By this time every soul on shipboard who could get aloft, or find place

at the railings, was gazing across the water and wondering at this

strange occurrence. No one could solve the mystery. Meanwhile the

lookout continued his report: "The whole scene is now fully in view. One

of the Brownie boats is pulling for the shore with might and main; the

other has left the yacht and is making straight for the Emma. The oars

flash in the moonlight, and are played so rapidly that the wake of the

boat is an almost unbroken line of gleaming gold. The Kind, Commander

Takeheed, lies directly in the boat's course, and as the crew pass under

the ship's bows they pause a moment,--only a moment--and then on again

as though making a final spurt at a rowing race.

"But what is this? The whole ship's crew has surely gone mad! Cheer on

cheer, wild, loud, uttering the very madness of joy, goes up from the

Kind's crew, till the welkin rings. See! the flag is being dipped. The

sailors are running over the rigging carrying with them lanterns which

they hang upon every available spot. The vessel is a blaze of light!

They are manning the yards! And still the cheers rise up and roll over

the lake with unabated energy. Ah! they have caught the contagion on

the shore, which the first boat has already reached. A line of lights

follows from the landing to the headquarters tent, springing up at once

behind the running boatmen, until every tent, bush and tree-top is

gleaming with lanterns and torches. The fort is all ablaze. And such

cheers! The camp is wild with joy over some great event."

"What can it be?"

"Governor Wille has come!" cried an enthusiastic Natty.

Maybe! But we shall know in a moment. Rodney and his brave tars are well

nigh beside themselves with excitement and wonder as the boat on which

every eye is now centred, dashes alongside. A brawny sailor is at the

bow, necktie thrown off, shirt wide open, hatless, and nearly breathless

with excitement. Hist! the deck is silent as death, and every ear stoops

for the message.

"The lost Nurses are found! Faith--Sophia--they're on yonder yacht!

Pipe, True, Blythe--they're all there--all safe!"

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!

Never were such echoes wakened from the green bosom of Hillside and the

blue face of Lake Katrine, as those which answered back the ringing

shout. The tidings flew from ship to ship; land and lake were soon

gleaming with countless lights, and the very leaves above them shook

with the sound of cheers and singing till the gathering dew dropped down

from their quivering sides.

And Rodney? We draw a veil upon his emotion as the tidings came to him.

Equally, we drop the curtain upon the scene which followed, when the

Fringe--for it was Raft's yacht, the same that bore the Nurses away into

captivity,--drew up to the side of the Emma, and Rodney sprung upon her

deck and clasped his darling Faith in his arms. Presently the yacht

landed its precious cargo at the foot of Cape Home, where all the return

party were publicly welcomed. Then the Nurses were led away to their own

tent and the embrace of their dear companions Agatha and Grace.

Faith and Sophia safe in the midst of the Brownie camp once more! Surely

the dayspring has come at last!

All this time Spite the Spy stood upon the cliff surrounded by his

staff, all of them champing, fretting, cursing, wondering, guessing,

well nigh distracted in their perplexity over these strange doings. The

whole thing was so mysterious, the burst of joy on the part of the

Brownies so sudden and extreme, that awe fell upon the Pixie host. Vague

presentiments of coming evil hung upon many hearts. The troops lay down

solitary and silent to sleep.[BL]

Spite sat upon the cliff alone, looking at the moonlight upon the water,

gazing across the mouth of the inlet into the illuminated camp of the

Brownies, venting his hatred and disappointment in oaths, and weaving in

his busy brain some plot by which to find out ere he retired the cause

of his enemies' joy. He had already sent out scouts to prowl along the

outer entrenchments of Fort Home, which divided the Brownie tents on the

south side of the stream from his own. As he sat there, awaiting their

return, he queried again and again, "What can it be?" Ah, Spite, you

shall find out ere long, and it will be the last tidings that your ears

shall ever hear!

We go back now to take up the story of the party upon Ellen's Isle, and

trace it to this happy ending. We left the little camp settled into

happy sleep after the rescue of Faith and Sophia from Arachne Hall. The

morning broke calm and bright, early driving away the mists that hung

over the island. The first thought of all turned upon escape. It seemed

beyond endurance to be shut up on that little spot, so near their

friends, with such glorious news in their keeping. Faith in particular

found it hard to restrain her feelings. She was indeed free, and her

lover was by her side; but how could she wait for the hour when the load

of grief should be rolled from her father's heart?

But stubborn facts shut the party in. One boat, which had nearly swamped

under the load that it had carried to the island, was all that they

could command. And now there were three others, Pipe and the two Nurses,

to be cared for. The sailors asked to be left to shift for themselves,

while the officers, and as many as could be stowed away safely, should

make the best of their way to land. No! that would be selfish and

couldn't be thought of. Besides, there was the risk! The Stygies were

closely guarding the inlet; and the Pixie camp at Big Cave lay between

them and the army. All over the lake and along shore the pirate crafts,

smugglers and yachts were plying. These facts made departure in an open

boat too great a risk, especially with such precious passengers to look

after. By themselves, no adventure would have been too daring for the

humor of the wrecked Brownies, but with Faith and Sophia in their

company they felt doubly engaged to caution. Then there was that

mysterious boat's crew from the Doubt. The least imprudence might reveal

to them the presence of the Brownie party, and call down upon the little

band the whole Stygian fleet. It was a perplexing position, and they

must be wise and patient and make the best of it.

"First of all," said Pipe, who now took command, "we must try to rig up

another boat. Now, my hearties, out with your hatchets and ropes and get

to work!"

The sailors could turn their hands to every sort of handicraft, and some

of them were quite skillful mechanics. Fortunately, Square, the ship's

carpenter of one of the sunken vessels, was among the number picked up

by Coxswain Help, and to him the boat building was entrusted. First the

frame was made ready. A hickory twig was laid upon the ground, and bent

at both ends. This formed the keel. Both ends of two similar twigs were

fastened to each end of the keel piece, and bent outward to form the

gunwale. These pieces were held in position by braces until the ribs

were set, which were shorter twigs bent around the frame and fastened to

the keel piece beneath, and to the gunwale on either side.

"Very good," said Square, when this work was done, "now for the

covering. We must find a birch tree for that, and strip the bark from

some of the branches."

The Natties soon came back from the woods bringing enough white birch

bark to cover a man-of-war. The framework was entirely covered with

this, the pieces being lapped far over one another, so as to make the

joints as water-tight as possible.

