WHAT THE POLICEMAN DISCOVERED
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Like a covey of startled quail the Brownies flew after the Policeman,
for each was very curious to learn of the discovery that he had made.
They knew that with his keen sense of dramatic values he wished to keep
them in suspense as long as possible, so that only at the proper moment
would the mystery be solved.
His fleet little feet padded along the sand, followed by others equally
so, and he led them a stiff pace for perhaps a mile down the beach.
There lying behind a dune that offered a shelter from the creeping tides
they viewed the cause of all his excitement.
Scattered on the sand were some dingy old frayed uniforms, caps, and
hob-nailed shoes, of which they counted five complete sets in all, while
near by piled into a heap were some immense brass musical instruments,
some bent and battered in places and all tarnished by the weather.
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Soon they were making a minute inspection of these objects which for
some inexplicable reason had been abandoned by their owners. The
uniforms and caps were of worn blue cloth, and the latter had visors and
braids of gold around them. The sleeves of the coats likewise were
braided with gold.
With much interest in their work the Brownies began to separate the
instruments that formed a heap. There were two cornets, a saxophone,
a trombone, and a tremendous tuba that wound around and around and had
a mouth so big that a Brownie could have easily crawled inside.
While they were examining the outfit there was much speculation as to
whom it belonged, and the only conclusion they could arrive at was that
the original possessors had been some itinerant German band.
It was not so strange to them that a German band should be in
Dragonfel's enchanted country, for they knew that German bands go
everywhere. Sometimes they can be found even at the North Pole. The
only strange thing about it was that while the uniforms and
instruments were there, the owners were missing.
"I wonder what's become of the band?" said King Stanislaus, very much
puzzled.
"Perhaps someone heard them play," suggested the Dude.
His Majesty gave a sudden start.
"Humph!" he grunted. "What you have just hinted at rather unsettles an
idea that suddenly occurred to me."
"Maybe you were thinking of the same thing I was," said the Policeman.
"That's very possible," said the monarch, "for great minds sometimes
think alike. I was thinking that some of us could disguise ourselves as
a German band and maybe gain admittance to the palace."
"That's just what I was thinking," said the Policeman.
"In that way," went on King Stanislaus, "we might be able to get some
knowledge of Dragonfel's real strength, and find out just how we stood.
The chance might come to us to spirit away Queen Titania and her
companions."
"Which of us would you choose, Your Majesty?" asked an eager Brownie.
All of them crowded around, each with the hope that King Stanislaus
would select him for this task which involved so great a risk.
He looked them over, and finally, with his mind made up, spoke, in slow,
measured tones.
"Of course, I'll be the leader," he announced. "That will leave just
four to go with me, and I'll take the Policeman, Sailor, German, and
Irishman. The rest of you must hide just outside the palace, to be ready
instantly in case you are needed."
There was great delight on the part of the four who were to share with
the king the danger, and keen disappointment among all the others. But
no one thought of questioning the royal decision.
"I didn't forget my tin box of disguises, sire," reminded the Policeman.
"Good, officer!" said King Stanislaus, with an approving nod. "They'll
all come in handy. You've got plenty of false noses and moustaches, I
suppose."
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The Policeman gave a knowing wink.
"You'll need a rehearsal, won't you?" said the Dude.
"No," said King Stanislaus decidedly. "The worse we play the cleverer
will be the deception."
Then he and the four selected by him began to make preparations for
their queer masquerade, and in these the whole band assisted. The coats
and trousers had probably hung on their original wearers badly, but they
fitted the Brownies who tried them on much worse.
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The general effect would have brought deep shame to any conscientious
tailor who had made them, but nimble fingers soon accomplished wonders
with a tuck here and there, and the deft use of an occasional pin.
The ends of the trousers had to be rolled up a number of times, and the
coats turned up on the inside. When they put on the big, hob-nailed
shoes their long, tapering feet were lost in them, and the whole Brownie
identity completely disappeared after they had donned the false noses
and moustaches that the Policeman handed around.
No one familiar with the Brownie band would have recognized these
particular five, and their disguise was pronounced admirable by one and
all.
