[Illustration: ... A MULGAR OF A PRESENCE AND A STRANGENESS, WHO WAS WITHOUT DOUBT OF THE KINGDOM OF ASSASIMMON.]
"Long--long is Time, though books be brief: Adventures strange--ay, past belief-- Await the Reader's drowsy eye; But, wearied out, he'd lay them by.
"But, if so be he'd some day hear All that befell these brothers dear In Tishnar's lovely Valleys--well, Poor pen, thou must that story tell!
"But farewell, now, you Mulgars three! Farewell, your faithful company! Farewell, the heart that loved unbidden-- Nod's dark-eyed, beauteous Water-midden!"
A NOTE ON THE TYPE IN WHICH THIS BOOK IS SET
_This book is composed (on the Linotype), in Scotch. There is a divergence of opinion regarding the exact origin of this face, some authorities holding that it was first cut by Alexander Wilson & Son, of Glasgow, in 1837; others trace it back to a modernized Caslon old style brought out by Mrs. Henry Caslon in 1796 to meet the demand for modern faces brought about by the popularity of the Bodoni types. Whatever its origin, it is certain that the face was widely used in Scotland, where it was called Modern Roman, and since its introduction into America it has been known as Scotch. The essential characteristics of the Scotch face are its sturdy capitals, its full rounded lower case, the graceful fillet of its serifs and the general effect of crispness._
SET UP, ELECTROTYPED, PRINTED, AND BOUND BY THE VAIL-BALLOU PRESS, INC., BINGHAMPTON, N.Y. · ILLUSTRATION PLATES ENGRAVED AND PRINTED BY ZEESE-WILKINSON COMPANY, INC., LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. · PAPER MANUFACTURED BY THE TICONDEROGA PULP AND PAPER CO., TICONDEROGA, N.Y., AND FURNISHED BY W. F. ETHERINGTON & CO., NEW YORK.
In the List of Illustrations, closing quotation marks have been added to "with fingers of frost" and "enchanted orchards of Tishnar".
Spelling and punctuation have been retained as in the original publication except as follows:
sibbetha eena manga Môh!" _changed to_ sibbetha eena manga Môh!'"
through the green twlight _changed to_ through the green twilight
as for the Water-midden's song _changed to_ as for the Water-middens' song
said the Fish-catcher." _changed to_ said the Fish-catcher.
awhile with this Oongar _changed to_ awhile with this Oomgar