"Now," said Chips, as the sailors call the carpenter, "if we had a

little oakum to caulk these seams we should be all right."

"We can fix that for you," answered one of the sailors. "Here is a grass

whose fibres, if well scraped, will give us quite a good substitute for

tow. As for tar, we can get on very well with the gum on yonder pine

tree."

"A good thought," said Square, "and I will leave you to carry it out,

while I get ready the thwarts and bottom boards."

The thwarts were simply undressed twigs laid close together after the

fashion of a rustic seat, and fastened against the ribs, and the bottom

board was built in the same way. The whole affair had a rustic

appearance, when it was finished, but it promised to be serviceable, and

that was the main matter. When the woodwork was done the boat was turned

keel up, and the caulking began. The fibres of grass were torn and drawn

into fine threads, and these made passable oakum, which was thrust into

the seams between the layers of bark until they were thoroughly stopped.

Now rollers were put under the keel, ropes were fastened to the stern,

and by pushing and pulling the boat was safely launched upon the lake.

It floated well, and was water-tight. The building of the boat took the

whole of that day and part of the following, and all hands were vastly

pleased at the results. They now had the means to escape from the island

whenever the way opened.

After dinner, whilst Square wrought upon the boat, and Pipe and Blythe

guarded the camp, True and Clearview, at the head of a small party,

sallied forth to explore. They set out for the head of the island, that

is, the end toward the inlet, marching as stealthily as an Indian war

party. They were chiefly concerned to find out what the boat's crew from

the Stygian ship Doubt had to do upon Ellen's Isle, and whether there

seemed any prospect that they would pass over to the opposite end, and

thus imperil the Brownies. They had well nigh skirted the entire south

shore before they observed any signs of the Pixies.

"What is that?" cried Sailor Filip, pointing to a small conical mound

just beyond the path, built of dry grass stalks and small twigs.

Thereupon he ran up to it and exclaimed: "It is a tom-tit's nest, built

flat upon the ground!"

"Who ever heard the like?" shouted a companion; and thereat the Brownies

began to guy the discoverer, and ran into the thicket to get a closer

view.

"Well, well!" they exclaimed as they got quite near, "it truly is a

bird's nest of some sort. But what a weenie one! And what bird could

have built it?"

"Come, let us explore it!" said a little Brownie who by a well-known

rule of contrariness was called Jumbo. So saying, he began clambering up

the sides.

"Good for Jumbo!" his comrades cried, and followed close at his heels.

It was easy climbing, and the Brownies having quickly reached the top

were amazed to find no bottom to the nest! They looked down into a deep

crater that pierced the ground below the surface, and led into depths

hidden in darkness.

"I'm bound to solve this mystery!" said Jumbo. "Who'll go with me into

the hole?" He swung over the edge, and his comrades were about

following, when they were stopped by a sharp cry from Jumbo: "Look out

there!"

"Look in, you mean," said Filip. And they all looked into the burrow.

They saw a row of gleaming eyes that sparkled like jewels as they slowly

moved upward into the light. Then came into view a claw; then another,

and another, and next the brown head of a great Pixie!

"Whew!" cried Jumbo. "Somersault all, and out of this, instanter!" He

swung himself back over the outer edge of the nest and rattled down the

rugged side in such haste that he tumbled in a little heap upon the

grass, and was presently buried under the sprawling limbs of his

comrades. When the Brownies got to their feet they saw a huge ground

Pixie of the clan Lycosa, glaring at them over the edge of the nest, and

plainly getting ready to spring down upon them.

"Cut and run, lads!" shouted Jumbo, and away the squad scurried out of

the thicket, leaving Lycosa perched upon the crest of her nest-like

tower. When they told their story to Captain Clearview, he bade two of

the Natties remain in the path, and keep watch upon the nest-building

Pixie lest she might sally forth and attack the party on flank or rear.

Then he bade the squad move on. They had gone but a short march when the

Captain called a halt.

[Illustration: FIG. 138.--The Tower or Surface Nest of a Lycosid

Spider.[BM]]

"See," he said, pointing toward the lake, "yonder is the boat! It is

tied to the shore, without any attempt at concealment. Plainly, the crew

has no suspicion of our presence here. Their camp can't be far away."

The scouting party was halted, and Clearview and True stole through the

young willows that fringed the shore.

"Hist! there they are!" whispered True, who had caught the sound of

voices. "Do you see them?"

"No, but they are just beyond this fallen sapling. Here, we can climb

upon the trunk and overlook the bivouac safely."

In a small open space, near the point where the boat lay, the camp had

been pitched. A large tent with a tubular entrance had been built over

the hole made by the uplifted root of an overthrown oak. Another tent

was pitched above this on a platform made of earth which had adhered to

the projecting roots; and a third was woven over the top of a clump of

weeds, its tubular entrance or hall running straight down to the ground.

A bridge of silken ropes stretched from the camp to the tops of the

willows that skirted the shore, and from the tents to the edge of the

water. It was a snug and pretty retreat.[BN]

True and Clearview climbed into the branches of the fallen tree, crept

along the trunk, and found themselves near enough to overlook the entire

camp and overhear the conversation which had first attracted their

attention. They were themselves hidden among the leaves. A sentinel

stood in the circular doorway of the tent which occupied the hole below

the roots. Just beyond, two Pixie officers walked to and fro, talking

loudly and earnestly.

"Do you know them?" whispered True.

"Yes; that fellow in black is Halfway the son of Hide; he is one of the

principal Stygian chiefs. The one in the brown uniform with broad

whitish band is Agalena Ringster; he is one of the Tubeweaving Pixies, a

tricky fellow and captain of the marines."

"Softly," said True, as the Pixies, having reached the limit of their

promenade, turned and walked toward the tent. "We shall find out now

what they talk about."

"You are sure you understand your father aright?" asked Ringster.

"Quite; he said that the cave was at the head of Aranea Isle--head, I

think it was; it's the only point about which I feel uncertain. I am

positive of all the rest."

"But," said Ringster, "there is no such cave, for we have explored every

inch of ground thoroughly. Pity the old man was cut off so suddenly! But

we must act on your uncertainty, and try the foot of the island. There's

nothing else for it; you can't go to Spite about this matter; that would

spoil all."

"There's the trouble. We have wasted too much time already. Our absence

will be noticed. We can't do much to-day, and--but will to-morrow be

clear?"

