THE BROWNIES FIGHT THE FLAMES
[Illustration]
But once more the indomitable spirit of King Stanislaus manifested
itself. Though the fire-engine was jammed in between the joists and
timbers of the bridge, and could not be extracted by pulling the rope,
the plucky monarch would not allow himself to be vanquished without a
struggle.
He caused the Brownies to bring heavy planks, and farther directed them
to wrench off the guard-rails of the bridge. The ends of these were
placed under the engine, while at those opposite the sprites exerted as
powerful a leverage as they could at the same time comrades were pulling
with all their might and main at the rope.
Finally their combined efforts resulted in raising the engine up on the
bridge again, after which it was easily rolled upon the road.
This unfortunate delay had seemed much longer than it really was, owing
to the exigency of the situation, but they made up for lost time during
the rest of the distance, and reached the site of the ruins without
further mishap.
[Illustration]
The lava was almost upon them, and they were nearly suffocated by the
intense heat. But, while King Stanislaus ran here and there directing
the preparations, and shouting his orders through the fire-trumpet, they
quickly unwound the coils of hose and effected a connection with the
stand-pipe.
The water was thereupon turned on, and while Brownies in helmets, rubber
coats, and boots held grimly on to the hose and trained the big brass
nozzle on the fast approaching lava, others manned the handles of the
engine, a half dozen or more being required at each end, and flew
hanging to them up and down through the air to furnish the necessary
pressure.
[Illustration]
Though the engine was old and out of repair, it had one redeeming
feature. It could throw two or three streams of water at once as well as
one, and the Brownies in their great need forced it to the limit.
Immense volumes of water gushed out at the lava, and their contact
produced a hissing, boiling sound, while the air was almost immediately
filled with steam which became so thick that it could almost be cut
with a knife. In the thick vapors that arose their forms could only be
distinguished dimly, and they seemed like shadows flitting to and fro.
[Illustration]
At times the hose burst in various places, and streams of water from
them spouted high into the air involving waste, but King Stanislaus
proved himself equal to all emergencies.
"Stick your fingers in the holes to keep the water in," he shouted
through the trumpet.
Brownies either poked their fingers through the openings or held their
hands against them to prevent the escape of water. The hose got away
from those who were holding it, and the terrific stream drenched the
Dude, Chinaman, and Indian who were directly in its path, sweeping them
off their feet. In another moment the Brownies regained their mastery of
it, and once more the water was directed full at the blazing lava.
Such efforts were bound to achieve results, and these King Stanislaus
noted with great satisfaction.
"We're gaining on it!" he announced exultantly. "Just keep it up, boys,
and we'll soon have the fire out."
Thus encouraged, higher and higher flew the Brownies on the handles of
the engine, while others continued to play the hose upon the descending
lava, which hissed, steamed, and bubbled as the water struck it.
[Illustration]
As the lava cooled off it formed a composition resembling asphalt, and
upon this the Brownies could walk, unwinding as they did so more and
more hose, and all the while getting nearer and nearer to the volcano.
Finally they were directing the stream down the crater's mouth, which
gurgled, gasped, and then instead of flame began to emit smoldering
smoke which grew less and less in volume.
"I guess that settles Mr. Volcano!" triumphantly cried King Stanislaus,
as he wiped beads of perspiration from his royal brow.
[Illustration]
"It's a pity the palace was destroyed," remarked the Student.
"It's Dragonfel's own fault," said the king, "and he has only himself to
blame. I wouldn't have that man's mean disposition, no, not for all the
jewels and mines he possesses."
"Even if he has lost his palace," said the Dude, "he's got a fine new
macadamized road to the volcano. With a jitney-bus he can make a lot of
money from tourists."
The fire was practically extinguished, and all danger from it had
passed. It was well that this was so, for the first rays of the sun were
beginning to appear in the brightening east, and the mystic powers of
the Brownies which come at night were fast being exhausted.
When the valiant fire-fighters at last had the volcano under control,
Prince Florimel gazed anxiously around for Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda,
Violet, and Daffodil, but none of them was in sight.
[Illustration]
Neither could he observe Dragonfel nor any of his followers, for when
they had become assured of safety these cravens had fled, leaving the
Brownies to do all the work.
Florimel ran hither and thither, searching among the ruins for those he
was so eager to find, and calling aloud their names, but there was no
response to his cries, nor could he discover the slightest trace of them
anywhere, which alarmed him greatly.
