He gave his orders, and the Brownies with the realization that there was not a moment to be lost ran with all possible speed for the long rope which they had used in hauling up the mine-sprites in the basket. This they brought to the opening, tripping and sprawling over it in the eagerness and anxiety they displayed.
They stood in a line, and lowered the rope down into the pit.
"Slip the noose at the end of the rope under your arms," shouted King Stanislaus to Dragonfel, "and we will pull you up."
[Illustration]
The water was nearly over Dragonfel's head by this time, and he had ceased his cries for help, for whenever he opened his mouth he choked and strangled. He heard the welcome words of the king as in a dream, but half unconscious as he was he reached out, and caught the rope, tightened his grip upon it. He discovered the slip-noose at the end, and with his senses fast leaving him had just enough strength left to adjust this under both his arms. When the Brownies felt the rope grow taut they began to haul away with might and main. Around the pit now there were willing minds and itching fingers. Some fell over with their exertions, but in a trice they were up again to contribute all the strength they had to the work. "Pull away, boys!" shouted King Stanislaus encouragingly, with his own royal digits wound tightly around the rope. "A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together!
That's the ticket! Hurray! We'll soon have him up."
[Illustration]
His words incited them so that through undue effort they suddenly lost their balance and sprawled over backward like ten-pins.
Like a shot Dragonfel fell back into the water again, almost dragging after him a half-dozen Brownies who still clung to the rope. But others quickly grasped them by the legs, and prevented them from going over into the pit until a fresh hold of the rope was secured, and another attempt was made.
"Avast there, messmates!" cried the Sailor. "Give an old salt a chance at the fore-clutch on the hawser, and the old pirate will soon come up from the bottom of the sea!"
This time the Brownies were successful, and they pulled Dragonfel to the brink, and rolled him over to a place of temporary safety.
Water poured from his drenched form, and with a groan he relapsed into unconsciousness.
The Brownies looked first at him, and then at each other. Though no one said a word, all had the same thought.
Soon Dragonfel would revive, and then what would happen? They had saved their foe, but to what purpose? If by any chance they should escape the present dreadful danger they were in they would still be in the wicked enchanter's power.
How would he use it?
[Illustration: NEARING A FINISH.]
CHAPTER XXI
AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER
[Illustration]
Dragonfel had been rescued by the Brownies at a crucial time when perhaps they might have been justified in trying to save themselves instead.
The water kept on swiftly rising, and it forced them out of the positions they occupied to ledges and pockets higher up on the rocks.
To these all were forced to retreat, and the still senseless enchanter was carried after them by some of his cowardly, frightened followers who would have left him behind if it had not been for the stern command of King Stanislaus.
Still higher and higher rose the water till they were again threatened in their new places of refuge, and it soon became evident that something had to be done, and that quickly.
There was but one passage-way through which the water was not pouring like that of a swift mill-race, and this was the one in which the Brownies had been trapped.
As the water ascended they were forced into it, and they continued on through it well knowing from bitter experience that the huge boulder effectually blocked the exit, and would hold them powerless until finally they were submerged by the relentless flood.
[Illustration]
But still they went on, hoping against hope, until they came to the boulder. It was still in place, and though they exerted all their strength in trying to remove it they could not budge it to even the extent of a millionth of an inch.
Brownies used sticks as levers, and the demons employed brute force, but all their efforts proved in vain.
"It's no use," at last said King Stanislaus, wiping his perspiring brow.
"It looks as though this would be the end."
A sudden thought entered Florimel's head--a wild, foolish thought perhaps, but not any more so than when he had aimed his magic arrow at the crescent moon.
"Stand back, all of you!" he shouted.
[Illustration]
He took one of the four arrows that were in the quiver, and placed it in the bow. Then he aimed it at the rock, and pulled the cord, making no particular attempt at a display of strength which he realized fully could not accomplish his purpose.
But to the infinite delight and astonishment of all a strange thing happened, that made the eyes pop in from every head.
The arrow struck the base of the rock, which at the moment of contact burst into hundreds of jagged pieces that flew up into the air. As these fell they formed a series of steps that were as good as any mason could have planned.
[Illustration]
They ascended these steps with all possible haste up into the open, where the blue sky was above them, and where they could breathe freely the air that never before had seemed so sweet and pure.
Looking around they could note the ravages of the flood, for with it there had come a mighty tidal wave from the sea, with abnormally high water that had changed the low marshlands into lakes, and had swollen the small creeks to roaring, rushing rivers.
[Illustration]
Just then a vivacious little mine-sprite found an opportunity to whisper to the Policeman:
"This is leap-year, officer, and, to speak freely, I loved you at first sight."
"Well," said the Policeman, with his usual composure, "to speak even more freely, your love at second sight is not returned."
"I would be willing," she said, "to fly with you to parts unknown."
"That's the trouble," said the Policeman. "No parts are unknown to the Brownies. The world was our oyster, and we've opened it. We're just as well known in Timbuctoo as Tarrytown!"
There was an angry swell that caused Dragonfel's galleon to toss violently up and down, but it still held secure to its anchor, and formed a picture inviting to a sailor's eye.
The enchanter was laid upon the greensward by those who bore him, and he stirred uneasily, while his hand sought his forehead. Then he opened his eyes, and unsteadily tried to get on his feet, in which effort others sprang to his assistance.
"Where am I?" he asked, as dazed and puzzled he looked around. "What has happened?"
His gaze took in the Brownies, and, in spite of all they had just done for him, it was not a reassuring one. But somehow they feared him no longer, for they felt that no matter what further villainy he might attempt they were more than a match for him.
But before some one could answer Dragonfel Euphrosyne, the Goddess of Mirth, suddenly appeared in their midst, though no one could tell just how or from whence she came.