"Aye. Look at my marines yonder. Do you see them putting up a new tent?"

Ringster pointed to the tall grass near the willows, over which a fresh

silken canvas was being rapidly spread. "They never do that in

threatening weather. You can rely upon it more certainly than our fine

Governor does upon his Old Probabilities."[BO]

"But if we fail to discover anything on the foot of the island?" asked

Halfway. "Can we take the time to go over the--"

Here the voices of the officers grew indistinct, as they had turned upon

their course and gone to the far end of the enclosure. They were soon

within ear-shot again, but the thread of conversation had been lost.

"But where is he?" asked Ringster. "If our search fails we must fall

back upon him. He was your father's friend, and will serve you

faithfully. Where does he keep his yacht?"

"I don't know. But--I declare! I had quite forgotten it! He was to meet

father here to-day!"

"Good!" exclaimed Ringster; "that is the best news yet. It was stupid

enough in you not to remember it before. That makes matters plain. We

may wait here until he comes, and save ourselves all trouble. But where

will he land?"

"I don't know that," responded Halfway. "If I am right as to the

location of the cave, he would touch here, of course. If not--" Here the

Pixies entered one of their tents and the conversation was wholly lost.

"We have heard enough," whispered True. "Let us away!" Noiselessly as

they had approached, the Brownie spies stole back again to their

friends, and reported their discoveries.

"What do you make of it all?" asked Help.

True answered: "That scamp Halfway is after the cave in which Faith and

Sophia were concealed. Don't you remember that they told us of Hide's

plans? The old rogue had been laying some scheme to circumvent Spite,

and was cut off before he had finished it, or fully revealed it to his

hopeful son."

"And the last part of the conversation--?"

"Refers to Raft, beyond a doubt," answered Clearview. "Now the question

is, what shall we do? These Pixies will be down upon our camp to-morrow

at the furthest. We must get out of the island, at least out of our

present quarters, very soon, unless, indeed, we agree to stand and fight

it out."

"Well," said Help, "I have thought of a plan that will save us from our

greatest danger. I was sorely tempted to put it into execution, while

you were away. Look there," pointing to the Pixie boat. "If that were

out of the problem we could solve it a good deal more readily. What I

fear most is that these Doubtmen, at the first alarm, may pull off to

the fleet, and bring such a force against us as will overwhelm us. If

they were here alone with us we might have a fair standup fight, or a

struggle of plot and counterplot, and come off well enough. Can't we get

that boat adrift? It is not guarded; we can steal along the shore,

loosen the cable and let her drift off on the current. I will volunteer

for the service."

The party greeted this plan with approbation, and it was immediately

carried out. Help and two of the sailors crept along the shore, under

the drooping boughs of the willows, and reached the boat safely.

Silently and quickly they slipped the cable by which she was moored to

the bank, and placing their spears against the bow, gave a vigorous

push. The current was strong at this point, sweeping from the inlet

along the head of the island toward the foot, and so out into the lake.

In a few moments the boat had drifted out of sight beyond the willows,

and was on its way to the outlet.

It had immediately floated away beyond recovery, before Halfway, who had

mounted the bridge to look out for Raft, saw that the boat was gone, and

raised the alarm. He stormed, swore, questioned, threatened. In the

meantime Ringster had quietly ascended one of the tallest bushes, and

was carefully surveying the lake.

"I see her!" he cried, pointing toward the outlet. "Yonder she drifts,

far beyond the foot of the island, and out of reach. The current is so

strong here that she has pulled up the stake or slipped her painter, and

the current has carried her away. It's bad business for us, but storming

won't mend matters. We must make the best of it and quietly wait for

Raft. If he fails us, we must set signals for some of our own ships." So

saying he got down from his perch and entered his tent, an example which

the rest were not slow to follow.

The Brownies set their faces homeward well satisfied with the results

of the scout, and anxious to reach camp before sunset. But their

adventures were not ended. As the party stealthily threaded the shore in

Indian file, Clearview, who was in the lead, suddenly halted and threw

up a hand in token of silence.

"Hist--softly! See there!"

He pointed to a gaily uniformed water Pixie stretched upon the ground a

little beyond them, sound asleep. The Brownie sailors lifted their

spears, and were about to hurl them at the prostrate form.

"Hold!" said True in an undertone, "we must capture this fellow. He may

be Raft himself. It is his uniform, at least; and if it be he, no

Brownie hand must harm him save in lawful battle. Let us move softly,

and at the signal surround and capture him." It was done as ordered, and

the sleeping waterman awoke to find himself in the hands of his enemies.

"Are you Raft Dolomede?" asked True.

"Well, what then, Sir?" answered the Pixie defiantly.

"Then your life shall be spared for a kindness done in an hour of great

need to those whom we love."

The captive cast a keen, inquiring glance into True's face; then

answered coolly, "Humph! that's a temptation to sail under false colors

that most of my kin would thank'ee for. But I don't take kindly to

lying, and don't ask for life at Brownie hands. Do your worst--and as

soon as you please. My name's not Raft."

Again the Brownie spears were poised, and again True interfered to save

the captive. "Beat those bushes along the shore," he cried; "we shall

carry our prisoner to camp." Presently the sailors returned and reported

that they had found a yacht at anchor under the willows just beyond.

"Any name on her?"

"Aye; 'The Fringe' is worked in white silk upon one of the sails."

True turned to his captive and asked, "Are you the captain of that

yacht?"

"No, Sir," was the stout answer, "the Captain's looking for some

messmates down yonder at the foot of the island."

True started. "Haste! Mark the spot where the yacht lies. Bring on the

prisoner--away, away!"

The Brownie camp was soon reached. Square and his squad left their

boat-building to stare at the new arrival, and overwhelmed their friends

with wondering questions. Faith and Sophia left their tent to learn the

cause of the commotion. The crowd of sailors around the scouts and their

prisoner fell back, bringing the Pixie into full view. Sophia uttered a

cry and ran forward.

"Do not harm him, True," she exclaimed, "this is Raft! Save him; he is

the only one who showed us kindness in our captivity."

Raft, for it was indeed he, cast down his eyes and said nothing. True

looked in amazement upon him, and asked half angrily: "What reason, even

according to Pixie policy, could you have had for telling us such lies?"

Raft was silent. In sooth, he could hardly have answered the question.

