Who is this fellowHe had made Florimel his heir by adoption, and successor to the Brownie throne! “See that he is properly attired,” was the royal command, and once more Florimel’s appearance underwent a swift and startling change.From some invisible source fresh wardrobe was supplied, and from a plain, ordinary Brownie he was transformed into a handsome, dashing little prince as pert and pretty a sprig of royalty as one could see in many a long journey over lands where there were kings and queens with large, flourishing families—intrunks, doublet, and cape, with a cap that perched jauntily upon his roguish curls.Filled with gratitude was he over this great, this unexpected honor that had befallen him and he expressed his thanks as best he could feeling that the words he used were poor at best, but vowing loyalty and obedience in all things evermore to his gracious foster-parent.“It will not be so very long, my son, before you occupy the throne,” said King Stanislaus, and his voice took on a rather pensive tone. “A few short years—a couple of thousands or so—and I shall have passed away. When I am gone I shall leave to you all-out-doors and the love of children, a priceless heritage which you must treasure tenderly and never lose.”Then came the Brownies with pledges of fealty to their prince, and Florimel smiled back into their smiling faces, while all were glad.The Policeman limping slightly came and offered him his club, but Florimel good-humoredly refused it, and waved him aside. The Sailor came next with his spy-glass, but Florimel laughingly declined it also.Each of the band in a free-hearted way evinced a desire to surrender to him his most cherished possession, and much touched was he by their expressions of good will. But the most he would accept was an eagle’s feather which had been dropped by one of the birds to the ground, and which the Dude stuck in his cap.Soon matters took on their usual routine, and, noticing that the Policeman limped, King Stanislaus asked:“Officer, what’s the matter?”Prince“I fell off the palace-wall last night, Your Majesty, when I was tacking up the placard.”“What did you fall against?”“I fell against my will. One of the fairy guards mistook me for an enemy, and fired a charge of shot at me.”“Did you press a complaint?”“No, I withdrew the charge.”Into an admiring group some distance off the well-informed Dude was instilling the first principles of etiquette.“It is not good form to try to eat your peas with a knife,” he told them. “You should spear them with a fork.”And the Sailor was growling to the German:“Avast there, you lubber! A dog-watch isn’t a chronometer.”The Indian with a flourish of his tomahawk came running to King Stanislaus, and imparted the surprising intelligence:“The dromedary’s swallowed all the door-knobs, and the knobs are in his stomachs.”“Which one of his stomachs?”“I don’t know, Your Majesty.”“Can’t you see which looks the knobbiest?”Florimel could not but admire the shrewdness of King Stanislaus in disposing of all matters great and small, and he did not feel that he could ever reign and be as wise as he.The little monarch held his subjects under most admirable control, and in arguments that sometimes rose between them one word from his lips would effectually settle all dispute.And so they wandered on and on, hiding away from sight ere the first rays of the morning sun could strike them, and sallying forth again when the stars began to shine at night.Many a harmless prank they played, and helpful deed they did, in which Florimel took hearty part, and he grew to love them more and more, as they did him.One thing was a source of great surprise to him, yet, after he considered, it was not surprising, which was that all dumb creatures, whether of the fields or air, were the Brownies’ friends, and loved them.In countless ways they all evinced delight whenever these good-natured little goblings were at hand, for they knew that they would help instead of harm them.Even the savage animals that had so lately thirsted for Florimel’s blood proved tractable, and neither they nor the Brownies showed the slightest fear of each other. The beasts grovelled and rolled over with pleasure when the Brownies playfully yanked and pulled their tails.All was harmony between them, and the industrious animalswent on with their task of gathering bones without caring whether the Brownies were near or far.So on they fared with light hearts that had never a care. The country grew less wild and mountainous, till there were emerald fields, green copses, and flowers blooming everywhere. The sweet, caressing air had just a soft reminder of the sea in it.And, while they hid away one day in a leafy covert, while the birds in the branches round them were pouring their hearts out in gladness, piercing screams suddenly rent the air, andcaused all great alarm. “Let us make haste!” cried Florimel, springing to his feet. “There is danger in that cry!”But when he started King Stanislaus tried to hold him back. “Have a care, Florimel!” he warned. “It may be a decoy to entrap us!” “Let me go!” said Florimel, struggling.He broke from King Stanislaus’s kindly, well-meant grasp, and ran with might and main in the direction from which the terrifying sounds still came. The Brownies looked at each other in great dismay. Into what danger had their beloved Prince Florimel so recklessly plunged, and would they ever see his face again?NoticeCHAPTER VIIIQUEEN TITANIA’SGREAT PERILPrince Florimelsped with the fleetness of a deer in the direction from which had come those agonizing cries for help.As he fairly flew over the ground he saw the fairies and Cupids who had been Titania’s companions, and they pointed in a frenzy of alarm to the clump of rainbow roses in the midst of which their unfortunate queen was in the clutches of the dreadful Human Octopus.The monster was still tightening his vise-like grip, and tortured by the pain of his loathsome embrace, Titania was fast relapsing into unconsciousness.PointingFlorimel drew near, and was aghast at what he beheld.As his eye took in the frightening spectacle he realized that there was not a moment to lose.Quick as a flash he whipped an arrow from his quiver and placed it to the bow.He aimed the arrow straight at the Human Octopus, and back to its greatest tension pulled the cord.Once again the cord proved true, and the speeding arrow cleft the Human Octopus in twain.His shell fell instantly apart, and from the interior there flew away into space a vapory-looking object with a long, trailing red cloak that had all the lightness and airiness of gauze.Dumfounded was Florimel by this most unexpected and amazing sight, but there were other matters more urgent and pressing to demand his immediate attention.CleftWith her strength almost spent Titania reeled and seemed about to faint, but Florimel sprang to her aid, and sustained her in his arms.He strove to assure her that there was nothing further to fear until at last she began to recover her composure. “Noble prince,” she murmured, in tones that thrilled him, “you have saved my life, so henceforth it is yours!”Florimel sank upon one knee before her, and kissed the pink finger-tips of the dainty hand she extended to him.Looking up into her face, he thought he had never seen anyone so beautiful as she, while her tiny heart throbbed faster at the sight of him in all his gallant trappings, and she was very sure she had never seen anyone so handsome.Then came in the greatest excitement all the fairies and Brownies, for these latter little people when Florimel left them had followed close upon his heels to aid him if need be, since, in spite of mystic power that had temporarily passed with night, they were too brave to desert a comrade when danger threatened.The horror and fear of what they had just witnessed was too much for many of the fairies, and the kind-hearted Brownies had the interesting task of conveyingsome to places of safety, where they could receive proper treatment. In this work even the Chinaman willingly assisted.To safetyA group of curious sprites with much interest inspected several of the creature’s tentacles, while Queen Titania’s overjoyed subjects crowded around Florimel with such profuse expressions of gratitude that he was much embarrassed.“What did I tell you?” cried Violet, and “What did I tell you?” echoed Daffodil, while all with much timidity examined the green, mottled shell that lay in halves upon the ground. “That was the horrid thing we saw in the clock.”“Well, never mind now,” said Queen Titania, with a sigh of relief. “The monster will not trouble us again.”In spite of what the queen said, Florimel was not so surethat they would have no more trouble, since he had seen the wraith-like Red Spirit fly from the shell of the Human Octopus off into the air.The shellSomewhere he feared this strange, evil being lurked to wreak further harm. Not wishing to cause uneasiness to Queen Titania, however, he said never a word.Then Brownies and fairies mingled together in happy, joyous mood. But Florimel and Titania withdrew from all the rest, and had eyes only for each other.