title: The Mad King
author:  Edgar Rice Burroughs 
description: Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875  March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.
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  # The Mad King
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Edgar Rice Burroughs
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### PART I
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  ### I. A RUNAWAY HORSE
  
  
    
  
  
  ALL LUSTADT was in an uproar. The mad king had escaped. Little knots of
  excited men stood upon the street corners listening to each latest rumor
  concerning this most absorbing occurrence. Before the palace a great crowd
  surged to and fro, awaiting they knew not what.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  For ten years no man of them had set eyes upon the face of the boy-king who
  had been hastened to the grim castle of Blentz upon the death of the old king,
  his father.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  There had been murmurings then when the lad's uncle, Peter of Blentz, had
  announced to the people of Lutha the sudden mental affliction which had fallen
  upon his nephew, and more murmurings for a time after the announcement that
  Peter of Blentz had been appointed Regent during the lifetime of the young
  King Leopold, "or until God, in His infinite mercy, shall see fit to rest