Perhaps he had felt, more keenly than he cared to show, Sophia's refusal

to marry him; perhaps he was moved by ideas of fidelity to his own

party; perhaps he was simply stubborn and defiant; perhaps he was really

ashamed, after the manner of some human beings, to confess and talk

about anything so far out of his common life as a good deed. At all

events, he refused to speak to any one, even to the Nurses. He was

securely bound and carefully guarded throughout the night.

Next morning Pipe called a council, and announced a plan of escape. "We

have, or shall have soon," said he, "two boats and Raft's yacht. We

could get off quite well in the boats; but the risks of meeting some of

the Pixie craft would be considerable. We can avoid that by taking out

the Fringe with us, and pulling our boats close alongside of her. The

Stygies will not suspect anything wrong with a craft they know so well.

We can get quite near the fleet without challenge, and trust to luck to

run the gauntlet of the ships afterwards."

The plan was accepted at once and it was agreed to attempt the escape

that evening, when the moon would give enough light to sail by, but not

too much to allow close observation. There were two difficulties in the

way, Raft and the Doubtmen. The first was happily disposed of. Pipe

approached the prisoner in his hearty sailor fashion. He saw at a glance

that the smuggler was in a better humor than on the evening before.

"Mornin', shipmate," said Pipe. "We're going to leave these quarters

this evening, and take a little cruise toward the inlet. We have need of

your craft for a convoy and want to make matters as easy for you as

possible. We give you your choice; stay here tied to that tree until

your friends at the head of the island can find and release you, or go

with us on the Fringe. If you choose the first, you must lose your

yacht; if the second, we promise you that when we are safe alongside a

Nattie ship, or in the Brownie camp, you shall sail off unmolested. What

say you?"

Raft twisted himself into a more comfortable position, pulled upon the

cords that bound him, and answered, "Well, Bow'sn, I might as well say

thank'ee at once. I choose number two. It's not a pretty thing for a

free rover like me to be lashed up here like a sailor on a man-o'-war

seized up for a flogging. An' d'ye think I'd trust those fellows on the

Point to cut these cables and set me free? If it suited their own

interests they might; otherwise Raft might go to Pluto for all them. As

to giving up the Fringe"--here a tear started into the smuggler's eye,

"not if I can help it, Bow'sn! Why, I love that pretty thing more'n my

life. She's as dear to me as your daughter is to you. Aye, aye, Sir!

I'll save the Fringe, bless her pretty timbers! So heave ahead, as soon

as you're a mind to. One cruise with a Brownie skipper won't hurt, I

reckon. 'Specially as a fellow can't help it."

That matter being arranged, the boat-building was hurried up, and as the

skiff was nearly finished, it was launched as already described. Camp

was then broken, and the whole party embarked in the boats and pulled

around the island, keeping close under the shadow of the overhanging

willows, to the point where the Fringe lay. Faith and Sophia were placed

aboard the yacht, and Raft, still bound, was kept under guard in one of

the boats.

"Now, my hearties," said Pipe, as the Brownies landed, "we may as well

get ready for some rough work. This is my plan. We are to go into

ambush, just beyond there. I am satisfied that the Pixies will take this

path to the foot of the island. The other side is well nigh a jungle,

while here is an open way. You are to wait under cover until Halfway and

his party appear. Then at the signal you are to open on them with

spears, and rush upon them with swords, making all the noise you can. I

count, pretty confidently, that they will be thrown into confusion, and

will make straight back to their camp and fortify themselves. If they do

so, we are all right and can sail away at our leisure. If they show

fight, we must stand up to them like men and do our best."

The ambush was soon arranged. A scout who had been sent forward to the

Point, was seen swinging along under the bushes, stooping as he ran, and

moving noiselessly. He reported that the Pixies were about leaving camp,

and, as had been conjectured, by the path on that side. The word was

passed along, and all sank into silence as Halfway and his command

strode on carelessly talking and laughing. When they reached the fatal

spot, the Boatswain's whistle rose shrill and loud from the bushes above

the path. It was the signal of attack.

"Faith, Sophia and Rescue!"

The Brownies shouted this battle cry, which Pipe had given them, as

though the voice and strength of ten were in every throat. At the same

instant a volley of spears rained down upon the astounded Stygians, and,

ere they could recover from their surprise, the Natties were upon them

with swift sabre strokes.

Pipe had reckoned truly. The surprise was so complete, the attack so

vigorous, the names of the Nurses, whom the Pixies were seeking, had

such a startling effect as they were shouted and echoed on every side,

and the Pixies were so utterly unprepared for defence, that they turned

at once, and fled in disorder to their camp, where they began throwing

up entrenchments. Three of their number were left dead upon the ground,

one of whom was their leader, Halfway, who fell pierced through and

through by spears which True and Clearview had hurled at him with sure

aim.

"Now, my lads," said Pipe, putting up his sword, "we may as well take

matters comfortably until sundown. Then, up anchor, and away home!"

A ringing cheer was the response. Sentinels were stationed, a scout sent

out to watch the Pixie camp, and the party quietly rested until evening.

When the moon arose above the lake, the anchor of the Fringe was raised,

the boats were manned, and the little fleet swung loose from the island.

Both wind and current were against them at first, and little progress

was made. But Raft, who had been released on parole and was aboard his

beloved Fringe, aided heartily in navigating the yacht, while the boats

kept close under her sides. Gradually the party approached the inlet,

and arrived unchallenged within the lines of the Stygian fleet just as

Scaly began her attack. That event somewhat unsettled the plans of our

little squadron, but Pipe soon found that it might work to their

advantage. He crowded on all sail, and made straight for the Emma, with

what results the reader already knows.

The Brownies dealt with Raft as they had promised, and when the island

party had safely landed on the Emma, the smuggler was allowed to sail

away with the Fringe, untouched. He made directly for Ellen's Isle, took

aboard the Pixies there, secured the body of Halfway, and after

delivering the living and dead aboard the Doubt, ran his yacht under the

cliff whereon we last saw Spite the Spy seated, waiting, in solitude,

tidings from his scouts.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote BL: Appendix, Note A.]

[Footnote BM: Appendix, Note B.]

[Footnote BN: Appendix, Note C.]

[Footnote BO: Appendix, Note D.]

CHAPTER XXXII.

ENSIGN LAWE'S MISSION.

