WINGS OF CHANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

WINGS OF CHANCE.

(By Valerie Parkhill.) King Mightall lived in a magnificent palace i nthe Isle of Frivious. This monarch enjoyed days of ease and nights of banqueting and' frivolity. He received gifts and tributes from his people, idly watched jousts or combats, or if these failed to absorb his interest, acrobats and jesters were brought to amuse his Royal Highness. •At this time one, Ironheart, arose claiming the throne. King Mightall, though conscious of right on his side, was a coward and feared the inevitable contest with the mighty Ironheart, and as he sat thinking by what meaus he could escape from his kingdom, a figure appeared before him, robed in b'ick, with a long beard as white as snow. After listening to King Mightall's plea for some means of escape, this wizard replied:

"You must either mobilise your people and fight manfully like a king or entrust yourself unto the wings of chance, and be content with what conditions you are forced to accept." ''Good," cried the cowardly king, "I will accept the latter," and immediately he felt himself borne through space on invisible wings—the wings of chance. J Borne in this manner for some distanci: ! he felt himself being slowly lowered, and saw below him some terrible abyss engulfed in blackness—was this his doom , / —he shuddered! But no, on nearing, it proved to be some kingdom peopled by giants. King Mightall felt himself standing on firm land —wildly he looked 'around to see if there was any means of escape, and finding none, crouched behind a large boulder, hoping that the huge giant who was advancing in his direction might not see him. In this he was disappointed as the giant asked: "What is it that you desire, spying behind boulderg, pigmy?" His voice was so loud that the land seemed to tremble and shake around the terrified king, who was unable to answer for fear, but not waiting for a reply the giant lifted the king off the ground and strode back to his fellows. "Here," cried he, "sharpen the knife and light the fire. I have found an admirable dinner." Clash! At that terrible instant, King Hightail peered into the darkness around him —he was still sitting in the luminous hall of his palace—the clash he had heard was only the closing of the iron gates of his palace —he must have been asleep and dreamed it all, but nevertheless, from that moment he resolved to remain faithful to his people —to collect his army and go out bravely and defeat the attacking Ironheart, instead of fleeing like a coward, when he knew his cause was right.