THE FLIGHT TO THE MINE
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In bringing about the destruction of his palace Dragonfel's only thought
had been the destruction of the Brownies. He had hoped to crush the
sprites by means of the falling walls and columns, and when he invoked
Vulcan for the assistance he felt sure would be given to him he was very
careful to keep out of harm's way himself.
But like many another vindictive, revengeful person the wicked enchanter
overreached himself. He had no idea when he called upon Vulcan to get
busy that the latter would make such a good job of it.
He fully expected the palace to topple down, for that was what he had
asked for. But he did not want the volcano that had been thrown in for
good measure. It made things too hot and uncomfortable.
He was very much alarmed when he saw the volcano in violent eruption,
for he realized that the downpour of lava boded ill for himself as well
as for others over whose safety he was not at all concerned.
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Thinking only of himself, he was on the point of ordering out his
volunteer fire department to subdue the flames in the crater when to his
great relief he noticed that King Stanislaus had taken the matter out of
his hands.
From his place of safety Dragonfel watched the operations of the
Brownies, and he breathed more freely when he noticed that they were
getting the fire well under control, so that the prospect of all danger
was fast being removed through their energetic efforts.
He realized that after the volcano was subdued these indomitable little
people would devote their attention to him, and in considering what the
outcome would be he grew more and more uncertain. As a matter of fact,
he was beginning to fear the mystic power of the Brownies, and he very
much doubted if his big followers with all their boasted strength were a
fit match for these sprites who had not only cunning but courage.
He decided that in the clash which was bound to come it was best not to
risk any chance of defeat in a fair, open fight, but by underhanded
means to overpower them.
Then the diabolical scheme of making the Brownies prisoners, and setting
them to work in his mine, presented itself. If he fled there with his
captives, they would undoubtedly follow in pursuit, and once in the mine
they easily could be made helpless.
The Demon Usher at his feet was going through all sorts of contortions
of fear, and Dragonfel looked sneeringly down at him.
"Stop your shaking, and listen to me," he commanded. "We are going to
take the captives to the mine."
"Let us start at once, kind master," said the Demon Usher, in a fever of
impatience. "If it gets cool here it will be too hot to hold us."
"You will be the only one to stay," said Dragonfel.
"Oh, say not so, kind master!" cried the Demon Usher, shaking with even
greater violence than before. "If they catch me they will kill me."
"Then it will be good riddance to bad rubbish," was Dragonfel's
unfeeling retort. "I said you were to stay, so that settles it. When the
Brownies ask you where we've gone, you're to tell them to the mine.
They'll probably make you lead them to it. When they do take them to the
secret entrance, and after they are in close the boulder on them. Do you
understand me?"
"Yes, I grasp you perfectly," said the Demon Usher, "but, oh, kind
master, I have a weak heart, and at times it fails me. Would it not be
better to intrust a delicate matter like this to Snoutpimple?"
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"After they are imprisoned," went on Dragonfel, unheeding the
suggestion, "you can come around by the main entrance, and let me know."
Just as soon as he was fully convinced that all danger was over the
enchanter passed the word around among his followers to decamp, and this
was effected so insidiously that the Brownies did not notice it.
They laid rough hands on Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and
Daffodil, muffling the cries for help they tried to make, and bore them
with great haste from the scene of excitement; the waving arms and
kicking availed them nothing.
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With their struggling, protesting burdens in their arms they ran toward
the mine, and descended into it by the main entrance. When they reached
the great shaft where the mine-sprites were hard at work, Titania, Dame
Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil were released, and they looked around
with wonder and surprise.
The mine-sprites cast furtive glances of curiosity at these strange new
faces that invited confidence, but so frightened were they when they saw
their cruel master that they redoubled their efforts, and their fingers
fairly flew as they dug them in the earth for precious stones.
"Poor little things!" was Queen Titania's involuntary cry. "The work is
too hard for them."
"I've been thinking of that," said Dragonfel, with a chuckle, "and I've
decided to put an extra force on."
"Do you mean to set us to work?" asked Dame Drusilda indignantly.
"Perhaps," said Dragonfel, with a horrid grin. "Just now, though, I'm
going to take you all to another part of the mine where we'll await
developments."
As he spoke he seized Titania's hand, and began to drag her off down one
of the dark passage-ways. In the same manner Mandrake followed with Dame
Drusilda, while after him came Boundingbore with Violet and Daffodil.
