"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 animals went on with their task of gathering bones without caring whether the Brownies were near or far.
[Illustration]
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, and caused 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?
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CHAPTER VIII
QUEEN TITANIA'S GREAT PERIL
[Illustration]
Prince Florimel sped 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.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration]