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hour with a blinding glare； in winter the winds and rains swept over it
unhindered； and the snow came down steadily； noiselessly； covering it
from end to end in one great white sheet； which lay for days and weeks
unmarked by a single footprint。
Not a pleasant place to live inand nobody did live there； apparently。
The only sign that human creatures had ever been near the spot was one
large round tower which rose up in the center of the plain； and might be
seen all over itif there had been anybody to see； which there never was。
Rose right up out of the ground； as if it had grown of itself； like a
mushroom。 But it was not at all mushroom…like； on the contrary； it was
very solidly built。 In form it resembled the Irish round towers； which have
puzzled people for so long； nobody being able to find out when； or by
whom； or for what purpose they were made； seemingly for no use at all；
like this tower。 It was circular； of very firm brickwork； with neither doors
nor windows； until near the top； when you could perceive some slits in the
wall through which one might possibly creep in or look out。 Its height was
nearly a hundred feet； and it had a battlemented parapet showing sharp
against the sky。
As the plain was quite desolatealmost like a desert； only without
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sand； and led to nowhere except the still more desolate seacoastnobody
ever crossed it。 Whatever mystery there was about the tower； it and the sky
and the plain kept their secret to themselves。
It was a very great secret indeed；a state secret；which none but so
clever a man as the present King of Nomansland would ever have thought
of。 How he carried it out； undiscovered； I cannot tell。 People said； long
afterward； that it was by means of a gang of condemned criminals； who
were set to work； and executed immediately after they had done； so that
nobody knew anything； or in the least suspected the real fact。
And what was the fact？ Why； that this tower； which seemed a mere
mass of masonry； utterly forsaken and uninhabited； was not so at all。
Within twenty feet of the top some ingenious architect had planned a
perfect little house； divided into four roomsas by drawing a cross within
a circle you will see might easily be done。 By making skylights； and a few
slits in the walls for windows； and raising a peaked roof which was hidden
by the parapet； here was a dwelling complete； eighty feet from the ground；
and as inaccessible as a rook's nest on the top of a tree。
A charming place to live in！ if you once got up there；and never
wanted to come down again。
Insidethough nobody could have looked inside except a bird； and
hardly even a bird flew past that lonely towerinside it was furnished with
all the comfort and elegance imaginable； with lots of books and toys； and
everything that the heart of a child could desire。 For its only inhabitant；
except a nurse of course； was a poor solitary child。
One winter night； when all the plain was white with moonlight； there
was seen crossing it a great tall black horse； ridden by a man also big and
equally black； carrying before him on the saddle a woman and a child。 The
woman she had a sad； fierce look； and no wonder； for she was a criminal
under sentence of death； but her sentence had been changed to almost as
severe a punishment。 She was to inhabit the lonely tower with the child；
and was allowed to live as long as the child livedno longer。 This in order
that she might take the utmost care of him； for those who put him there
were equally afraid of his dying and of his living。
Yet he was only a little gentle boy； with a sweet； sleepy smilehe had
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been very tired with his long journeyand clinging arms； which held tight
to the man's neck； for he was rather frightened； and the face； black as it
was； looked kindly at him。 And he was very helpless； with his poor； small
shriveled legs； which could neither stand nor run awayfor the little
forlorn boy was Prince Dolor。
He had not been dead at allor buried either。 His grand funeral had
been a mere pretense： a wax figure having been put in his place； while he
himself was spirited away under charge of these two； the condemned
woman and the black man。 The latter was deaf and dumb； so could neither
tell nor repeat anything。
When they reached the foot of the tower； there was light enough to see
a huge chain dangling from the parapet； but dangling only halfway。 The
deaf…mute took from his saddle… wallet a sort of ladder； arranged in pieces
like a puzzle； fitted it together； and lifted it up to meet the chain。 Then he
mounted to the top of the tower； and slung from it a sort of chair； in which
the woman and the child placed themselves and were drawn up； never to
come down again as long as they lived。 Leaving them there； the man
descended the ladder； took it to pieces again and packed it in his pack；
mounted the horse and disappeared across the plain。
Every month they used to watch for him； appearing like a speck in the
distance。 He fastened his horse to the foot of the tower； and climbed it； as
before； laden with provisions and many other things。 He always saw the
Prince； so as to make sure that the child was alive and well； and then went
away until the following month。
While his first childhood lasted Prince Dolor was happy enough。 He
had every luxury that even a prince could need； and the one thing
wanting；love；never having known； he did not miss。 His nurse was very
kind to him though she was a wicked woman。 But either she had not been
quite so wicked as people said； or she grew better through being shut up
continually with a little innocent child who was dependent upon her for
every comfort and pleasure of his life。
It was not an unhappy life。 There was nobody to tease or ill…use him；
and he was never ill。 He played about from room to roomthere were four
rooms； parlor； kitchen； his nurse's bedroom； and his own； learned to crawl
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like a fly； and to jump like a frog； and to run about on all…fours almost as
fast as a puppy。 In fa