"True; but this treasure is now yours, having been won by you in fair
battle. And if you present it to us it will no longer be stolen
treasure, but a generous gift from a mighty prince, which we may enjoy
with clear consciences."

"Yet there remains the fact that I have promised to hang you,"
suggested Prince Marvel, with a smile, for the king amused him greatly.

"Not at all! Not at all!" cried Wul-Takim. "You promised to hang
fifty-nine thieves, and there is no doubt the fifty-nine thieves
deserved to be hung. But, consider! We have all reformed our ways
and become honest men; so it would be a sad and unkindly act to hang
fifty-nine honest men!"

"What think you, Nerle?" asked the Prince, turning to his esquire.

"Why, the rogue seems to speak truth," said Nerle, scratching his head
with a puzzled air, "yet, if he speaks truth, there is little
difference between a rogue and an honest man. Ask him, my master,
what caused them all to reform so suddenly."

"Because we were about to die, and we thought it a good way to save
our lives," replied the robber king.

"That's an honest answer, anyway," said Nerle. "Perhaps, sir, they
have really reformed."

"And if so, I will not have the death of fifty-nine honest men on my
conscience," declared the prince. Then he turned to Wul-Takim and