The Brownies And Prince Florimel Part 28

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"I've broken stones before," said the Irishman, "but this is the first chance I ever had to get a whack at diamonds."

"Vell," said the German Brownie, "if I see somedings in dot blace shining like blitzen I bulls him oudt alretty yed und say noddings!"

They were then hustled off to their new tasks.

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With the mine-sprites and Brownies the king started to dig away, and he tried not to shirk, but to do his stint with the rest of them. The sight of royalty reduced to hard labor affected all his subjects greatly, though they had little opportunity for sympathy so severely did their taskmasters press them.

The heaps of precious stones piled up higher and higher, and their eyes fairly blinked at the sight of them.

"I never saw so many jewels before in all my life," declared His Majesty, wincing as he felt a sudden crick in his back. "Whenever I look at them I feel just as though I were going to break out with carbuncles."

"I wonder when they'll bring us something to eat," said Florimel, who was beginning to grow hungry.

He was very much relieved when some time later Boundingbore appeared with a cauldron of lukewarm soup, which was served in skimpy little plates.

"Here, take mine back," complained King Stanislaus. "Look what's in it!

Just imagine what would have happened to me if I had swallowed it."

As he spoke he held up a pin which he had found in his soup.

"It wouldn't have hurt you, Your Majesty," said the Policeman. "It's a safety pin."

Now and then some adventurous Brownies would discover a new dark pa.s.sage, and with the hope that it might lead to liberty the more progressive would get their heads together and plan a break for freedom.

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For a time it looked as though one of these attempts would be crowned with success, and liberty itself seemed to beckon in the offing. But, just as promising enterprises in our own uncertain careers often end in disappointment, so would each n.o.ble effort only result in a punishment of heavier burdens and shorter rations.

Mandrake with a tray of food went down one of the dark pa.s.sages, and soon returned empty-handed. This Florimel noted, and he said to King Stanislaus:

"Your Majesty, t.i.tania and her companions must be over there. I am going to try to find them."

He took from the Sailor, who had charge of it, Euphrosyne's dove, and, opening the bosom of his jacket, let it cuddle close against his breast, with just its head now and then showing.

At a moment when the attention of all Dragonfel's followers was temporarily diverted by some remarkable discovery he made a sudden dash down the pa.s.sage where he believed Queen t.i.tania and the others were imprisoned.

His companions grouped themselves together to screen his fleeing form as best they could, and he succeeded in getting away without detection.

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Florimel ran along the pa.s.sage, and his supernatural vision guided him.

So when he came to a gem-crusted door he was able to see stretched before it a form that he at once recognized as the Red Spirit.

The lazy fellow had been left to guard the prisoners, but had neglected his duty, and was fast asleep.

Florimel heard him snoring away so that he knew his slumber was a heavy one, and he tiptoed up to him with confidence.

He was rejoiced to see lying beside him the bow and four arrows, and he noiselessly reached for the bow, and restored the arrows to his quiver.

Then he turned the big diamond that served as a k.n.o.b for the door, and stepping cautiously over the unconscious Red Spirit, entered.

t.i.tania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil were seated upon one of the divans, and they sprang up joyously when they saw him.

"Florimel!" cried t.i.tania, and ran toward him.

"'Sh!" he warned, and closed the door softly after him. "The Red Spirit is supposed to be guarding you, but he has fallen asleep. We must be careful not to wake him."

They embraced fondly, and t.i.tania asked:

"When will the Brownies take us away from here?"

Florimel shook his head despondently as he answered:

"I am sorry to say that we are all prisoners like yourselves. See, t.i.tania, I have brought you this. I thought perhaps that it might help us."

He took the little cooing creature from the bosom of his jacket and stroked its soft sides.

"Euphrosyne's dove!" exclaimed t.i.tania. "There is a shaft above through which it can escape. Let us send it with a message to her."

Upon a sc.r.a.p of paper she hastily wrote the words:

"_Euphrosyne, Fair G.o.ddess of Mirth:_

"Dragonfel the wicked enchanter holds us captive in his country.

Help us, we beseech you, before it is too late.

"QUEEN t.i.tANIA."

While she wrote Florimel noticed with some uneasiness that water was trickling down the walls and that in some places on the floor pools had already formed.

"Tie the note to the dove's neck," he said. "Let us dispatch it immediately."

They did so, and he flung the little creature upward toward the shaft.

Its talons clutched a side precariously while it fluttered its wings to sustain itself in the frail, uncertain hold it had.

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"Poor little thing!" said t.i.tania, when she noticed that it was in great danger of falling. "It cannot help us."

"Look!" cried the excited Violet. "It is making for the opening."

To the relief of all its watchers the bird crept through the shaft and disappeared.

"Good luck go with it!" was Dame Drusilda's fervent e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n.