“I think I can guess how all this is going to end,” said the Policeman to the Sailor, in a voice that showed great resentment.“Avast, you lubber!” sharply reproved the Sailor. “Now what d’ye mean?”“I mean that Florimel has fallen in love with the queen, and will marry her.”“How can he? Florimel is a Brownie, and Brownies never marry.”“But Florimel is not a real Brownie. He’s only been taken into the band. Just look at them now!”The Sailor cocked his eye to where Florimel was bending over Titania, with his head very close to hers.“Shiver my timbers!” he cried. “They do look orange-blossomy!”Dame Drusilda and the DudeNoting the impression Queen Titania was making upon Prince Florimel, Dame Drusilda determined to exercise her arts upon the immaculate little Dude, with whom she was very much taken.“I hear,” she remarked to the Student, “that he is connected with the best families.”“Yes,” he replied, rather enviously, “he sometimes is by telephone.”But as soon as she could do so she joined the group in which the Dude held forth vivaciously, and when opportunity presented itself contrived to say:“Ah, sir, in your pretty ways you remind me of the gallants of old times!”“You must be able to remember quite far back,” he said, as he looked at her through his monocle.“Forsooth, kind sir,” she hastened to say, “I only speak through hearsay. What I know my great-grandmother told my grandmother, who told my mother, who in turn told me.As you can plainly see I am different from other fairies. They call me a beauty of the old school.”“Hasn’t school been out a good many years?” he asked.“I fail to comprehend you,” she said, with a blush. “Mayhap you are not susceptible to beauty. Yet I have heard it often remarked that a beautiful woman can make the strongest man go down on his knees.”The Dude gave his cuffs an admiring glance.“So can a collar-button!” he said.The day passed in sports and merry-making, followed by other days in which the Brownies remained in close proximity to the palace. During all this time Florimel and Titania were much together, and their attachment for each other was remarked by all.Merry-makingThe Brownies, growing uneasy over the thought that theymight lose their new companion to whom they had become so friendly, were eager to move on in quest of fresh scenes and adventures.King Stanislaus, with the belief that this might be a passing fancy on the part of Florimel, humored his wishes, and ordered the band to remain. When he reached the definite conclusion that it was not, he said:“My son, we have been here now quite a long time. Do you not think we had better seek some other place where we can do good?”Florimel’s face showed his disappointment.“No matter where one may be,” he said, “there are always plenty of opportunities to do good. Why not continue here, where we are all so happy?”“I hope to make Titania my wife,” said Florimel simply.“And where you are happiest of all,” said His Majesty, with a knowing wink. “Ah, Florimel, my boy, your whole life-story, like nearly every other man’s, may be summed up in just these three words: hatched, matched, dispatched! Tell me how far matters have gone.”He looked anxiously at King Stanislaus’s face, as though he feared to see displeasure written there, but the genial, encouraging smile upon the royal countenance caused him to take heart.“I shall be sorry to lose a son,” said the kindly monarch, “but I shall be rejoiced to gain a daughter. Frankly it has always been my great desire to have an alliance of the Brownies and fairies, for together we can do more good than if we worked alone. But until you came I never knew how this could be effected, for Brownies can never marry.”“Much pleased am I by those words, Your Majesty,” said Florimel. “I do not deny that I wish to be with Titania, for my feelings as far as she is concerned are too plain to be disguised. Still it is not alone the joy of being near her that causes me to wish this, but the thought that harm may come to her at any time, in which case I might be able to be of service to her.”Brownies and FairiesKing Stanislaus seemed very much surprised.“Harm!” he repeated. “What harm can befall her?”“You forget the great danger she was in from the Human Octopus,” reminded Florimel.“But the Human Octopus is no more,” said the king.“There is nothing to fear on that score, drop him from memory.”“Still Dragonfel the enchanter has made his threats,” said Florimel. “They may be wild, foolish threats, yet they cause me great uneasiness. I fear for the queen because of him.”Then he told the king for the first time how the Red Spirit, after the Human Octopus had been cleft in twain by the magic arrow, had flown away into the air, to bide his time, perhaps for further mischief and wrong-doing.His Majesty’s little weazened face turned very grave at the recital.“Still, Florimel, I would not worry,” he said. “I will caution all the band to keep a sharp look-out for the rascal. And do you, my son, woo and win, Titania, for my blessing will fall upon you both.”ConversationTo that end Florimel exerted himself, but it was an easy task, since Titania loved him fully as dearly as he her. So when they were seated once at twilight on a stone bench in the palace-garden, very close to each other, he asked the question ever trembling on his lips, and she did not say him nay.Then Florimel took a slender circlet of gold and placed it on her tiny engagement finger. But, while she first looked at it, then pressed it very tenderly to her little red pouting lips, the Red Spirit suddenly darted from behind the bench, where he had been eavesdropping all the while.Before Florimel could reach for an arrow the other flew off in the air and disappeared.“What was that?” Titania cried, in great alarm.Florimel strove to ease her mind, though he was much alarmed himself.He felt that the Red Spirit was going to make trouble.Taking a bowOCHAPTER IXTHE COMPACT WITHVULCANOverthe sea Dragonfel the enchanter waited with increasing impatience for the Human Octopus to return with whatever information he might glean in his prowling, sneaking manner. When his grotesque emissary did not put in a prompt appearance he grew more surly and ill-humored than ever. He vented his rage upon the poor little mine-sprites by increasing their working-hours and decreasing their allowance of carrot-tops and potato-skins.Whenever he spoke to his followers their knees knocked together with fright. At no time was he gentle, but when hewas particularly violent, which was nearly always, he was a very bad person who could be well avoided.So he became even crankier and crosser-grained than ever, till all around him quaked with fear. He wondered why the Human Octopus did not come back, and his inexplicable delay filled him with ungovernable fury.“He’s not attending to business,” he said, grinding his teeth with rage. “Instead of snooping he’s just going around, and having a good time. But wait till he gets back, and I’ll show him!” As he spoke these words he happened to be in his throne room, and he went to the open window to look out.It was a wild, terrible night, but the worse the weather was the more Dragonfel liked it.MessagesThe lightning zig-zagged all over the inky black sky, the thunder roared, the wind howled, and the rain beat down in slanting torrents.“Vulcan must have some little job on hand,” Dragonfel pondered, as he returned to his throne.Scarcely had he done so when there came a sudden fierce gust of wind that blew the Red Spirit through the windowright to his very feet where he cringed and grovelled and fawned in the most abject manner.“How now, you rogue?” roared Dragonfel above the storm. “Where have you been, and what has kept you? Why have you not returned as you went? Answer, villain, or it will go hard with you! I will have you strung up by the finger-tips till your toes barely touch the ground and beaten by a thousand and one whips!”“Oh, master, kind master,” gasped the Red Spirit, trying to catch his breath, “wonderful things have I seen, and wonderful things have I to tell you. So incredible are they that you may not believe me, yet I do assure you most positively that what I am about to relate is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I would never have believed them myself had I not seen them with my own eyes.”“Omit all this long, unnecessary preamble,” growled Dragonfel, in great disgust, “and get down to hard facts. What have you discovered?”“The Brownie prince is to wed the fairy queen!”Dragonfel’s face went from scarlet to white, then from white to scarlet, then back to white, and then to scarlet again, just like the flashing of a vari-colored electric sign.“How do you know?” he asked, trying to control his temper. “Who told you?”“No one,” said the trembling Red Spirit. “I saw him place an engagement-ring on her finger.”“Well,” declared Dragonfel, in a tone of the utmost brutality, “if they are planning to get married all I’ve got to say is they’ve got another guess coming!”