The mine-sprites watched their retreating forms, but they were too
terrified to speak a word, and were helpless to aid them in any way.
Dragonfel led the rest along the subterranean passage until at last they
came to a square chamber that had been cut with much skill into the
solid rock.
When Mandrake lit a crystal lamp the great magnificence of the place was
revealed.
The floor and walls were inlaid with precious jewels in designs that
were truly wonderful. Divans were built in at the sides, and the various
creatures of the wild were represented everywhere.
For all his short-comings, Dragonfel seemed to have a great respect for
animals, and gave their skins at least a rest on his floors and walls
where they could grin at spiders and moth-millers with some show of
satisfaction.
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At the ceiling which was thickly crusted with diamonds there was a
slender open shaft that evidently had been made to provide air and light
but which was too small to provide a means of escape.
"This is where you'll stay," announced Dragonfel. "The place isn't
half-bad, as things go, so you ought to make yourselves fairly
comfortable in it. You'll find both hot and cold water in the little
ante-room screened off by those peacock-feather portières. Your meals
will be brought to you. If you want to read there's the dictionary."
"How long are you going to keep us here?" asked Titania, with a sinking
of her heart.
"Always, and maybe longer," was Dragonfel's gruff response. "Have you
brought your knitting with you?"
"If you think you can keep us here against our will," said Titania, in a
decided tone, "you will find that you are very much mistaken."
"How so?" said Dragonfel contemptuously.
"It won't be long before the Brownies are here."
"That's what I fully expect," said the enchanter, with a knowing wink,
"and after they come there'll be something doing, BELIEVE ME!"
He laid great emphasis upon the last two words, and in spite of all her
confidence in Florimel and the Brownies Titania was filled with great
uneasiness.
But she knew that further words would be wasted on him, so she said
nothing more. With Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil she retired to
a corner of the room, as far removed from him as possible, where
they discussed among themselves in whispers this new phase of the
disagreeable situation.
They hoped that Dragonfel and the rest would go, but still they
lingered, and the enchanter at times looked up at the narrow opening cut
into the ceiling. Finally he gave expression to a grunt of satisfaction
as something he had been watching for met his gaze, and they noticed
with him that a golden flood of sunshine was pouring through the
opening.
"Day at last!" he cried, and, almost with his words, the Demon Usher
made his appearance with a hop, skip, and jump, while at his back stood
a half-starved looking demon whose hair had not been cut for a long
time, and who had a distinctly artistic appearance.
"Master, kind master," the Demon Usher joyously cackled, "I bear good
news. The little commission you intrusted me with I executed to the best
of my ability. Oh, master, you should have seen how brave I was. I was
with them single-handed, yet I was more than a match for them all. I had
the whole band in terrible fear of me."
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"Stop throwing bouquets at yourself!" ordered Dragonfel. "Tell me where
they are."
"It's all easy now," went on the Demon Usher. "The dangerous part has
been done by me. I've got them so cowed that now they'll eat out of
your hand. I captured them all by myself, and drove them into the south
lode, where they wait to do your bidding."
"Will you permit me a word, kind master?" then spoke up the half-starved
looking demon, as he unrolled a large sheet of paper. "He doesn't
deserve a medal, or even honorable mention. I took a rough sketch of him
when he had the Brownies at his mercy, and here it is."
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Dragonfel stared at the effort in astonishment.
"You have missed your calling," he remarked. "You should be in the
Academy of Design."
Titania had listened with fast increasing alarm, and now with Dame
Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil she advanced quickly toward him. "Of whom
is this creature speaking?" she asked, in evident distress. "Of the
Brownies?"
The Demon Usher uttered his disagreeable cackle as Dragonfel exultingly
responded:
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"Yes, the Brownies! They are prisoners like yourselves. Their nights of
adventure are over, and they'll never more delight in harmless pranks
and helpful deeds. Those who seek their aid will henceforth look for
them in vain. They are doomed to slave in this mine for the rest of
their lives!"
Then Grouthead came up running, and he cried in great excitement:
"Master, kind master, we have captured all the Brownies, and they are
helpless. What shall we do with them?"
"Set them to work at once," spoke Dragonfel. "I will go back with you to
gloat over them."
He started immediately, and Titania and her companions attempted to
follow, but Mandrake barred the way, and held them back.