That night the two children slept soundly in a corner of the cave, while
the Flamp sat by and watched them. In the morning, after a breakfast of
smush, they climbed on the monster's back and started for the city at a
good swinging pace.
'It was like riding on a cloud,' said Tobene afterwards: 'so high up.'
They were well within sight of Ule when--'Look,' said Tobene suddenly,
pointing in the direction of a speck on the white road, 'what's that?'
'It moves,' said Tilsa. 'It's a person.'
'We'll soon see what it is,' the Flamp grunted, lengthening his stride.
The earth shook as his feet beat upon it.
As they came nearer and nearer, the children saw that the object was a
woman. For a moment she stood upright, looking all ways at once as
though panic-stricken, and then she suddenly unfurled a green umbrella
and sank behind it.
'Why, it's Alison,' cried Tobene. 'Hurrah!'
'Stop, stop!' cried Tilsa to the Flamp. 'Please don't frighten dear old
Alison. Let us go down and run to her.'
The Flamp at once stopped and lay on his side, and the children slipped
to the ground and scampered as fast as they could towards their nurse.
The umbrella did not move. As they drew close they heard the old lady's
voice in beseeching tones: 'Please, Mr. Flamp, they're the sweetest
children in the world, and if you've swallowed them, you mountaineous
wretch you, you may as well swallow me too, for all there's left for me
to live for! Besides, I'm their nurse, and I might be useful to them
down inside. Ooh! Ooh! Please, Mr. Flamp, they're the sweetest children
in the world, and if you've swallowed them, you mountaineous wretch you,
you----'
'Alison, dear, it's all right,' Tilsa interrupted, skipping up and
pushing the umbrella aside. 'We're as safe and happy as ever we were.'
Alison stared first at one and then at the other of her truant charges.
Then--'Well?' she almost screamed, 'is it really you, my dearies?'
'Really!' exclaimed both children at once, and there was such hugging as
the plain of Ule had never before seen.
Soon Alison furled her umbrella and pointed to the Flamp, who was
smiling and chuckling and soliloquising in the distance.
('It's as good as smush to see this,' he was saying.)
'Is that him?' Alison inquired.
'Yes,' said Tilsa, 'and he's such a dear, you can't think.'
'Yes, come along and be introduced,' said Tobene, and without a word
Alison went, being quite assured that if the creature had not harmed her
two pets it would not harm her.
'Mr. Flamp,' said Tobene, 'I want to introduce you to this lady, our
nurse Alison. She's the best nurse in the world. You ought to get her to
tuck you up at night.'
'Tuck _me_ up?' cried the Flamp, and--'Tuck _that_ up?' cried Alison,
both together, and they all laughed, and at once Alison was at home and
comfortable.
They went forward to the city, chatting gaily, but when the wall was
reached, the gates were found to be barricaded. No sound of life was
audible, no moving thing to be seen.
'As I expected,' said the Flamp sadly. 'They heard me coming, and as
usual have locked themselves in. What's to be done?'
'The best course,' remarked old Alison, who was always a wonderful
manager, whether with the cold mutton or a child in a temper, 'the best
course is to wait. You lie down here, Mr. Flamp, and make as little
noise breathing as you can; and you, Tilsa, darling, take this pencil
and paper and write a note to your grandfather, to be slipped under the
gate. They'll venture out soon and find it.'
The Flamp and Tilsa did as they were bid. This was Tilsa's note to the
Liglid:--
'MY DEAR GRANDPAPA--There is no need to be frightened. Alison and
Toby and me are just outside the gates all safe with the Flamp, who
is really and truly the sweetest creature you ever saw. He doesn't
want to hurt this city at all, he only wants simpithy like I said
he did. If you open the gate and tell the people this you can see
for yourself how kind and gentle he is, and that there isn't any
need of sircumventing him. So please open the gate quickly. Your
affectionate grandchild,