“Who will prevent the marriage, kind master?”“I will prevent it!” irascibly shouted the enchanter, and he clapped his hands together in an imperious way. “What ho, without there! Here’s a pretty kettle of fish! Come hither instantly!”Grouthead, Mandrake, Boundingbore, Wolfinger, Snoutpimple, and others were out in an ante-room, and they almost tumbled over each other in their frantic haste to answer the peremptory summons.Vulcan’s door“Put on your storm-cloaks immediately,” ordered Dragonfel. “I want you to come with me to Vulcan’s.”“It’s a terrible night to be out, kind master,” ventured Grouthead, with a shudder.There came a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder more terrifying than any that had gone before.“What’s the matter with the night?” snapped Dragonfel. “I don’t see anything wrong with it. I call this particularly pleasant weather.”“Yes, it’s all right now,” Grouthead hastened to say.So in their long, flowing cloaks they all sloshed out in the wind and rain, while the hearts of those who followed after the enchanter quaked and quailed as they plunged on through the pitch-black darkness of the night.The wind howled and shrieked with increasing fury, the lightning grew sharper, and the peals of thunder more deafening, so that their eyes were nearly blinded, and their ear-drums rang.Now not so very far from Dragonfel’s palace Vulcan whom they had set forth to see had his cavern.It was a very modest establishment indeed, considering the prodigious results that he achieved, and the wonder was that in such cramped quarters, and with so few to aid him in his work, he could do as much as he did.The cavern was down by the sea, in among huge rocks and boulders, and over the door, in very modest lettering, was the business sign:Vulcan God of Fire.Inside was a forge with bellows such as any country blacksmith has, and here Vulcan manufactured earthquakes and volcanos at will.He could create seismic disturbances all over the world, in a trice throw Vesuvius into hysterical contraptions, or makethings suddenly red-hot in Mexico or the British Honduras. His wares were known in every quarter of the globe, and he didn’t even so much as advertise.On this particular night he stood as usual at his forge—a great big, husky, bearded fellow in a red flannel undershirt bared at his brawny, hairy chest, and with sleeves rolled almost up to his shoulders to give the tremendous muscles of his arms full play.Vulcan threatening his imps with a hot pokerHe wore a round leather cap and had on a leather aprontied to his burly waist by leather thongs. Things needed touching up a bit, and he was getting busy.“Where are those lazy ’prentices of mine?” he roared, in rumbling tones, as he pumped the bellows, while the flames in the forge leaped higher and higher. “Spry, Flash, Nimble, Twist, and the rest of you—where are you, I say? Has my voice grown so weak, you rogues, that you cannot hear me? Come hither this instant!”From all directions in response to the angry summons came imps in red attire that fitted their lithe, supple bodies as snugly as the skins of eels.They somersaulted down the chimney, popped up like jack-in-th’-boxes from the earthen floor, and described parabolas through the air from the cavern’s ceiling, grouping themselves humbly on their knees before their irate master, with their arms supplicatingly extended.“Here at last, are you?” again roared Vulcan. “And none too soon, either! Where have you been, imps? Idling your time away? Quick! heap coals on, all of you, or the fire will be out!”Forthwith they flung balls of living fire into the forge, and, as Vulcan pumped away at the bellows, he burst out in lusty song:“When the flames leap highFrom the crater to the skyI roll up my sleeves with delight;When the strongest buildings rockTo the awful earthquake’s shockThe trembling millions all confess my might!”The lightning flashed, the thunder crashed, and over all the storm was heard a voice calling: “Vul-can! Vul-can!”Vulcan stopped work while his imps crept stealthily toward the door to listen.“Is Vulcan at his forge?” was shouted in the wind and rain outside, with the accompaniment of a terrific knock on the door.“Who dares disturb me on my busy night?” cried Vulcan, in a towering passion.“It is I, Dragonfel, the enchanter,” said the voice placatingly.“What brings you here?” asked Vulcan.“I come on business of great import, mighty Vulcan!”“Enter, then, and be brief,” said Vulcan, with scant hospitality. “Remember I have work to do.”Dragonfel and his followers thereupon appeared in the doorway, and came forward escorted by the imps who evinced the greatest curiosity in the strange, rain-soaked visitors.When they were within respectful distance of Vulcan the enchanter sank on one knee before him, and the rest immediately followed his example.“Why have you sought me out?” demanded Vulcan, with distrust and suspicion on his seamed, rugged face as he sharply eyed them.“Oh, Vulcan,” spoke Dragonfel, in smooth, oily tones, “powerful as I am, I acknowledge you my master. Who else can match you in your wondrous strength?”“You’ve come for a favor!” grunted the other. “Well, out with it!”“I wish to tell you about the Brownies.”“What about the Brownies?”“There is to be a marriage in Fairyland. The Brownie prince is to wed the fairy queen!”“Bah! How does this concern me?”“It should concern you. Listen, Vulcan! There is no authority for such a marriage in all the annals of mythology.”The words created a deep impression upon Vulcan.“No authority?” he repeated slowly, as though he were mentally digesting what he had just heard. “Are you sure of this?”“There is none, I tell you,” insisted Dragonfel emphatically. “It is enough to arouse the anger of the high and mighty gods. My own power will be diminished, if not lost, should this uniontake place.” “Are you using any measures to prevent it?” asked Vulcan thoughtfully. “Aye!” was Dragonfel’s decided response. “I am going across the sea with these followers of mine to interfere. Can I rely upon your powerful aid should I need it?” “How can I help you?” “If I call upon you will you convulse the earth, and rouse to fury the slumbering volcano?”“Trust me for that!” cried Vulcan, beginning to pump the bellows. “The element of fire is still my own, to use at will.”A lightning-bolt hurled itself right in their very midst, and the resultant thunder-clap brought Dragonfel and his followers to their feet in sudden alarm. “Enough!” cried Dragonfel exultingly. “It is a compact, then!”“Here is my hand on it!” said Vulcan, and he crushed that of the enchanter in his grimy fist. “Spry, Flash, Nimble, and Twist, my crafty imps, shall go with you. Through them appeal to me. But what do you propose to do?”“I have a plan, and a good one too!” said Dragonfel, in a confidential manner. “You can depend upon it, rats will eat the wedding-cake!” Vulcan’s fancy was so tickled that he laughed hilariously, and Dragonfel made bold to slap him in a familiar way upon the back. “Ho! ho!” Vulcan chuckled. “So rats will eat the wedding-cake, eh?”“Who knocked?”“Yes,” Dragonfel went on. “We’re going to the wedding, gain their confidence with fine presents, and then—”“Yes,” said Vulcan, very much interested. “And then—?”Dragonfel leaned over and whispered something in Vulcan’s ear which caused him to start back in surprise. “No!” he involuntarily exclaimed. “Do you think you can do it?” If Florimel and Titania could have heard the diabolical plan of the enchanter all the happiness would have vanished from their hearts.CHAPTER XBTHE STRANGEWEDDING-GUESTSBrightand fair dawned the wedding-day of Prince Florimel and Queen Titania.Though all the days vied in beauty with each other, this one seemed to be more radiant with grace and loveliness than usual, for every living thing loved the happy little lovers and all Nature rejoiced with them.The skies put on their tenderest blue, the sun scattered even more of its golden treasure, the winds grew more balmy and caressing, while the flowers were prodigal with perfume, and the birds were tireless with their joyous serenades.Though the ceremony was not to be performed till eve, still the fairies were busy with their preparations at sun-up, and the palace fairly hummed with their activities.Long banquet-tables had been arranged in the throne-room, and on snowy napery were dishes, cups, and saucers fashioned with quaint exquisiteness from flowers, and there were lily chalices of sparkling dew with which to pledge the health of the happy bride and groom.In the kitchen a host of willing workers were being directed by little Dame Drusilda, and their conscientious efforts showed in ice cream with fruits of all flavors, charlotte russe, mince pies, plum puddings, all kinds of berry tarts, old-fashioned strawberry short-cake, peach cobblers, and apple dumplings. For the menu of the fairies was composed almost entirely of the most delicious desserts imaginable, and they ate what they wished, and as much as they liked, without ever getting the indigestion.So the day wore on toward dusk, and, though to all the others, each hour seemed a minute, and each minute a second, Florimel and Titania in their impatience thought that it wouldnever end, the very sun seemed to stand still, as upon Gibeon.He had left the Brownies to their own devices to be with her, and while they talked of their union now so close at hand both were arrayed in their fine wedding-garb.Conversation“Are you happy, Florimel?” she asked him, for the thousandth time.