made his horse caracole before the king, and bowed
low in his saddle.

On the Princess Astla's cheek was a rosy flush; in her eyes the light
of excitement vied with the soft glow of love; her lips were parted,
her lovely hair unbound, and she grasped the arms of her chair and
leaned forward with heaving bosom and happy smile to hear the words of
her lover.

"You have fought well, sir knight," said the king. "And if there is
any boon you crave you have but to name it."

"Then," said the knight, "I will ask you this: I have bought the
patent rights in your kingdom for Schneider's celebrated monkey wrench
and I want a letter from you endorsing it."

"You shall have it," said the king, "but I must tell you that there is
not a monkey in my kingdom."

With a yell of rage the victorious knight threw himself on his horse
and rode away at a furious gallop.

The king was about to speak when a horrible suspicion flashed upon him
and he fell dead upon the grandstand.

"My God!" he cried, as he expired, "he has forgotten to take the
princess with him."
								Rate this book:0.0 / 0 votes