I observed, however, what I supposed to be an entrance on each of the four sides, and made my way to the nearest one. As I was about to enter, I was accosted by a voice (the owner of which I could not discover, though I diligently sought to do so) which said: “Enterest thou here as a suitor to the hand of the princess?” “Thou dost speak with great truthfulness,” I made answer. “Then harken thou to the following rules, each one of which must receive strict attention at your hands under penalty of death. “First: If thou hast fought because of the princess, turn back at once. “Second: Thou shalt seek to gain the secret chamber by no unfair means. “Third: Thou shalt not speak aloud, unless bidden so to do by the princess herself. “Fourth: Thou shalt not carry any weapon. “Fifth: Thou shalt not kill anything. “Sixth: Thou shalt not pluck any leaf, blossom, twig, or limb that is alive. “Seventh: Thou shalt not leave marks by the aid of which to retrace thy steps. “Eighth: Thou shalt not depart from the paths on any pretense whatsoever. “Dost thou agree to these rules?” “I do,” was my reply. “Know ye the breaking of any of them will result in thy instant death?” “I know.” “Proceed.” I deposited all my weapons, of which I had a goodly number, on a pile of several hundred others, and stood a moment in contemplation. Before me were three avenues, so closely lined with trees with such dense foliage the sky was nowhere visible and a deep twilight pervaded beneath them. There was one straight ahead, one to the right, one to the left, each leading at right angle to its neighbor. All were alike, with this difference: that two of them somehow gave me the feeling they had been well traveled, while the third, which was on the right, had been little used. I chose the one on the right and started forward. How far I had traveled I do not know, for I had gone at a brisk pace and the way had been so winding and twisting and turning, when there came to my ears the low growl of an eager lion. I hailed the sound with joy, for I was satisfied the road leading to victory would be a very dangerous one and most difficult to travel, and I had gone such a distance without an obstacle I was beginning to be doubtful. The muffled roar of the beast reassured me and I pressed onward. [Illustration] I came to where the road branched in three directions. I was thankful I possessed a keen ear, for by its aid was I enabled to take the one which led to the lion, and I soon saw him stretched on the ground gnawing a bone which was probably all that was left of some suitor. The lion raised his head and looked at me long and steadily, as if to say: “What! Another?”