Shortly after the renowned adventure with the Stygian Ram, Ensign Lawe

had been sent upon a mission to Governor Wille. He had been told to

spare no effort to arouse the Governor from his indifference to Brownie

perils and sufferings, and bring him to their help. "Take all the time

you need," added Bruce, "and don't let us see your face until you can

bring from Wille a fixed decision, Yea or Nay."

These were hard instructions; but the Ensign was used to facing

difficulties, and overcoming them, too. He therefore rode away, with a

few trusty troopers, determined to succeed if success were possible.

Arrived at the Mansion he found preparations afoot for a grand company

in honor of the distinguished Major-General Fleisch. Many people had

been invited, and when evening came the house and grounds were thronged.

There were Parson Prettyman and his wife, Senator Wirepull, the

Honorable Mr. Splurge, M.C., Mr. Shearall the rich banker, Mr.

Shortweight the wealthy merchant, Lawyers Grip and Gab, Drs. Sugarcoat

and Skindeep, Squire Muddle, Mayor Sponge, and Messrs. Taxem and Robb of

the City Council. There were, to be sure, some most worthy people

besides, but the above seemed to be favorites with Governor Wille, and

to them and the great General Fleisch he showed particular attentions.

There was no end of merrymaking. A band played beautiful music from a

rustic stand in front of the hall door. Chinese lanterns hung upon trees

and shrubbery, and these, with the light of the full moon, made the

grounds look like a scene in fairyland.

Amidst all this splendor and gaiety the Pixies kept on spreading their

tents upon the lawn. Every now and then, indeed, some of the company

would overturn a tent and send its occupants fleeing into their holes

among the roots. But that is a matter which Pixies count upon, and

therefore they only grumbled and got to work again. Indeed they were

quite proud of the whole affair.

"Ho! Brother Cito," said Captain Saltus of the Skirmishers. "Isn't this

a grand celebration of our victory?"

"That is it!" answered Cito; "a regular jubilee. Good luck to Governor

Ville, and confusion to all Brownies!"

"Humph!" growled Heady, "they're a pack of human fools! And you're

little better for thinking that they care for our victories."

"Let those laugh who win," thought Ensign Lawe, who was hidden in the

rose bush just above the group, and overheard these remarks. "However,

there will be little chance to forward my mission to-night. The Governor

has given himself up wholly to pleasuring that big general, and will

have a heavy ear for Brownie complaints and petitions."

He sat on the bush and swung himself to and fro, and listened to the

strains of music, the hum of conversation, the clatter of plates and

goblets, until the small hours of the night had come. Then he saw Wille

and Dido go off wearily to their bed-chamber, and wondered, "Shall I

disturb them? No! I will wait until they are refreshed by sleep, and

will appeal to them in the brightness of the new morning."

As the day began to break Ensign Lawe awoke. He peeped from beneath the

leafy canopy under which he had slept sound and dry. Over the lawn the

white tents of the Pixies were spread far and wide. Squads and companies

of busy workers were rapidly pushing on the encampment to the border of

the South Walk, and to the Promenade under the west window.

[Illustration: FIG. 139.--The Web of Dictyna the Lacemaker.]

"I can't stand this!" cried the Ensign. "Ho! Brownies, awake! Hi!

ponies, up! Shake the dew off your wings!" He leaped upon his own nag,

and followed by his dragoons, flew across to the Virginia creeper that

ran over the west wall and twined above the windows of the chamber where

Wille and Dido slept.

[Illustration: FIG. 140.--Madam Lacemaker Tries to Capture Ensign Lawe.]

It was the Ensign's hap to alight upon a leaf whereon a small and rather

dainty but vigorous Pixinee, named Madam Dictyna the Lacemaker, had

built a snug pavilion. Spite had set her as an especial sentinel upon

my lady Dido; and when Lawe and his dragoons made such a rude entrance

upon her domain she was sorely vexed. Shaking her lace frills and

skirts, she ran out from her tent and threatened the Brownies with high

bluster and rage.

But Lawe would not permit her to be attacked just then; he had other

work to do, to which the Lacemaker's presence only spurred him forward.

The party left their ponies outside, and crept through the slats of the

closed blind into the room. They mounted the bed-post, climbed atop of

the carved headboard, and began drumming with their feet and spears upon

the solid walnut.

"Rat-a-tat! Rat-a-tat! Tat, tat, tat!"

Neither of the sleepers stirred.

"Louder, lads, louder!" shouted the Ensign. "Rat-a-tat! Rat-a-tat! Tat,

tat!"

Still the weary couple slept.

"Stop!" called Lawe. "No use! Late hours--late supper--champagne! We

must wait and try something better. Away!"

As they descended the bed and scampered back to the window they were

greeted by a loud, prolonged nasal serenade from the unconscious pair.

"Puff! pu-ff-ff!--oo,--haw!" breathed Dido quite gently, indeed, after a

fashion which goes with some folk by the name of "boiling mush."

"Oo--oogh--ha--aw--_hogh!_" was the answering snore from the Governor's

nose, with a tremendous force upon the "hogh!" In fact, it came out with

such a sharp explosion, that Wille's head flew forward, and he awoke.

"Wife," said he sleepily--"I say, wife!" and here he gave Dido a little

tap under the chin. "Don't snore so loud, please! Why, I--I--really you

made a terrible racket. I thought at first that some one was pounding

the bedstead!"

Dido was quite awake now, and answered indignantly, "Snore indeed! You'd

better talk! Pounding the bedstead! It's too bad!" And thereupon the

little lady turned over sharply toward the wall, and composed herself to

sleep.

However, the Governor had lost the benefit of Dido's speech; for ere she

had finished he was sound asleep, and snoring almost as vigorously as

before. Meanwhile the Brownies had returned to their rose-bush retreat

ignorant of the amusing scene for which their little feet were

responsible.

"To-morrow," said Lawe, "we must succeed. If we can once get the

Governor to see, in the early morning, while the dew lies upon their

tent-tops and reveals them what a vast camp of our enemies holds our old

and rightful quarters, I am sure that he will clear out the usurpers at

once!"

"Aye; but how shall we bring that about?" said Corporal Trust.

"We must have help. Come, lads, mount and away!" answered Lawe.

