The City Curious Part 20

The Dwarf with the big head gave her a little watering-can to drink out of during the summer.

All the crews of the marzipan fleet, and the Rats, came in their turn to offer each a little souvenir.

Presently there was such an immense crowd that it seemed as though the ceremony must go on for days, since the same things had to be repeated three times, once before each garden.

Every one was there.

The Gra.s.shoppers.

The Birds with hats.

The Worms with spectacles.

The Sponges with shining eyes.

The Pigs from the great kitchen.

The Flying-Fish and Lizards.

The Dancers who had played at tennis.

The Accordion-Players.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WIFE OF THE CHIEF CONTRACTOR PRESENTED KISIKA WITH A BEAUTIFUL FAN MADE OF PAPER LACE]

In the end it would have needed pantechnicons to move all the presents.

When the ceremony was over the Wigs departed in a long procession, singing in their sweet voices:

"Here plays the gra.s.shoppers' band, Here for days together shines the sun...."

CHAPTER XV

Smaly and Redy effect the rescue of the three young girls: Djorak joins them and they all partake of a delightful picnic: Smaly blows the Soy powder over the country of the Wigs: Then the six friends go home.

Smaly and Redy had been watching with all their eyes, and they observed that two sentinels, instead of taking their departure with the crowd, stayed behind to guard the three sides of the garden which were in the country of the Wigs. The fourth side gave upon the frontier and was marked off by a long ridge of rock, several feet in height. It was from this rock that Smaly and Redy sat looking into the gardens. They could have already spoken to the three girls, but Smaly advised that they should wait until the time of the next siesta had arrived.

From their rock Smaly and Redy could see quite clearly the roof of the Historian's house. Directly they saw the Flying-Fish enter to announce the time for siesta Smaly meant to speak to the young girls.

"Let us hang our red flag up there," said Redy to Smaly, pointing to an old tree.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIRECTLY THEY SAW THE FLYING-FISH ENTER]

"Are you managing affairs or am I?" demanded Smaly severely.

"Nevertheless," he added more kindly, "I will consider any advice you have to give, and may follow it ... if it is good...."

[Ill.u.s.tration: THEIR TWO LITTLE HEADS APPEARED SIDE BY SIDE]

Now the Flying-Fish began to fly low over the town, and two of them entered the house of the Historian.

The whole country slept. It was evident that even the two sentinels slept heavily.

When Smaly and Redy were sure that all was safe, they crept forward to the edge of the rock. Their two little heads appeared side by side before the astonished eyes of the three young girls, and since their beaks had disappeared for good and all, the two little people were certain they would make a good impression. And, indeed, the three young girls saw at once that these were the heads of human beings, real human beings, not creatures made of sugar and cake.

When they heard these two human beings speak, the young girls were seized with intense emotion. Smaly and Redy whispered:

"We've come to save you."

Kisika, Lapt.i.tza, and Fritilla held up their arms towards them, while the tears ran down their cheeks for joy. They all began to speak at once; but Smaly and Redy each placed a finger on their lips with a mysterious air, to command silence.

"We are going to take you away with us," whispered Redy.

"Silence," said Smaly, standing on the point of his toes to appear taller. And he continued, "No one must speak until Kisika, Lapt.i.tza, and Fritilla have each made a little stairway by which they can climb up to where we are."

"What a splendid idea," cried Redy.

Smaly took no notice of her; but said, with an air of great importance, "Let the young girls begin at once to make the stairways."

So during three days the young girls were busy making the stairs by which they would mount to freedom. During the siesta on the third day Smaly and Redy made trial of these stairs and found them perfectly firm.

It was then that Smaly climbed into the dead tree which Redy had pointed out to him, and tied to it the big red handkerchief which was to be the signal to Djorak.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SMALY STANDING; ON THE POINT OF HIS TOES]

Smaly and Redy were both of them certain that Djorak was in his right mind once more, for during the three days the sugar-cane prison had not budged; but stayed still as if awaiting their signal, and directly the red flag fluttered in the breeze Redy cried out:

"Look, look, the prison is coming."

"Of course it is," said Smaly, as though he had never had any doubts.

And indeed the prison was rushing furiously towards them.

Smaly stayed up in the tree to watch, but Redy had her attention distracted by the Red Flying-Fish, which was sitting watching her.

Suddenly the fish flew away; but it soon reappeared followed by a great flock of other fish. Each fish carried something good, tarts or cakes or fruits. The Red Flying-Fish carried a large hat and mantle in its claws.

The fish all deposited their offerings at the feet of Redy, and from his tree Smaly looked on with great pleasure.

Towards evening the forest of sugar-canes came crashing into the three little gardens. Kisika, Lapt.i.tza, and Fritilla ran up their stairways and fell into Redy's arms; but Smaly was not going to waste any time on sentiment, to which he felt he could give way later. He ran down the centre staircase, seized one of the boxes of Soy which the Chief Contractor had given to the young girls, presented the other two to Djorak, and then, without waiting to listen to the Prisoner's exclamations of joy, bade him follow him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SO DURING THREE DAYS THE YOUNG GIRLS WERE BUSY MAKING THE STAIRS]