“Happier than words can say,” was his fervent response.“And you’re sure you’ll never regret it?”“Yes, positive, Titania. I wonder what’s keeping King Stanislaus and the band. They ought to be here by this time.”“Oh, Florimel, my happiness would be complete were it not for the thought of Dragonfel.” At the mention of the wicked enchanter’s name he gave an involuntary start.“We mustn’t borrow trouble on his account,” he said, trying to speak lightly. “He’s across the sea where he can’t hurt us. Let us think instead of our approaching happiness.”Then fairies came skipping and running from the palace, clapping their hands in sheer delight, cheering, and waving tiny handkerchiefs at a great rate. And windows gay with flagsand bunting filled with flushed, eager, excited faces all looking out, while the Cupids were lifted up in arms so they could better see.Waiting“The Brownies must be coming!” cried Florimel to Titania. “Let us go up on the palace-steps where we can get a view of them.”He gallantly offered her his arm, and escorted her to a position with the rest, from which they could obtain a glimpse of the road as it wound curving away, with the blue, dimpling sea beyond.Down the road came the joyous band, with hearts attuned to merry-making, and never was a jollier procession.Beasts and birds alike had freely offered their services toward making this grand entree as triumphantly imposing as possible,and in the long frisking, frolicking, cavorting line of march were lions, tigers, elephants, camels, zebras, ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and many other creatures of field, forest, and jungle, four-footed and two, whose backs bore willingly the burden of the gay, laughing sprites.But Florimel could not see King Stanislaus among them, and was much puzzled thereat. When later they were gathered together, within the garden-walls, and the beasts and birds had gone away, after eating all the charlotte russe they could, he inquired the cause of His Majesty’s absence.“He’ll be here later,” the Student explained. “He had some pressing engagement with the Policeman, and they went away together.”Suddenly there came a banging on the portcullis so loud that it seemed to be made with big wooden mallets. Brownies and fairies looked at each other in consternation and surprise, while many a tiny heart began a vigorous thumping.“What’s that?” cried Queen Titania.“There are strangers outside the portcullis, Your Majesty,” said the fairy guard, as she squinted with one eye through the peek-hole.The banging continued with greater insistence, and, advancing close to the portcullis, Prince Florimel shouted:“Who are you, and what do you want?”“We are friends who have come to the wedding,” said a mild, gentle voice from outside, “who have come to the wedding.”“Well, I like that!” exclaimed the Dude, in great disgust. “Whoever gave them an invitation?”“We have brought you some fine presents,” the voice hastened to add.Florimel seemed undecided.“Shall we admit them?” he asked the rest.“Avast, messmate!” growled the Sailor. “You’d better have a look at the presents first!”“There’s nothing to fear,” said Titania sweetly. “Bid the strangers welcome.”The portcullis was straightway raised, and in trooped a queer, motley crowd. They were attended by four grinning imps in red who varied their walk with somersaulting antics, and the arms of all but the leader were full of presents.These evidently had been selected with much care and thought for the wedding, and the same taste and judgment were shown that can be found in nearly all weddings.One of them had a gigantic pair of scissors which would have taken as many as a half-dozen Brownies or fairies to cut with. Another held a cradle big enough to hold the offspring of a giant.CradleA third in a cage carried a hen which was alleged to lay three strictly guaranteed fresh eggs a day. From each hand of a fourth dangled an immense round clock, and the faces of them were lettered:FALSE ALARM. MADE IN DEMONLAND.A fifth had a pair of abnormal candle-snuffers. Others had gifts equally absurd and useless.
Who is this fellow
He had made Florimel his heir by adoption, and successor to the Brownie throne! “See that he is properly attired,” was the royal command, and once more Florimel’s appearance underwent a swift and startling change.
From some invisible source fresh wardrobe was supplied, and from a plain, ordinary Brownie he was transformed into a handsome, dashing little prince as pert and pretty a sprig of royalty as one could see in many a long journey over lands where there were kings and queens with large, flourishing families—intrunks, doublet, and cape, with a cap that perched jauntily upon his roguish curls.
Filled with gratitude was he over this great, this unexpected honor that had befallen him and he expressed his thanks as best he could feeling that the words he used were poor at best, but vowing loyalty and obedience in all things evermore to his gracious foster-parent.
“It will not be so very long, my son, before you occupy the throne,” said King Stanislaus, and his voice took on a rather pensive tone. “A few short years—a couple of thousands or so—and I shall have passed away. When I am gone I shall leave to you all-out-doors and the love of children, a priceless heritage which you must treasure tenderly and never lose.”
Then came the Brownies with pledges of fealty to their prince, and Florimel smiled back into their smiling faces, while all were glad.
The Policeman limping slightly came and offered him his club, but Florimel good-humoredly refused it, and waved him aside. The Sailor came next with his spy-glass, but Florimel laughingly declined it also.
Each of the band in a free-hearted way evinced a desire to surrender to him his most cherished possession, and much touched was he by their expressions of good will. But the most he would accept was an eagle’s feather which had been dropped by one of the birds to the ground, and which the Dude stuck in his cap.
Soon matters took on their usual routine, and, noticing that the Policeman limped, King Stanislaus asked:
“Officer, what’s the matter?”
Prince
“I fell off the palace-wall last night, Your Majesty, when I was tacking up the placard.”
“What did you fall against?”
“I fell against my will. One of the fairy guards mistook me for an enemy, and fired a charge of shot at me.”
“Did you press a complaint?”
“No, I withdrew the charge.”
Into an admiring group some distance off the well-informed Dude was instilling the first principles of etiquette.
“It is not good form to try to eat your peas with a knife,” he told them. “You should spear them with a fork.”
And the Sailor was growling to the German:
“Avast there, you lubber! A dog-watch isn’t a chronometer.”
The Indian with a flourish of his tomahawk came running to King Stanislaus, and imparted the surprising intelligence:
“The dromedary’s swallowed all the door-knobs, and the knobs are in his stomachs.”
“Which one of his stomachs?”
“I don’t know, Your Majesty.”
“Can’t you see which looks the knobbiest?”
Florimel could not but admire the shrewdness of King Stanislaus in disposing of all matters great and small, and he did not feel that he could ever reign and be as wise as he.
The little monarch held his subjects under most admirable control, and in arguments that sometimes rose between them one word from his lips would effectually settle all dispute.
And so they wandered on and on, hiding away from sight ere the first rays of the morning sun could strike them, and sallying forth again when the stars began to shine at night.
Many a harmless prank they played, and helpful deed they did, in which Florimel took hearty part, and he grew to love them more and more, as they did him.
One thing was a source of great surprise to him, yet, after he considered, it was not surprising, which was that all dumb creatures, whether of the fields or air, were the Brownies’ friends, and loved them.
In countless ways they all evinced delight whenever these good-natured little goblings were at hand, for they knew that they would help instead of harm them.
Even the savage animals that had so lately thirsted for Florimel’s blood proved tractable, and neither they nor the Brownies showed the slightest fear of each other. The beasts grovelled and rolled over with pleasure when the Brownies playfully yanked and pulled their tails.
All was harmony between them, and the industrious animalswent on with their task of gathering bones without caring whether the Brownies were near or far.