He led his troopers straight toward the orchard. Over the tree-tops they

flew; on, up, until at last he halted the party on one of the spreading

limbs of Lone Aspen. There the Ensign dismounted and approaching the

Lone Aspen the first object upon which his eyes fell was a round,

horizontal snare of Uloborus, spread within the hollow of the trunk,

where the great gateway opened at the foot. His anger was highly

inflamed at the sight, and he forgot his mission in the eager purpose to

rout this foe lurking at the doorway of his friend, Madam Breeze. He

ran hastily forward and smote the web with his sword until it fell to

the ground. Uloborus, who was stretched beneath it on a ribbon-like

hammock, tumbled down with the ruins of his orb; and thereat Ensign Lawe

fell upon him with his sword. But the Pixie, thinking discretion the

better part of valor, dodged the strokes, and shaking himself loose from

the fragments of his late beautiful net, ran away at top of his speed,

and plunged into the thick grass around the roots of the tree. Lawe did

not think well to follow; and his wrath being somewhat vented, turned

again to the errand on which he had come. He climbed the grass-rope

ladder stretched along the trunk, and having reached the upper window at

the great knot-hole, blew a shrill blast upon his bugle. The echoes

rolled up and down the hollow trunk.

"Oo--oo--oo!"

The round mellow voice of Madam Breeze answered the call, and a moment

thereafter the merry Elf bobbed her rubicund face out of the window.

"Hah! who is there? Brownies again, I warrant--Wheeze! More forts to

smash? Ho, ho, ho! Why, my sides are aching yet with that last bout. Ho,

ho!--Hoogh!" It seemed more likely that the good lady's sides were

aching with her hearty laughter.

[Illustration: FIG. 141.--"A Round, Horizontal Snare of Uloborus, Spread

Within the Hollow of the Trunk."]

"Didn't we batter them, though?" she ran on. "Down went tents! Down went

barricades! Down went fort--Hoogh!" Here Madam gave one of her little

coughs. "Well, no, not exactly that, neither. That was too much for us.

But no matter! The vile old den got its deserts anyhow. Ho, ho! Phaugh!

And how's Spite the Spy? Has his breath improved any? Wheeze--Dear me! I

doubt if he ever scrubs his teeth. Think of a pure, sweet Breeze-body

like myself having to wrestle with such as he! Don't ask me to! No, no!

It's too funny, ho, ho!--Wheeze--hoogh! You see my asthma's no

better--Wheeze!"

All this time the Elf had been seated on a broad leaf swinging like a

pendulum, and gazing into the clouds. She suddenly stopped and looked

into the Ensign's face.

"Dear me!" she cried, "I--I--and so it's not Bruce this time? The

rogue--the scamp--the--ah!--Wheeze! How could he dare to deceive me

so?--Hoogh!"

For one minute Madam Breeze sat still, actually for a whole minute! The

fact is, she was just a trifle afraid of Ensign Lawe, the only one of

all the Brownies, by the way, who ever dashed her high spirits a

particle. During that moment the good Elf looked as sober as she could

then threw her heels up and her head down, and swung away furiously for

a few seconds.

"Oho! It's you, is it? Well, things must be serious when Lawe comes

a-gossiping to Madam Breeze. Well, well! Cheer up, cheer up, Mr.

Sobersides!

"Shall we, inclined to sadness,

Strike melancholy's string?

Oh, no! we'll tune to gladness

And merrily, merrily sing

Tra, la!"

The Elf trilled these words to a sprightly strain, and wound up with a

laugh, a wheeze and a cough. By this time her touch of seriousness had

vanished, and she was swinging as lustily as ever.

"There now, Mr. Lawe. You see I'm composed and ready for business. Go on

with your story. Bad news?--of course! Yes, yes--hoogh! I know something

about it--bad! There,--stand still a minute, can't you?--and go on!"

Lawe had stood silent and motionless, all this while, waiting for Madam

Breeze to settle herself. But as he saw that this was not likely to

happen, he began the story of Brownie disasters, and after many

interruptions reached the matter he had in hand.

"Yes, yes! I see it all," said the Elf. "Not another word--it is all

right. Here, Whirlit, Keener! Put my ponies Vesper and Vacuum into the

chariot--quick!"

The word had scarcely been spoken ere the two pages returned leading a

House Martin and a Meadow Lark, who were harnessed to a maple leaf

mounted upon wheels of thistledown. The stem of the leaf served as the

tongue of the chariot, and the palm of the leaf was bent over at the

apex and bent up at the base, so as to make a very pretty fairy coach

indeed.

The lark's name was Vesper, the martin's Vacuum, and Madam Breeze had

taken the liberty of nicknaming them "Vesp" and "Vac."

"Come; in with you!" cried the good Elf, and suddenly contracting

herself into the very smallest compass, as she was wont at times to do,

she bounced into the chariot. The Ensign followed. Whirlit and Keener

mounted the bird ponies, and waited for the word of command.

"To the cove. Go!" shouted Madam Breeze; and away the party went over

orchard and meadow, over town, bridge and river. They stopped at the

summit of a hill that stands at the mouth of the cove, whose brow has

been worn by frosts, heats and storms of centuries, until it stands up a

bald cliff. The naked rock below has a rough likeness to a human face,

and the fringe of bushes underneath gives the idea of a vast beard. The

top of the cliff is covered with trees that look in the far distance

like tufts of frizzly hair upon the Giantstone's poll. From the midst of

these rose (when these records were made) two pine trees. Their tall

trunks were quite bare, their bushy branches interlocked closely, and

thus was left a goodly sized opening, through which at that time of the

year the sun was first seen of mornings coming down into the valley. The

fairies called this the Gate of the Sun, and it was to visit four sister

Elves who kept this gate that Madam Breeze had now come. The gate stood

wide open, for the sunshine was already gone through to the town and

hills beyond. In a snug little cave in the limestone front of the hill,

a sort of "mouth" to the Giantstone's face, the four Elves lived.

Lawe followed as briskly as possible, swung himself from bough to bough

of the overhanging shrubbery, landed upon a narrow ledge, and found his

way to the mouth of the Cave of the Clouds. Madam Breeze, now expanded

in bodily form to goodly size, had already entered and was bustling

around the place calling for the sisters.

"Hi! Cirrus! Ho, Stratus! Here, here--where are you?--Wheeze!"

The dead dry leaves whirled around and around as the merry Elf called,

and the echoes answered her voice.

"Ho--e--oh! Cumulus! Nimbus! Can't you hear?"

