AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER
[Illustration]
Dragonfel had been rescued by the Brownies at a crucial time when
perhaps they might have been justified in trying to save themselves
instead.
The water kept on swiftly rising, and it forced them out of the
positions they occupied to ledges and pockets higher up on the rocks.
To these all were forced to retreat, and the still senseless enchanter
was carried after them by some of his cowardly, frightened followers
who would have left him behind if it had not been for the stern
command of King Stanislaus.
Still higher and higher rose the water till they were again threatened
in their new places of refuge, and it soon became evident that
something had to be done, and that quickly.
There was but one passage-way through which the water was not pouring
like that of a swift mill-race, and this was the one in which the
Brownies had been trapped.
As the water ascended they were forced into it, and they continued on
through it well knowing from bitter experience that the huge boulder
effectually blocked the exit, and would hold them powerless until
finally they were submerged by the relentless flood.
[Illustration]
But still they went on, hoping against hope, until they came to the
boulder. It was still in place, and though they exerted all their
strength in trying to remove it they could not budge it to even the
extent of a millionth of an inch.
Brownies used sticks as levers, and the demons employed brute force, but
all their efforts proved in vain.
"It's no use," at last said King Stanislaus, wiping his perspiring brow.
"It looks as though this would be the end."
A sudden thought entered Florimel's head--a wild, foolish thought
perhaps, but not any more so than when he had aimed his magic arrow at
the crescent moon.
"Stand back, all of you!" he shouted.
[Illustration]
He took one of the four arrows that were in the quiver, and placed it in
the bow. Then he aimed it at the rock, and pulled the cord, making no
particular attempt at a display of strength which he realized fully
could not accomplish his purpose.
But to the infinite delight and astonishment of all a strange thing
happened, that made the eyes pop in from every head.
The arrow struck the base of the rock, which at the moment of contact
burst into hundreds of jagged pieces that flew up into the air. As these
fell they formed a series of steps that were as good as any mason could
have planned.
[Illustration]
They ascended these steps with all possible haste up into the open,
where the blue sky was above them, and where they could breathe freely
the air that never before had seemed so sweet and pure.
Looking around they could note the ravages of the flood, for with it
there had come a mighty tidal wave from the sea, with abnormally high
water that had changed the low marshlands into lakes, and had swollen
the small creeks to roaring, rushing rivers.
[Illustration]
Just then a vivacious little mine-sprite found an opportunity to whisper
to the Policeman:
"This is leap-year, officer, and, to speak freely, I loved you at first
sight."
"Well," said the Policeman, with his usual composure, "to speak even
more freely, your love at second sight is not returned."
"I would be willing," she said, "to fly with you to parts unknown."
"That's the trouble," said the Policeman. "No parts are unknown to the
Brownies. The world was our oyster, and we've opened it. We're just as
well known in Timbuctoo as Tarrytown!"
There was an angry swell that caused Dragonfel's galleon to toss
violently up and down, but it still held secure to its anchor, and
formed a picture inviting to a sailor's eye.
The enchanter was laid upon the greensward by those who bore him, and he
stirred uneasily, while his hand sought his forehead. Then he opened his
eyes, and unsteadily tried to get on his feet, in which effort others
sprang to his assistance.
"Where am I?" he asked, as dazed and puzzled he looked around. "What has
happened?"
His gaze took in the Brownies, and, in spite of all they had just done
for him, it was not a reassuring one. But somehow they feared him no
longer, for they felt that no matter what further villainy he might
attempt they were more than a match for him.
But before some one could answer Dragonfel Euphrosyne, the Goddess of
Mirth, suddenly appeared in their midst, though no one could tell just
how or from whence she came.
"Meddlesome spirit that you are," she said sternly, addressing her words
to the crestfallen enchanter, "you can no longer trouble the Brownies.
Your commission to do evil has expired."
"How so?" he demanded. "I made application for a renewal."
"Yes," she said, "but, through an error in the date, you were too late."
"Too late?" he repeated blankly.
"Yes, by thirteen seconds," she announced triumphantly, "and Beelzebub
refuses to renew the policy."
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Dragonfel, with much chagrin. "This comes of
trying to run business without an almanac!"
"Henceforth you will be compelled to be good," said Euphrosyne.
"Yes," said Dragonfel, in a rather shamefaced manner. "It may come
rather hard at first, but I suppose I will get used to it in time. As a
matter of fact, I'm growing rather tired of being bad. There's nothing
to it, after all. The only thing one gets from being bad is a lack of
respect in the community."
[Illustration]
"I see you're somewhat repentant," said Euphrosyne encouragingly. "It's
a little late, of course, but still it's better late than never. You
understand, don't you, that after this you're to let the Brownies
alone?"