So on they fared with light hearts that had never a care. The country grew less wild and mountainous, till there were emerald fields, green copses, and flowers blooming everywhere. The sweet, caressing air had just a soft reminder of the sea in it.And, while they hid away one day in a leafy covert, while the birds in the branches round them were pouring their hearts out in gladness, piercing screams suddenly rent the air, andcaused all great alarm. “Let us make haste!” cried Florimel, springing to his feet. “There is danger in that cry!”But when he started King Stanislaus tried to hold him back. “Have a care, Florimel!” he warned. “It may be a decoy to entrap us!” “Let me go!” said Florimel, struggling.He broke from King Stanislaus’s kindly, well-meant grasp, and ran with might and main in the direction from which the terrifying sounds still came. The Brownies looked at each other in great dismay. Into what danger had their beloved Prince Florimel so recklessly plunged, and would they ever see his face again?
So on they fared with light hearts that had never a care. The country grew less wild and mountainous, till there were emerald fields, green copses, and flowers blooming everywhere. The sweet, caressing air had just a soft reminder of the sea in it.
And, while they hid away one day in a leafy covert, while the birds in the branches round them were pouring their hearts out in gladness, piercing screams suddenly rent the air, andcaused all great alarm. “Let us make haste!” cried Florimel, springing to his feet. “There is danger in that cry!”
But when he started King Stanislaus tried to hold him back. “Have a care, Florimel!” he warned. “It may be a decoy to entrap us!” “Let me go!” said Florimel, struggling.
He broke from King Stanislaus’s kindly, well-meant grasp, and ran with might and main in the direction from which the terrifying sounds still came. The Brownies looked at each other in great dismay. Into what danger had their beloved Prince Florimel so recklessly plunged, and would they ever see his face again?
Notice
CHAPTER VIIIQUEEN TITANIA’SGREAT PERILPrince Florimelsped with the fleetness of a deer in the direction from which had come those agonizing cries for help.As he fairly flew over the ground he saw the fairies and Cupids who had been Titania’s companions, and they pointed in a frenzy of alarm to the clump of rainbow roses in the midst of which their unfortunate queen was in the clutches of the dreadful Human Octopus.The monster was still tightening his vise-like grip, and tortured by the pain of his loathsome embrace, Titania was fast relapsing into unconsciousness.
QUEEN TITANIA’SGREAT PERIL
Prince Florimelsped with the fleetness of a deer in the direction from which had come those agonizing cries for help.
As he fairly flew over the ground he saw the fairies and Cupids who had been Titania’s companions, and they pointed in a frenzy of alarm to the clump of rainbow roses in the midst of which their unfortunate queen was in the clutches of the dreadful Human Octopus.
The monster was still tightening his vise-like grip, and tortured by the pain of his loathsome embrace, Titania was fast relapsing into unconsciousness.
Pointing
Florimel drew near, and was aghast at what he beheld.
As his eye took in the frightening spectacle he realized that there was not a moment to lose.
Quick as a flash he whipped an arrow from his quiver and placed it to the bow.
He aimed the arrow straight at the Human Octopus, and back to its greatest tension pulled the cord.
Once again the cord proved true, and the speeding arrow cleft the Human Octopus in twain.
His shell fell instantly apart, and from the interior there flew away into space a vapory-looking object with a long, trailing red cloak that had all the lightness and airiness of gauze.
Dumfounded was Florimel by this most unexpected and amazing sight, but there were other matters more urgent and pressing to demand his immediate attention.
Cleft
With her strength almost spent Titania reeled and seemed about to faint, but Florimel sprang to her aid, and sustained her in his arms.
He strove to assure her that there was nothing further to fear until at last she began to recover her composure. “Noble prince,” she murmured, in tones that thrilled him, “you have saved my life, so henceforth it is yours!”
Florimel sank upon one knee before her, and kissed the pink finger-tips of the dainty hand she extended to him.
Looking up into her face, he thought he had never seen anyone so beautiful as she, while her tiny heart throbbed faster at the sight of him in all his gallant trappings, and she was very sure she had never seen anyone so handsome.
Then came in the greatest excitement all the fairies and Brownies, for these latter little people when Florimel left them had followed close upon his heels to aid him if need be, since, in spite of mystic power that had temporarily passed with night, they were too brave to desert a comrade when danger threatened.
Then came in the greatest excitement all the fairies and Brownies, for these latter little people when Florimel left them had followed close upon his heels to aid him if need be, since, in spite of mystic power that had temporarily passed with night, they were too brave to desert a comrade when danger threatened.
The horror and fear of what they had just witnessed was too much for many of the fairies, and the kind-hearted Brownies had the interesting task of conveyingsome to places of safety, where they could receive proper treatment. In this work even the Chinaman willingly assisted.
The horror and fear of what they had just witnessed was too much for many of the fairies, and the kind-hearted Brownies had the interesting task of conveyingsome to places of safety, where they could receive proper treatment. In this work even the Chinaman willingly assisted.
To safety
A group of curious sprites with much interest inspected several of the creature’s tentacles, while Queen Titania’s overjoyed subjects crowded around Florimel with such profuse expressions of gratitude that he was much embarrassed.
“What did I tell you?” cried Violet, and “What did I tell you?” echoed Daffodil, while all with much timidity examined the green, mottled shell that lay in halves upon the ground. “That was the horrid thing we saw in the clock.”
“Well, never mind now,” said Queen Titania, with a sigh of relief. “The monster will not trouble us again.”
In spite of what the queen said, Florimel was not so surethat they would have no more trouble, since he had seen the wraith-like Red Spirit fly from the shell of the Human Octopus off into the air.
The shell
Somewhere he feared this strange, evil being lurked to wreak further harm. Not wishing to cause uneasiness to Queen Titania, however, he said never a word.
Then Brownies and fairies mingled together in happy, joyous mood. But Florimel and Titania withdrew from all the rest, and had eyes only for each other.
“I think I can guess how all this is going to end,” said the Policeman to the Sailor, in a voice that showed great resentment.
“Avast, you lubber!” sharply reproved the Sailor. “Now what d’ye mean?”
“I mean that Florimel has fallen in love with the queen, and will marry her.”
“How can he? Florimel is a Brownie, and Brownies never marry.”
“But Florimel is not a real Brownie. He’s only been taken into the band. Just look at them now!”
The Sailor cocked his eye to where Florimel was bending over Titania, with his head very close to hers.
“Shiver my timbers!” he cried. “They do look orange-blossomy!”
Dame Drusilda and the Dude
Noting the impression Queen Titania was making upon Prince Florimel, Dame Drusilda determined to exercise her arts upon the immaculate little Dude, with whom she was very much taken.
“I hear,” she remarked to the Student, “that he is connected with the best families.”
“Yes,” he replied, rather enviously, “he sometimes is by telephone.”
But as soon as she could do so she joined the group in which the Dude held forth vivaciously, and when opportunity presented itself contrived to say:
“Ah, sir, in your pretty ways you remind me of the gallants of old times!”
“You must be able to remember quite far back,” he said, as he looked at her through his monocle.
“Forsooth, kind sir,” she hastened to say, “I only speak through hearsay. What I know my great-grandmother told my grandmother, who told my mother, who in turn told me.As you can plainly see I am different from other fairies. They call me a beauty of the old school.”
“Hasn’t school been out a good many years?” he asked.
“I fail to comprehend you,” she said, with a blush. “Mayhap you are not susceptible to beauty. Yet I have heard it often remarked that a beautiful woman can make the strongest man go down on his knees.”
The Dude gave his cuffs an admiring glance.
“So can a collar-button!” he said.
The day passed in sports and merry-making, followed by other days in which the Brownies remained in close proximity to the palace. During all this time Florimel and Titania were much together, and their attachment for each other was remarked by all.