The bustling Elf had no cause to be impatient, for she had scarcely

spoken ere four forms slowly rose in the shadows of the inner cave, and

began to move deliberately toward the light. The first advanced with

airy footstep, shaking about her face a cloud of long curling locks,

almost white. She was dressed in a white robe, covered with trellis-work

patterns, inwrought with thin silvery streaks. This was Elf Cirrus.

The second sister was a plump, sober-looking Elf, whose hair was

gathered in woolly puffs upon her round head, and was a curious mixture

of white and black. Her robe was covered with figures of cones,

hemispheres and white-topped mountains, which figures were touched here

and there with many bright colors. This was Cumulus.

Elf Stratus wore a grayish robe flounced with bands of divers colors,

many of them edged with bright silver and golden fringe like the rays of

the setting sun. Her dark hair was worn smooth, and was crossed by a

band of purple ribbons that girdled the crown.

Nimbus, the last of the four sisters, was a gloomy-looking dame, with a

kind look in her eyes nevertheless, and a great purse in her hand,

through the meshes of which yellow pieces of gold were seen. She was

dressed in black, had a gray cloak with fringed edges thrown over her

shoulders, and a dainty lace cap upon her head.

"Oho! here you are, then!" cried Madam Breeze as the Elves came forward.

They all bowed as she spoke, and stood quite still when she ceased.

Indeed, the sisters seemed to be curiously affected by Madam Breeze's

voice; for all the while that she was speaking they gently swayed their

bodies, and moved back and forth through the cave.

"Come now," said Madam Breeze, "you must be quite good-natured, you

know. I have a very, very important duty for you. I want to serve my

good friends the Brownies--wheeze! Here, Ensign, let me present you.

These are the Cloud Elves." Lawe bowed gravely, and the sisters each

made that graceful and dignified courtesy which our grandmothers were

taught to be the proper thing on such occasions.

"This is what I want," continued Madam Breeze; "to-morrow

morning--wheeze!--do you hear me? To-morrow morning I want to have quite

clear. Keep the Gate of the Sun wide open--hoogh! Wide, I say; for we

have some good work for my Lord Sol to do over there at Hillside.

Stratus, do you hear, lass?--wheeze! I'm most afraid of you. You're such

a regular night owl, and affect the manners of--hoogh!--of those silly

humans who wake all night and go to bed at sunrise. But, mark what I

say--wheeze!--you must stay at home this night. Not a flounce, not a

frill, not a--hoogh!--not a--wheeze!--nothing--(confusion seize this

cough!)--of all your fine toggery must be spread between the sun and the

gate to-morrow morn. Do you all understand?"

Madam Breeze puffed, and bounded about in a nervous way, mightily

stirred up by the necessity for making such a long speech. The sisters

bowed several times, and at last Nimbus, who seemed to speak for the

others, answered in a deep voice that rolled through the cave and

sounded like low distant thunder: "We will keep the gate open, good

Mistress Breeze. You know we are always ready to oblige you. Your

pleasure shall be our law."

"Good--good! Many thanks. Don't forget. If you do--bless your

hearts!--I'll blow up Brother Tempest and have him tear your fine robes

into tatters. Good-bye. Come, Ensign, let us away--wheeze!" Once more

squeezing herself into scant space, she got into the chariot.

"Where next?" asked Lawe, when the top of the cliff had been regained.

"Where, where? Jump in--quick! Whirlit, Keener, you rogues, where are

you? Oh, you're at your post, are you?--wheeze! All right. Go!--hoogh!"

"Go? Whither?" cried Whirlit, leaping upon Vesper's back and gathering

up the reins.

"To be sure! I had forgotten; all owing to that vile asthma! To the

falls in the cove. Away!"

A beautiful stream runs through the cove. As it approaches the river, it

hugs the base of the southern hill, enters a short ravine, midway of

which it tumbles over a rock ten or twelve feet high, making a pretty

waterfall. The sides of the ravine around the cascade and pool are

covered with ferns. Thrifty young hemlocks stretch their tops upward and

interlock their green branches above.

"What a charming spot! what a cool retreat!" cried Lawe, as the chariot

dashed through an opening in the foliage, through which the sunlight

stole and rested in a golden plate upon the bosom of the pool.

The face of the pool was rippled and dimpled as Madam's chariot stopped

upon a flat stone at the edge of the cascade. The waterfall, too, raised

a louder splash and broke its broad sheet into many ribbons and tongues

of water in welcome of the good Elf. Vesper and Vacuum dipped their

beaks thereinto and having kissed the pool's face, threw up their heads

and drank to the health of Cove Fall and its people.

"Wait a moment," said Madam Breeze. She leaped from the chariot and ran

under the fall. Presently she returned bringing with her the Fairy Dew,

whom she had come to see. Lawe had never seen a more beautiful and

dainty sprite. Her face and head were covered with a long white veil

which, as well as her gauze robe, glistened with mimic pearls and

diamonds. When she shook her head or moved her body these jewels were

thrown off in little showers that shone a moment in the sunbeams, and

then melted away into the earth or water. But there seemed to be none

the less of them for all that. A curious instrument that somewhat

resembled Scottish bagpipes, hung from her shoulders, and rested under

the left arm. Every moment or two Fairy Dew pressed this instrument

between her arm and side, whereupon, from a number of little tubes there

would issue a cloud of spray, that settled upon the grass and leaves in

minute round jewels like those which covered the Fairy's dress.

[Illustration: FIG. 142.--Fairy Dew at the Mouth of the Cave.]

Madam Breeze presented the Ensign to the Fairy, and then in her own

jerky way told the story of the Brownies' troubles. Whereat Dew was

sorry and excited, and shook so many pearl drops around her that Lawe

had to step beyond the circle of the shower to save himself from being

drenched. That was the Fairy's way of shedding tears, it would seem.

"What I want you to do," continued the Elf, "is to be up bright and

early to-morrow, and cover the lawn at Hillside with these pretty gems

of yours. The Pixies--faugh!--have their tents spread out like the camp

of Joshua in the plains of Moab. Sprinkle 'em well--wheeze! Make every

single thread a string of dew-drops. We'll attend to the rest. What say

you, my dear?--hoogh!"

"Will the Cloud Elves be at home?" asked the Fairy.

"Aye,--I've seen to that. The way'll be clear. What say you?--wheeze!"

"Oh, I must consult my husband first, you know. I can do nothing without

Dewpoint. I'll run and ask him."

"Aha! you're as sweet as ever on that--wheeze!--hubby of yours.