"I should say I will let them alone," coincided Dragonfel heartily. "The
Brownies are too much for me. They have beaten me at every point. Even
if I were disposed to do them further mischief I am placed in a rather
delicate situation. I owe my life to the Brownies."
"There is one thing on which I insist," spoke up King Stanislaus. "You
must do something for these poor mine-sprites."
"I will see that they are restored to their parents from whom they were
stolen," asserted Dragonfel hastily. "Furthermore they shall all be
given handsome dowries, with a beautiful solitaire diamond of a
half-dozen karats more or less for each, so that when the right young
man comes along the engagement-ring will be easy."
Here the mine-sprite who had expressed her preference for the Policeman
gave him a coy glance, but he twirled his club, and looked the other
way.
[Illustration]
"It's too bad about your palace," said the Dude to Dragonfel.
"Oh, don't trouble yourself about that," said the enchanter cheerfully.
"I never did like its style of architecture, anyhow.
I'll soon have it rebuilt, and give the Union scale for labor, with
double pay for over-time. The palace was a rather tame affair anyway,
I ran too much to the emerald, topaz, and turquoise in its composition.
I'll make more use of the sapphire, the ruby and cornelian, in the
makeup of the new structure; and those columns, I always felt a little
weak over them, as they were only imitation chalcedony, the real thing
goes in the next one, if I have to import it from Palestine." The
glances the Brownies exchanged showed they felt that they had struck a
master in his line.
It is said, that some of the Brownies, to this day, annually celebrate
their deliverance from the mine, and the reformation of Dragonfel, by
proudly parading half the night, bearing the implements they had to use
while in captivity.
[Illustration]
So delighted was King Stanislaus over the general outcome that his
blithe spirits found expression in a jolly song that was a great
favorite of his, and the Brownies all joined in the chorus. The words
follow:
I'M RULER OF THE BROWNIE BAND!
KING STANISLAUS
I'm ruler of the Brownie band,
Most favored of personages;
I sway my sceptre o'er a land
Not found upon hist'ry's pages;
I take my nightly promenade
By anarchists unmolested;
On me no bomb or hand grenade
Has ever by them been tested!
If you could only see me dine,
You'd find me extremely placid;
I never fear a dish of mine
Is seasoned with prussic acid!
BROWNIES
Oh, you're all right!
KING STANISLAUS
Eh, I didn't catch it quite;
Repeat it, please! I didn't understand.
BROWNIES
Why, you, you, you, you! You're all right!
KING STANISLAUS
And so is the Brownie band!
KING STANISLAUS
I need no sabre, lance, or spear
To guard me whene'er I slumber;
My people kneel, but not thro' fear;
Love governs the entire number.
My slightest wish they all obey;
I never use any axes;
I always let them have their way;
They don't have to pay high taxes;
No undertaker need apply;
I'm not for embalmment crazy;
My subjects cry as I pass by,
"The Brownie king is a daisy!"
BROWNIES
Oh, you're all right, etc.
The refrain was so rollicking and infectious that when it was repeated
Dragonfel and his followers could not keep from joining in with the
Brownies, and they lustily roared out the words with a right good will.
The delayed wedding of Prince Florimel and Queen Titania was celebrated
very soon after in the fairy-palace with all the joy and happiness that
can come to such a momentous occasion.
[Illustration]
Brownies and fairies vied with each other in having a good time, and the
walls rang with their innocent merry-making. Everyone said that King
Stanislaus was the life of the party.
Dragonfel and his followers participated in the festivities, this time
unfeared, and to the strains of a Brownie orchestra they mingled with
others in the dance. Dragonfel even tried to do the fox-trot with Dame
Drusilda, which greatly delighted Euphrosyne who was among those
present.
[Illustration]
In place of the useless, cumbersome presents he had first brought the
enchanter gave the bride the more appropriate and useful gift of a dozen
bushels of precious stones.
[Illustration]
So in this wonderful country King Florimel and his beautiful queen are
still living and ruling wisely, and, to make their happiness complete,
there are little children round them.
To these King Florimel will leave the heritage of the magic bow and
arrows, for life has glided smoothly on, and the time has never been so
grave or distressing, as to necessitate their use. But should that time
ever come the king has full confidence in his ex-fairy godmother's gift.
[Illustration]
To the palace the Brownies come frequently, and it is needless to say
that they are welcome, just as they are welcome everywhere.
But they cannot be there as often as King Florimel would like them to be
because their kindly spirit takes them over the whole world to promote
peace, good humor, and good will to all human kind.
[Illustration: END]
End of Project Gutenberg's The Brownies and Prince Florimel, by Palmer Cox