Merry-making
The Brownies, growing uneasy over the thought that theymight lose their new companion to whom they had become so friendly, were eager to move on in quest of fresh scenes and adventures.
King Stanislaus, with the belief that this might be a passing fancy on the part of Florimel, humored his wishes, and ordered the band to remain. When he reached the definite conclusion that it was not, he said:
“My son, we have been here now quite a long time. Do you not think we had better seek some other place where we can do good?”
Florimel’s face showed his disappointment.
“No matter where one may be,” he said, “there are always plenty of opportunities to do good. Why not continue here, where we are all so happy?”
“I hope to make Titania my wife,” said Florimel simply.
“And where you are happiest of all,” said His Majesty, with a knowing wink. “Ah, Florimel, my boy, your whole life-story, like nearly every other man’s, may be summed up in just these three words: hatched, matched, dispatched! Tell me how far matters have gone.”
He looked anxiously at King Stanislaus’s face, as though he feared to see displeasure written there, but the genial, encouraging smile upon the royal countenance caused him to take heart.
“I shall be sorry to lose a son,” said the kindly monarch, “but I shall be rejoiced to gain a daughter. Frankly it has always been my great desire to have an alliance of the Brownies and fairies, for together we can do more good than if we worked alone. But until you came I never knew how this could be effected, for Brownies can never marry.”
“Much pleased am I by those words, Your Majesty,” said Florimel. “I do not deny that I wish to be with Titania, for my feelings as far as she is concerned are too plain to be disguised. Still it is not alone the joy of being near her that causes me to wish this, but the thought that harm may come to her at any time, in which case I might be able to be of service to her.”
Brownies and Fairies
King Stanislaus seemed very much surprised.
“Harm!” he repeated. “What harm can befall her?”
“You forget the great danger she was in from the Human Octopus,” reminded Florimel.
“But the Human Octopus is no more,” said the king.“There is nothing to fear on that score, drop him from memory.”
“Still Dragonfel the enchanter has made his threats,” said Florimel. “They may be wild, foolish threats, yet they cause me great uneasiness. I fear for the queen because of him.”
Then he told the king for the first time how the Red Spirit, after the Human Octopus had been cleft in twain by the magic arrow, had flown away into the air, to bide his time, perhaps for further mischief and wrong-doing.
His Majesty’s little weazened face turned very grave at the recital.
“Still, Florimel, I would not worry,” he said. “I will caution all the band to keep a sharp look-out for the rascal. And do you, my son, woo and win, Titania, for my blessing will fall upon you both.”
Conversation
To that end Florimel exerted himself, but it was an easy task, since Titania loved him fully as dearly as he her. So when they were seated once at twilight on a stone bench in the palace-garden, very close to each other, he asked the question ever trembling on his lips, and she did not say him nay.
Then Florimel took a slender circlet of gold and placed it on her tiny engagement finger. But, while she first looked at it, then pressed it very tenderly to her little red pouting lips, the Red Spirit suddenly darted from behind the bench, where he had been eavesdropping all the while.
Before Florimel could reach for an arrow the other flew off in the air and disappeared.
“What was that?” Titania cried, in great alarm.
Florimel strove to ease her mind, though he was much alarmed himself.
He felt that the Red Spirit was going to make trouble.
Taking a bow
O
THE COMPACT WITHVULCAN
Overthe sea Dragonfel the enchanter waited with increasing impatience for the Human Octopus to return with whatever information he might glean in his prowling, sneaking manner. When his grotesque emissary did not put in a prompt appearance he grew more surly and ill-humored than ever. He vented his rage upon the poor little mine-sprites by increasing their working-hours and decreasing their allowance of carrot-tops and potato-skins.
Whenever he spoke to his followers their knees knocked together with fright. At no time was he gentle, but when hewas particularly violent, which was nearly always, he was a very bad person who could be well avoided.
So he became even crankier and crosser-grained than ever, till all around him quaked with fear. He wondered why the Human Octopus did not come back, and his inexplicable delay filled him with ungovernable fury.
“He’s not attending to business,” he said, grinding his teeth with rage. “Instead of snooping he’s just going around, and having a good time. But wait till he gets back, and I’ll show him!” As he spoke these words he happened to be in his throne room, and he went to the open window to look out.
It was a wild, terrible night, but the worse the weather was the more Dragonfel liked it.
Messages
The lightning zig-zagged all over the inky black sky, the thunder roared, the wind howled, and the rain beat down in slanting torrents.
“Vulcan must have some little job on hand,” Dragonfel pondered, as he returned to his throne.
Scarcely had he done so when there came a sudden fierce gust of wind that blew the Red Spirit through the windowright to his very feet where he cringed and grovelled and fawned in the most abject manner.
“How now, you rogue?” roared Dragonfel above the storm. “Where have you been, and what has kept you? Why have you not returned as you went? Answer, villain, or it will go hard with you! I will have you strung up by the finger-tips till your toes barely touch the ground and beaten by a thousand and one whips!”
“Oh, master, kind master,” gasped the Red Spirit, trying to catch his breath, “wonderful things have I seen, and wonderful things have I to tell you. So incredible are they that you may not believe me, yet I do assure you most positively that what I am about to relate is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I would never have believed them myself had I not seen them with my own eyes.”
“Omit all this long, unnecessary preamble,” growled Dragonfel, in great disgust, “and get down to hard facts. What have you discovered?”
“The Brownie prince is to wed the fairy queen!”
Dragonfel’s face went from scarlet to white, then from white to scarlet, then back to white, and then to scarlet again, just like the flashing of a vari-colored electric sign.
“How do you know?” he asked, trying to control his temper. “Who told you?”
“No one,” said the trembling Red Spirit. “I saw him place an engagement-ring on her finger.”
“Well,” declared Dragonfel, in a tone of the utmost brutality, “if they are planning to get married all I’ve got to say is they’ve got another guess coming!”
“Who will prevent the marriage, kind master?”
“I will prevent it!” irascibly shouted the enchanter, and he clapped his hands together in an imperious way. “What ho, without there! Here’s a pretty kettle of fish! Come hither instantly!”
Grouthead, Mandrake, Boundingbore, Wolfinger, Snoutpimple, and others were out in an ante-room, and they almost tumbled over each other in their frantic haste to answer the peremptory summons.
Vulcan’s door
“Put on your storm-cloaks immediately,” ordered Dragonfel. “I want you to come with me to Vulcan’s.”
“It’s a terrible night to be out, kind master,” ventured Grouthead, with a shudder.
There came a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder more terrifying than any that had gone before.
“What’s the matter with the night?” snapped Dragonfel. “I don’t see anything wrong with it. I call this particularly pleasant weather.”
“Yes, it’s all right now,” Grouthead hastened to say.
So in their long, flowing cloaks they all sloshed out in the wind and rain, while the hearts of those who followed after the enchanter quaked and quailed as they plunged on through the pitch-black darkness of the night.
The wind howled and shrieked with increasing fury, the lightning grew sharper, and the peals of thunder more deafening, so that their eyes were nearly blinded, and their ear-drums rang.
Now not so very far from Dragonfel’s palace Vulcan whom they had set forth to see had his cavern.
It was a very modest establishment indeed, considering the prodigious results that he achieved, and the wonder was that in such cramped quarters, and with so few to aid him in his work, he could do as much as he did.
The cavern was down by the sea, in among huge rocks and boulders, and over the door, in very modest lettering, was the business sign:Vulcan God of Fire.
Inside was a forge with bellows such as any country blacksmith has, and here Vulcan manufactured earthquakes and volcanos at will.
He could create seismic disturbances all over the world, in a trice throw Vesuvius into hysterical contraptions, or makethings suddenly red-hot in Mexico or the British Honduras. His wares were known in every quarter of the globe, and he didn’t even so much as advertise.
