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At the ceiling which was thickly crusted with diamonds there was a slender open shaft that evidently had been made to provide air and light but which was too small to provide a means of escape.
"This is where you'll stay," announced Dragonfel. "The place isn't half-bad, as things go, so you ought to make yourselves fairly comfortable in it. You'll find both hot and cold water in the little ante-room screened off by those peacock-feather portieres. Your meals will be brought to you. If you want to read there's the dictionary."
"How long are you going to keep us here?" asked Titania, with a sinking of her heart.
"Always, and maybe longer," was Dragonfel's gruff response. "Have you brought your knitting with you?"
"If you think you can keep us here against our will," said Titania, in a decided tone, "you will find that you are very much mistaken."
"How so?" said Dragonfel contemptuously.
"It won't be long before the Brownies are here."
"That's what I fully expect," said the enchanter, with a knowing wink, "and after they come there'll be something doing, BELIEVE ME!"
He laid great emphasis upon the last two words, and in spite of all her confidence in Florimel and the Brownies Titania was filled with great uneasiness.
But she knew that further words would be wasted on him, so she said nothing more. With Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil she retired to a corner of the room, as far removed from him as possible, where they discussed among themselves in whispers this new phase of the disagreeable situation.
They hoped that Dragonfel and the rest would go, but still they lingered, and the enchanter at times looked up at the narrow opening cut into the ceiling. Finally he gave expression to a grunt of satisfaction as something he had been watching for met his gaze, and they noticed with him that a golden flood of sunshine was pouring through the opening.
"Day at last!" he cried, and, almost with his words, the Demon Usher made his appearance with a hop, skip, and jump, while at his back stood a half-starved looking demon whose hair had not been cut for a long time, and who had a distinctly artistic appearance.
"Master, kind master," the Demon Usher joyously cackled, "I bear good news. The little commission you intrusted me with I executed to the best of my ability. Oh, master, you should have seen how brave I was. I was with them single-handed, yet I was more than a match for them all. I had the whole band in terrible fear of me."
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"Stop throwing bouquets at yourself!" ordered Dragonfel. "Tell me where they are."
"It's all easy now," went on the Demon Usher. "The dangerous part has been done by me. I've got them so cowed that now they'll eat out of your hand. I captured them all by myself, and drove them into the south lode, where they wait to do your bidding."
"Will you permit me a word, kind master?" then spoke up the half-starved looking demon, as he unrolled a large sheet of paper. "He doesn't deserve a medal, or even honorable mention. I took a rough sketch of him when he had the Brownies at his mercy, and here it is."
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Dragonfel stared at the effort in astonishment.
"You have missed your calling," he remarked. "You should be in the Academy of Design."
Titania had listened with fast increasing alarm, and now with Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil she advanced quickly toward him. "Of whom is this creature speaking?" she asked, in evident distress. "Of the Brownies?"
The Demon Usher uttered his disagreeable cackle as Dragonfel exultingly responded:
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"Yes, the Brownies! They are prisoners like yourselves. Their nights of adventure are over, and they'll never more delight in harmless pranks and helpful deeds. Those who seek their aid will henceforth look for them in vain. They are doomed to slave in this mine for the rest of their lives!"
Then Grouthead came up running, and he cried in great excitement:
"Master, kind master, we have captured all the Brownies, and they are helpless. What shall we do with them?"
"Set them to work at once," spoke Dragonfel. "I will go back with you to gloat over them."
He started immediately, and Titania and her companions attempted to follow, but Mandrake barred the way, and held them back.
CHAPTER XIX
THE MISSION OF THE DOVE
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After the huge boulder had shut in the unsuspecting Brownies their only alternative was to follow the winding passage-way of the mine wherever it might take them. They could not remain where they were to perish miserably of hunger and thirst, so they crept cautiously along in the dark with the faint hope that in some way they might gain the open. But the passage they were forced to travel led them direct to the main-shaft where the mine-sprites were at work. Nearly all of Dragonfel's followers were there waiting to receive them. For the Demon Usher after imprisoning them had descended by the main entrance and gleefully imparted the news, claiming high honors.
Sheepishly the Brownies slunk in, with the Dude's white handkerchief fluttering at the end of his cane in token of the band's complete surrender, for King Stanislaus knew how useless it would be to offer any resistance.
They were all huddled together in a body, and a sorry, crestfallen lot they were. Never before had such great misfortune overtaken them.
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At times the Student Brownie would discourse on Liberty, Justice, or Good Fellowship, and find appreciative listeners, and he lifted up their hearts by assuring them that history repeats itself, and that they would yet enjoy the freedom of the comets and wandering stars.
While others of Dragonfel's followers guarded the Brownies so that they could not escape, and brandished sharp-pointed spikes, battle-axes, bludgeons, and other formidable-looking weapons significantly, Grouthead ran in hot haste to inform his master.
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Soon the wicked enchanter made his appearance, and his rubicund face showed high elation.
"Put 'em all to work!" he shouted.
"Don't let 'em stand here idle."
"What do you want me to do?" asked King Stanislaus meekly.
"Here, stop your talking, and get busy!" cried Snoutpimple, thrusting in the king's hand a pick.
"I haven't any choice," said His Majesty, "so I'll have to take my pick!"
The airy persiflage was lost upon Dragonfel, who frowned on him severely.
"I'm a king in my own right," continued the monarch, pointing to his crown, "and never used a pick except to bury a dead dog, but I'll not make a scene in the presence of my subjects, so here goes for the jewels." His cheerfulness told on others.
"If it was digging shedder-crabs or scallops," remarked the Sailor, "I'd soon fill a basket."