The Brownies were taking a much needed rest, but he got them all to join
in the quest, and they hunted in every nook and corner thereabout
without success.
[Illustration]
"This is indeed strange," said King Stanislaus, very much puzzled. "They
were here just a little while ago, for I saw them myself. I didn't pay
any particular attention to them at the time, for the volcano was
keeping me pretty busy."
"They have made their escape," said Florimel, "and have again carried
off the queen and her companions. The question is, where have they
gone?"
"I do not think they have gone far," said the king, and his eye swept
the harbor where the galleon was plainly visible. "Perhaps they are on
the ship, but I very much doubt it. It may be they are hiding somewhere
near."
Suddenly the Policeman who was still prowling stealthily around poked
his club in a dark, out-of-the-way corner into something flabby which at
once emitted a queer, cackling shriek so uncanny that everyone jumped
back in fright.
The next moment he quickly reached in his arm and drew out by the ear
the quaking, shaking Demon Usher who had no opportunity to practice his
eccentric locomotion, but was obliged to crawl after his captor on his
hands and knees.
The Policeman led him by the ear to King Stanislaus who eyed him
sternly.
[Illustration]
"Mercy, have mercy!" shrieked the Demon Usher, in abject terror, and he
shook as though he had the dumb ague, chills and fever, and something
else besides. "Oh, kind sir, I will be your slave for life, and obey
your slightest wish. Only don't kill or torture me, I beg you!"
"Tell the truth, or it will be the worse for you," said King Stanislaus.
His words in no sense were a threat, for it is always the worse for
anyone who does not tell the truth. But they only served to increase
the fears of the poor, frightened wretch who shook as if he had added
St. Vitus dance to all his other symptoms.
"Spare my life!" he whined, with his teeth clicking against each other
like castenets. "Oh, please, sir, spare my life! Ask me anything you
like, and I will answer you. Yes, and though it is very hard for me to
do so, I will speak the truth. Let me be your slave, and fan you, and
black your boots!"
"Where is your master?"
"He is gone."
"Yes, we know that already. Where has he gone?"
The Demon Usher looked around timidly as though to assure himself that
neither Dragonfel nor any of his followers was within hearing, and then
said, with an air of great cunning:
"If I tell you, will you let me go?"
"Yes," said King Stanislaus. "I give you my promise."
"Then I will tell you," said the Demon Usher. "He has flown with his
captives to his mine."
"His mine?" echoed His Majesty.
"Have you not heard of it?" asked the Demon Usher in great surprise.
"Why, it is the most wonderful mine in all the world. Every jewel known
to a lapidary is there."
"Where is it?"
"Near by."
"Lead us to it," broke in Florimel eagerly.
"Come with me," said the Demon Usher. "I will show you the secret
passage-way through which Dragonfel and the rest entered."
Florimel made an impatient start to be off, and the Brownies showed
their willingness to follow him through all dangers, but King
Stanislaus, more careful, raised his hand to call a halt.
"Stay!" he cautioned. "This may only be a ruse to trap us. How do we
know this is the truth?"
"It is the truth," averred the Demon Usher. "Follow me and I will soon
prove it to you."
He moved off with his queer half-skip and half-jump, cocking his eye
behind at them as if he feared they would try to stop him. But no one
made any attempt to do so, and he appeared very much relieved.
Close at his heels came Florimel and the Brownies, with King Stanislaus
among them, but the monarch looked ill at ease, as though he suspected
treachery of some kind.
The Demon Usher led them to a slight rise where there was a rocky
formation, and stopped before a boulder so huge that it would have
required the strength of many men to move it.
[Illustration]
Searching with his long, thin fingers for a certain place, he found it
at length, and pressed against it as hard as he could.
To the surprise of all the rest, the boulder began to slide easily away,
disclosing the entrance to a dark, subterranean passage.
[Illustration: "TRICKED!"]
"Follow the passage," cried the Demon Usher triumphantly, "and it will
lead you to Dragonfel and his captives!"
Florimel and the Brownies at once entered, and King Stanislaus ran after
them.
"Stop!" came his warning. "Before we go any farther let us first
consider."
But when they were all inside it suddenly grew pitch-black, as the
boulder quickly slid back into its place.
From outside they heard the Demon Usher give a hoarse cackle of
exultation.
"Tricked!" ejaculated King Stanislaus. "We are caught like rats in a
trap!"