The breast of the coat that had fallen to the Sailor was all covered
with medals, and it was the only one of the lot that was decorated in
this manner. King Stanislaus thought that as the leader he was more
properly fitted to wear this coat, but the Sailor seemed reluctant to
give it up, so His Majesty good-naturedly did not press the matter.
He chose a cornet and the Sailor the remaining one. The Policeman took
the saxophone, and the German the slide trombone. That left only the
tuba for the Irishman, and it was so big that he could hardly manage it.
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Thus fully equipped and with the whole band for an escort, the
indomitable quintet set forth on their delicate mission.
Dragonfel's palace was a good deal farther away than they had supposed,
for the atmosphere was very clear, so that objects at a distance seemed
much nearer than they really were.
There was a fair road that led to it from the beach, and this took them
over a rickety wooden bridge that spanned one of the numerous tide-water
creeks in the vicinity.
But before they reached the bridge they came to a small frame structure
over whose arched doors was the sign: NEPTUNE HOOK AND LADDER CO. NO. 1,
which caused remarks.
"Evidently Dragonfel has a fire department," said King Stanislaus. "This
is a most interesting discovery."
"Why, I could have told you that," said a Brownie. "I saw it some time
ago."
"You should have done so," His Majesty reproved. "It may have a very
important bearing on what we are about to try to do. But what was that?"
Something dim and shadowy flitted past in the dark, with the whirring
sound of a night-bat.
"I saw it," the Policeman spoke up quickly. "There was a gleam of red,
and I thought I could distinguish a bow and quiver."
"A bow and quiver!" repeated King Stanislaus, and his face grew suddenly
grave. "I hope they were not Prince Florimel's. I am greatly distressed
by the fear that some dire mishap has come to him." His Majesty would
have felt very much relieved in mind if he could have known that nothing
serious had occurred to the prince.
When like the rest of the Brownies Florimel had gone to seek what
information he could he had strayed nearer to the palace than perhaps in
prudence he should have done.
With the impetuosity of youth he was ready to storm the palace
single-handed, but he realized that such a rash, foolhardy attempt would
only bring disaster to the whole band.
So he gazed toward the lights that gleamed from the windows, wondering
all the while what Titania was doing at the time, and if Dragonfel was
very cruel to her.
He was really helpless just then to exert himself in her behalf, and he
turned with a sigh to go back.
The rigors of the hardships through which he had passed pressed
heavily, and excessive weariness overcame him. He felt a sudden
faintness, and sank upon a grassy bank to rest.
He did not dream that prying eyes for some time had been watching him
from an open panel in a fence hard by.
Those keen, malicious orbs followed every movement that Florimel made,
and when they noticed him yawn, and rub his lids to keep the sleep from
them, they glittered and gleamed with exultation.
Then Florimel's eyes in spite of him closed, and his tired head sank
back in the deep grass.
From the fence the Red Spirit issued like a wraith. Noiselessly he
advanced toward the unconscious prince, and bending down began with
deft, adroit fingers to remove the quiver slung across his back.
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But light as the thieving touch was it aroused Florimel who sprang at
once to his feet.
Quick though he was he still was not quick enough. All that he heard was
a whirring sound, and in a flash he noticed that his bow was missing.
His hand involuntarily sought his back only to find that the quiver had
been craftily taken from it.
Wide awake and full of alarm now he ran with all speed back to the
locality that King Stanislaus had designated for the reunion of the
band. But the half-hour had elapsed, and the Brownies were not there.
Then he noticed in the sand prints of narrow, tapering feet all leading
down the beach, and he flew in the direction they pointed. But when he
reached the spot where the Policeman had made his discovery the Brownies
were not there, either.
He felt convinced that they had started for Dragonfel's palace, and he
ran as fast as he could to overtake them, passing the engine-house, and
going over the bridge.
When he was approaching the palace he saw five persons very small of
stature, each with a big brass instrument, standing just outside the
entrance. The doors swung suddenly open, they passed through them, and
then the doors closed again.
Florimel quickened his pace with the determination to follow them, but
just when he was about to pound upon the doors for admittance tiny but
strong hands grasped him, and held him back, and he heard the whispered
warning:
"Don't, or you will ruin all!"
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