On this particular night he stood as usual at his forge—a great big, husky, bearded fellow in a red flannel undershirt bared at his brawny, hairy chest, and with sleeves rolled almost up to his shoulders to give the tremendous muscles of his arms full play.
Vulcan threatening his imps with a hot poker
He wore a round leather cap and had on a leather aprontied to his burly waist by leather thongs. Things needed touching up a bit, and he was getting busy.
“Where are those lazy ’prentices of mine?” he roared, in rumbling tones, as he pumped the bellows, while the flames in the forge leaped higher and higher. “Spry, Flash, Nimble, Twist, and the rest of you—where are you, I say? Has my voice grown so weak, you rogues, that you cannot hear me? Come hither this instant!”
From all directions in response to the angry summons came imps in red attire that fitted their lithe, supple bodies as snugly as the skins of eels.
They somersaulted down the chimney, popped up like jack-in-th’-boxes from the earthen floor, and described parabolas through the air from the cavern’s ceiling, grouping themselves humbly on their knees before their irate master, with their arms supplicatingly extended.
“Here at last, are you?” again roared Vulcan. “And none too soon, either! Where have you been, imps? Idling your time away? Quick! heap coals on, all of you, or the fire will be out!”
Forthwith they flung balls of living fire into the forge, and, as Vulcan pumped away at the bellows, he burst out in lusty song:
“When the flames leap highFrom the crater to the skyI roll up my sleeves with delight;When the strongest buildings rockTo the awful earthquake’s shockThe trembling millions all confess my might!”
“When the flames leap highFrom the crater to the skyI roll up my sleeves with delight;When the strongest buildings rockTo the awful earthquake’s shockThe trembling millions all confess my might!”
“When the flames leap highFrom the crater to the skyI roll up my sleeves with delight;When the strongest buildings rockTo the awful earthquake’s shockThe trembling millions all confess my might!”
The lightning flashed, the thunder crashed, and over all the storm was heard a voice calling: “Vul-can! Vul-can!”
Vulcan stopped work while his imps crept stealthily toward the door to listen.
“Is Vulcan at his forge?” was shouted in the wind and rain outside, with the accompaniment of a terrific knock on the door.
“Who dares disturb me on my busy night?” cried Vulcan, in a towering passion.“It is I, Dragonfel, the enchanter,” said the voice placatingly.“What brings you here?” asked Vulcan.“I come on business of great import, mighty Vulcan!”“Enter, then, and be brief,” said Vulcan, with scant hospitality. “Remember I have work to do.”Dragonfel and his followers thereupon appeared in the doorway, and came forward escorted by the imps who evinced the greatest curiosity in the strange, rain-soaked visitors.When they were within respectful distance of Vulcan the enchanter sank on one knee before him, and the rest immediately followed his example.“Why have you sought me out?” demanded Vulcan, with distrust and suspicion on his seamed, rugged face as he sharply eyed them.“Oh, Vulcan,” spoke Dragonfel, in smooth, oily tones, “powerful as I am, I acknowledge you my master. Who else can match you in your wondrous strength?”“You’ve come for a favor!” grunted the other. “Well, out with it!”“I wish to tell you about the Brownies.”“What about the Brownies?”“There is to be a marriage in Fairyland. The Brownie prince is to wed the fairy queen!”“Bah! How does this concern me?”“It should concern you. Listen, Vulcan! There is no authority for such a marriage in all the annals of mythology.”The words created a deep impression upon Vulcan.“No authority?” he repeated slowly, as though he were mentally digesting what he had just heard. “Are you sure of this?”
“Who dares disturb me on my busy night?” cried Vulcan, in a towering passion.
“It is I, Dragonfel, the enchanter,” said the voice placatingly.
“What brings you here?” asked Vulcan.
“I come on business of great import, mighty Vulcan!”
“Enter, then, and be brief,” said Vulcan, with scant hospitality. “Remember I have work to do.”
Dragonfel and his followers thereupon appeared in the doorway, and came forward escorted by the imps who evinced the greatest curiosity in the strange, rain-soaked visitors.
When they were within respectful distance of Vulcan the enchanter sank on one knee before him, and the rest immediately followed his example.
“Why have you sought me out?” demanded Vulcan, with distrust and suspicion on his seamed, rugged face as he sharply eyed them.
“Oh, Vulcan,” spoke Dragonfel, in smooth, oily tones, “powerful as I am, I acknowledge you my master. Who else can match you in your wondrous strength?”
“You’ve come for a favor!” grunted the other. “Well, out with it!”
“I wish to tell you about the Brownies.”
“What about the Brownies?”
“There is to be a marriage in Fairyland. The Brownie prince is to wed the fairy queen!”
“Bah! How does this concern me?”
“It should concern you. Listen, Vulcan! There is no authority for such a marriage in all the annals of mythology.”
The words created a deep impression upon Vulcan.
“No authority?” he repeated slowly, as though he were mentally digesting what he had just heard. “Are you sure of this?”
“There is none, I tell you,” insisted Dragonfel emphatically. “It is enough to arouse the anger of the high and mighty gods. My own power will be diminished, if not lost, should this uniontake place.” “Are you using any measures to prevent it?” asked Vulcan thoughtfully. “Aye!” was Dragonfel’s decided response. “I am going across the sea with these followers of mine to interfere. Can I rely upon your powerful aid should I need it?” “How can I help you?” “If I call upon you will you convulse the earth, and rouse to fury the slumbering volcano?”“Trust me for that!” cried Vulcan, beginning to pump the bellows. “The element of fire is still my own, to use at will.”A lightning-bolt hurled itself right in their very midst, and the resultant thunder-clap brought Dragonfel and his followers to their feet in sudden alarm. “Enough!” cried Dragonfel exultingly. “It is a compact, then!”“Here is my hand on it!” said Vulcan, and he crushed that of the enchanter in his grimy fist. “Spry, Flash, Nimble, and Twist, my crafty imps, shall go with you. Through them appeal to me. But what do you propose to do?”“I have a plan, and a good one too!” said Dragonfel, in a confidential manner. “You can depend upon it, rats will eat the wedding-cake!” Vulcan’s fancy was so tickled that he laughed hilariously, and Dragonfel made bold to slap him in a familiar way upon the back. “Ho! ho!” Vulcan chuckled. “So rats will eat the wedding-cake, eh?”
“There is none, I tell you,” insisted Dragonfel emphatically. “It is enough to arouse the anger of the high and mighty gods. My own power will be diminished, if not lost, should this uniontake place.” “Are you using any measures to prevent it?” asked Vulcan thoughtfully. “Aye!” was Dragonfel’s decided response. “I am going across the sea with these followers of mine to interfere. Can I rely upon your powerful aid should I need it?” “How can I help you?” “If I call upon you will you convulse the earth, and rouse to fury the slumbering volcano?”
“Trust me for that!” cried Vulcan, beginning to pump the bellows. “The element of fire is still my own, to use at will.”
A lightning-bolt hurled itself right in their very midst, and the resultant thunder-clap brought Dragonfel and his followers to their feet in sudden alarm. “Enough!” cried Dragonfel exultingly. “It is a compact, then!”
“Here is my hand on it!” said Vulcan, and he crushed that of the enchanter in his grimy fist. “Spry, Flash, Nimble, and Twist, my crafty imps, shall go with you. Through them appeal to me. But what do you propose to do?”
“I have a plan, and a good one too!” said Dragonfel, in a confidential manner. “You can depend upon it, rats will eat the wedding-cake!” Vulcan’s fancy was so tickled that he laughed hilariously, and Dragonfel made bold to slap him in a familiar way upon the back. “Ho! ho!” Vulcan chuckled. “So rats will eat the wedding-cake, eh?”
“Who knocked?”
