The Demon Usher led them to a slight rise where there was a rocky formation, and stopped before a boulder so huge that it would have required the strength of many men to move it.
[Illustration]
Searching with his long, thin fingers for a certain place, he found it at length, and pressed against it as hard as he could.
To the surprise of all the rest, the boulder began to slide easily away, disclosing the entrance to a dark, subterranean passage.
[Illustration: "TRICKED!"]
"Follow the passage," cried the Demon Usher triumphantly, "and it will lead you to Dragonfel and his captives!"
Florimel and the Brownies at once entered, and King Stanislaus ran after them.
"Stop!" came his warning. "Before we go any farther let us first consider."
But when they were all inside it suddenly grew pitch-black, as the boulder quickly slid back into its place.
From outside they heard the Demon Usher give a hoarse cackle of exultation.
"Tricked!" ejaculated King Stanislaus. "We are caught like rats in a trap!"
CHAPTER XVIII
THE FLIGHT TO THE MINE
[Illustration]
In bringing about the destruction of his palace Dragonfel's only thought had been the destruction of the Brownies. He had hoped to crush the sprites by means of the falling walls and columns, and when he invoked Vulcan for the assistance he felt sure would be given to him he was very careful to keep out of harm's way himself.
But like many another vindictive, revengeful person the wicked enchanter overreached himself. He had no idea when he called upon Vulcan to get busy that the latter would make such a good job of it.
He fully expected the palace to topple down, for that was what he had asked for. But he did not want the volcano that had been thrown in for good measure. It made things too hot and uncomfortable.
He was very much alarmed when he saw the volcano in violent eruption, for he realized that the downpour of lava boded ill for himself as well as for others over whose safety he was not at all concerned.
[Illustration]
Thinking only of himself, he was on the point of ordering out his volunteer fire department to subdue the flames in the crater when to his great relief he noticed that King Stanislaus had taken the matter out of his hands.
From his place of safety Dragonfel watched the operations of the Brownies, and he breathed more freely when he noticed that they were getting the fire well under control, so that the prospect of all danger was fast being removed through their energetic efforts.
He realized that after the volcano was subdued these indomitable little people would devote their attention to him, and in considering what the outcome would be he grew more and more uncertain. As a matter of fact, he was beginning to fear the mystic power of the Brownies, and he very much doubted if his big followers with all their boasted strength were a fit match for these sprites who had not only cunning but courage.
He decided that in the clash which was bound to come it was best not to risk any chance of defeat in a fair, open fight, but by underhanded means to overpower them.
Then the diabolical scheme of making the Brownies prisoners, and setting them to work in his mine, presented itself. If he fled there with his captives, they would undoubtedly follow in pursuit, and once in the mine they easily could be made helpless.
The Demon Usher at his feet was going through all sorts of contortions of fear, and Dragonfel looked sneeringly down at him.
"Stop your shaking, and listen to me," he commanded. "We are going to take the captives to the mine."
"Let us start at once, kind master," said the Demon Usher, in a fever of impatience. "If it gets cool here it will be too hot to hold us."
"You will be the only one to stay," said Dragonfel.
"Oh, say not so, kind master!" cried the Demon Usher, shaking with even greater violence than before. "If they catch me they will kill me."
"Then it will be good riddance to bad rubbish," was Dragonfel's unfeeling retort. "I said you were to stay, so that settles it. When the Brownies ask you where we've gone, you're to tell them to the mine.
They'll probably make you lead them to it. When they do take them to the secret entrance, and after they are in close the boulder on them. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, I grasp you perfectly," said the Demon Usher, "but, oh, kind master, I have a weak heart, and at times it fails me. Would it not be better to intrust a delicate matter like this to Snoutpimple?"
[Illustration]
"After they are imprisoned," went on Dragonfel, unheeding the suggestion, "you can come around by the main entrance, and let me know."
Just as soon as he was fully convinced that all danger was over the enchanter passed the word around among his followers to decamp, and this was effected so insidiously that the Brownies did not notice it.
They laid rough hands on Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil, muffling the cries for help they tried to make, and bore them with great haste from the scene of excitement; the waving arms and kicking availed them nothing.
[Illustration]
With their struggling, protesting burdens in their arms they ran toward the mine, and descended into it by the main entrance. When they reached the great shaft where the mine-sprites were hard at work, Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil were released, and they looked around with wonder and surprise.
The mine-sprites cast furtive glances of curiosity at these strange new faces that invited confidence, but so frightened were they when they saw their cruel master that they redoubled their efforts, and their fingers fairly flew as they dug them in the earth for precious stones.
"Poor little things!" was Queen Titania's involuntary cry. "The work is too hard for them."
"I've been thinking of that," said Dragonfel, with a chuckle, "and I've decided to put an extra force on."
"Do you mean to set us to work?" asked Dame Drusilda indignantly.
"Perhaps," said Dragonfel, with a horrid grin. "Just now, though, I'm going to take you all to another part of the mine where we'll await developments."
As he spoke he seized Titania's hand, and began to drag her off down one of the dark passage-ways. In the same manner Mandrake followed with Dame Drusilda, while after him came Boundingbore with Violet and Daffodil.
The mine-sprites watched their retreating forms, but they were too terrified to speak a word, and were helpless to aid them in any way.
Dragonfel led the rest along the subterranean passage until at last they came to a square chamber that had been cut with much skill into the solid rock.
When Mandrake lit a crystal lamp the great magnificence of the place was revealed.
The floor and walls were inlaid with precious jewels in designs that were truly wonderful. Divans were built in at the sides, and the various creatures of the wild were represented everywhere.
For all his short-comings, Dragonfel seemed to have a great respect for animals, and gave their skins at least a rest on his floors and walls where they could grin at spiders and moth-millers with some show of satisfaction.