“Yes,” Dragonfel went on. “We’re going to the wedding, gain their confidence with fine presents, and then—”
“Yes,” said Vulcan, very much interested. “And then—?”
Dragonfel leaned over and whispered something in Vulcan’s ear which caused him to start back in surprise. “No!” he involuntarily exclaimed. “Do you think you can do it?” If Florimel and Titania could have heard the diabolical plan of the enchanter all the happiness would have vanished from their hearts.
B
THE STRANGEWEDDING-GUESTS
Brightand fair dawned the wedding-day of Prince Florimel and Queen Titania.
Though all the days vied in beauty with each other, this one seemed to be more radiant with grace and loveliness than usual, for every living thing loved the happy little lovers and all Nature rejoiced with them.
The skies put on their tenderest blue, the sun scattered even more of its golden treasure, the winds grew more balmy and caressing, while the flowers were prodigal with perfume, and the birds were tireless with their joyous serenades.
Though the ceremony was not to be performed till eve, still the fairies were busy with their preparations at sun-up, and the palace fairly hummed with their activities.
Long banquet-tables had been arranged in the throne-room, and on snowy napery were dishes, cups, and saucers fashioned with quaint exquisiteness from flowers, and there were lily chalices of sparkling dew with which to pledge the health of the happy bride and groom.
In the kitchen a host of willing workers were being directed by little Dame Drusilda, and their conscientious efforts showed in ice cream with fruits of all flavors, charlotte russe, mince pies, plum puddings, all kinds of berry tarts, old-fashioned strawberry short-cake, peach cobblers, and apple dumplings. For the menu of the fairies was composed almost entirely of the most delicious desserts imaginable, and they ate what they wished, and as much as they liked, without ever getting the indigestion.
So the day wore on toward dusk, and, though to all the others, each hour seemed a minute, and each minute a second, Florimel and Titania in their impatience thought that it wouldnever end, the very sun seemed to stand still, as upon Gibeon.He had left the Brownies to their own devices to be with her, and while they talked of their union now so close at hand both were arrayed in their fine wedding-garb.
So the day wore on toward dusk, and, though to all the others, each hour seemed a minute, and each minute a second, Florimel and Titania in their impatience thought that it wouldnever end, the very sun seemed to stand still, as upon Gibeon.
He had left the Brownies to their own devices to be with her, and while they talked of their union now so close at hand both were arrayed in their fine wedding-garb.
Conversation
“Are you happy, Florimel?” she asked him, for the thousandth time.
“Happier than words can say,” was his fervent response.
“And you’re sure you’ll never regret it?”
“Yes, positive, Titania. I wonder what’s keeping King Stanislaus and the band. They ought to be here by this time.”
“Oh, Florimel, my happiness would be complete were it not for the thought of Dragonfel.” At the mention of the wicked enchanter’s name he gave an involuntary start.
“We mustn’t borrow trouble on his account,” he said, trying to speak lightly. “He’s across the sea where he can’t hurt us. Let us think instead of our approaching happiness.”
Then fairies came skipping and running from the palace, clapping their hands in sheer delight, cheering, and waving tiny handkerchiefs at a great rate. And windows gay with flagsand bunting filled with flushed, eager, excited faces all looking out, while the Cupids were lifted up in arms so they could better see.
Waiting
“The Brownies must be coming!” cried Florimel to Titania. “Let us go up on the palace-steps where we can get a view of them.”
He gallantly offered her his arm, and escorted her to a position with the rest, from which they could obtain a glimpse of the road as it wound curving away, with the blue, dimpling sea beyond.
Down the road came the joyous band, with hearts attuned to merry-making, and never was a jollier procession.
Beasts and birds alike had freely offered their services toward making this grand entree as triumphantly imposing as possible,and in the long frisking, frolicking, cavorting line of march were lions, tigers, elephants, camels, zebras, ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and many other creatures of field, forest, and jungle, four-footed and two, whose backs bore willingly the burden of the gay, laughing sprites.
But Florimel could not see King Stanislaus among them, and was much puzzled thereat. When later they were gathered together, within the garden-walls, and the beasts and birds had gone away, after eating all the charlotte russe they could, he inquired the cause of His Majesty’s absence.“He’ll be here later,” the Student explained. “He had some pressing engagement with the Policeman, and they went away together.”Suddenly there came a banging on the portcullis so loud that it seemed to be made with big wooden mallets. Brownies and fairies looked at each other in consternation and surprise, while many a tiny heart began a vigorous thumping.“What’s that?” cried Queen Titania.“There are strangers outside the portcullis, Your Majesty,” said the fairy guard, as she squinted with one eye through the peek-hole.The banging continued with greater insistence, and, advancing close to the portcullis, Prince Florimel shouted:“Who are you, and what do you want?”“We are friends who have come to the wedding,” said a mild, gentle voice from outside, “who have come to the wedding.”“Well, I like that!” exclaimed the Dude, in great disgust. “Whoever gave them an invitation?”“We have brought you some fine presents,” the voice hastened to add.Florimel seemed undecided.“Shall we admit them?” he asked the rest.“Avast, messmate!” growled the Sailor. “You’d better have a look at the presents first!”“There’s nothing to fear,” said Titania sweetly. “Bid the strangers welcome.”The portcullis was straightway raised, and in trooped a queer, motley crowd. They were attended by four grinning imps in red who varied their walk with somersaulting antics, and the arms of all but the leader were full of presents.These evidently had been selected with much care and thought for the wedding, and the same taste and judgment were shown that can be found in nearly all weddings.One of them had a gigantic pair of scissors which would have taken as many as a half-dozen Brownies or fairies to cut with. Another held a cradle big enough to hold the offspring of a giant.
But Florimel could not see King Stanislaus among them, and was much puzzled thereat. When later they were gathered together, within the garden-walls, and the beasts and birds had gone away, after eating all the charlotte russe they could, he inquired the cause of His Majesty’s absence.
“He’ll be here later,” the Student explained. “He had some pressing engagement with the Policeman, and they went away together.”
Suddenly there came a banging on the portcullis so loud that it seemed to be made with big wooden mallets. Brownies and fairies looked at each other in consternation and surprise, while many a tiny heart began a vigorous thumping.
“What’s that?” cried Queen Titania.
“There are strangers outside the portcullis, Your Majesty,” said the fairy guard, as she squinted with one eye through the peek-hole.
The banging continued with greater insistence, and, advancing close to the portcullis, Prince Florimel shouted:
“Who are you, and what do you want?”
“We are friends who have come to the wedding,” said a mild, gentle voice from outside, “who have come to the wedding.”
“Well, I like that!” exclaimed the Dude, in great disgust. “Whoever gave them an invitation?”
“We have brought you some fine presents,” the voice hastened to add.
Florimel seemed undecided.
“Shall we admit them?” he asked the rest.
“Avast, messmate!” growled the Sailor. “You’d better have a look at the presents first!”
“There’s nothing to fear,” said Titania sweetly. “Bid the strangers welcome.”
The portcullis was straightway raised, and in trooped a queer, motley crowd. They were attended by four grinning imps in red who varied their walk with somersaulting antics, and the arms of all but the leader were full of presents.
These evidently had been selected with much care and thought for the wedding, and the same taste and judgment were shown that can be found in nearly all weddings.
One of them had a gigantic pair of scissors which would have taken as many as a half-dozen Brownies or fairies to cut with. Another held a cradle big enough to hold the offspring of a giant.
Cradle
A third in a cage carried a hen which was alleged to lay three strictly guaranteed fresh eggs a day. From each hand of a fourth dangled an immense round clock, and the faces of them were lettered:FALSE ALARM. MADE IN DEMONLAND.A fifth had a pair of abnormal candle-snuffers. Others had gifts equally absurd and useless.