Quite--hoogh!--right! Go and consult with Dewpoint."

"May I go in with the Fairy?" asked Lawe, who was curious to see her

home.

"Oh, to be sure," said Dew, "and welcome. Come in, both of you!"

"Not I, thank you," said the Madam. "Shouldn't wonder if I had taken my

death of cold already--hoogh! In with you, Ensign, and hasten back."

The water in leaping over the edge of the precipice left a space of a

foot or more between the falling sheet and the face of the rock. By this

path Lawe passed under the fall. He noted that the light shone through

the tumbling stream as through a frosted window, and made every object

within visible. Above him was a roof and beside him a wall of rushing

water, whose loud, steady roar, as it fell into the pool, quite drowned

the sound of his voice. In a moment he was drenched with spray. The

stones over which he stepped were wet and slippery, and compelled

careful walking. Presently Dew stopped before an opening in the rock,

and beckoned Lawe to follow her.

He entered an irregular cave which stretched backward into the cliff as

far as the eye could reach. It was dark at first, but as soon as his

eyes became used to the change, Lawe could see the objects around the

opening, and faintly those further in. Upon the roof were hanging

stalactites white as sea foam, some tapering to points and dropping like

icicles, some just touching or blending with like formations called

stalagmites, which rose from various spots upon the floor like marble

pillars. These beautiful white formations were also spread over the

walls of the cave wherever the water had trickled down, and some of them

looked like serpents, or roots of trees carved in marble.

Far back toward the end of the cave Lawe saw in the dim light an

old-looking Elf, who seemed to be in an uncomfortable state of mind and

body. He was clad as scantily as propriety would allow, indeed was naked

from the waist up. A long white beard fell upon his bare breast. He sat

upon a rude Gothic chair, not unlike the big pulpit seat which the

minister sits in on Sundays, which had been formed, by some freak of the

cave Sprites, from the interweaving and massing of stalactites and

stalagmites. He held in his hand a huge fan made from the feathers of a

snow bird, with which he fanned himself so vigorously that his long

beard was blown about over his chest, and his white hair was kept

streaming behind him. Considering how chilly was the cave, Lawe thought

this strange behavior.

"Who is that?" he asked. "He looks like Saint Nicholas in his summer

retreat. Is that your husband?"

"Oh, bless you, no,--no indeed!" laughed Fairy Dew. "That is my half

brother Frost. He gets little comfort in this country until winter

begins to come on. He hardly ever goes out of the cave the whole summer,

and keeps back there, as you see, in the coolest spot. No wonder that he

plays some sorry pranks when he is released in the autumn from his long

confinement."

"But he has been out in the summer, hasn't he?"

"Yes, yes," said the Elf quickly, "he did escape the guards once or

twice and--dear me! I don't like to think of it! It was too bad the way

he carried on. The face of the earth looked as if it had been boiled in

a caldron during the night. Farmers and gardeners were well nigh ruined.

They called brother the 'Black Frost,' after that trick. Though, dear

me! I don't see why, for he's white enough I'm sure. But mortals are odd

and contrary folk sometimes!"

Just then Dewpoint came out of a pavilion or chamber which was contrived

by using stalagmites as pillars and stalactites as supports. As he

stepped forth he threw back the curtain door, and exposed the interior

of a snug room, lit up with fox-fire lanterns which were fixed in

gnarled stalactite brackets. Lawe was about to take a closer view of

this pretty room and its master, when he heard the voice of Madam Breeze

calling at the mouth of the cave:

"Ho! Hello, there! Are you frozen up? Have you taken summer lodgings?

Here I've been waiting for--for--hoogh!--"

"For three minutes!" answered Lawe a little impatiently, for he was

curious and disappointed. Then he bethought him of his duties, and spoke

up cheerfully, "I am coming! You are quite right, it is no time to

loiter. Thanks for your kind prompting, friend Breeze. Farewell, good

Fairy Dew, and you, Sir Dewpoint, too." He hastened out of the cave and

followed the Elf to the chariot, which bowled rapidly away from the

ravine.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

HOW THE MISSION ENDED.

"Whither now?" asked Lawe.

"Home," said Madam Breeze. "We've nothing more to do but wait for the

morning. If all go well, and all shall go well, never fear! we will see

old Spite--faugh!--and all his Pixie crew--wheeze!--scattered to the

four winds before morning. Be up bright and early. You shall find me on

hand at daybreak, and by sunrise Brownieland may proclaim a

Jubilee--hoogh!"

When the chariot reached Lone Aspen, Lawe called his troopers, and with

many warm thanks bade the Elf good-bye, and hurried back to his former

bivouac at the tip-top of the large Rose Bush. The ponies were tethered

under the leaves out of Pixie sight, and the troopers stretched

themselves upon the branches to sleep, or sat in the forks of the limbs

and talked over old campaigns until nightfall. Always, however,

sentinels kept watch against surprise. The day passed without alarm, and

when night came on the Brownies composed themselves to sleep. Lawe, full

of anxiety, was sleepless. He had firm faith that Madam Breeze would

bring deliverance, but as she had not told her plans, he could only

guess what they were from such hints as had been dropped while arranging

matters with her friends. Still, there was so much doubt in his mind

that he could scarcely compose himself to wait until the morrow. He

descended the bush, dodging on the way the round beautiful snares of

the Wheel Legion swung among the daisies, and the criss-cross and

knotted nets of the Lineweavers.

[Illustration: FIG. 143.--"The Round Beautiful Snares of the Wheel

Legion Swung Among the Daisies."]

On the ground beneath him a party of Pixie officers were gossiping over

current events. There was Saltus of the Vaulting Legion, a large-eyed,

intelligent fellow, dressed in a black uniform, with gold and scarlet

facings, and a bright metallic green helmet and sword sheath. He was

famous for his long leaps, being able to make at a single jump the

distance of several hundred millimeters. There also were Lieutenant

Heady, and Cito of the Wolf battalion, and Dysdera of the Tubeweavers,

who lived in a sac-like tent from which the Brownies had nicknamed him

"Pixie Silk-poke." They were all in high feather, and were making merry

yarns and jokes over the late disasters which had befallen their

enemies. Lieutenant Heady was in the midst of a boastful prediction of

the utter ruin of all Brownieland when a runner arrived with news of the

strange excitement among the Brownies, and the illumination of the camp

and ships, as related in a former chapter.

[Illustration: FIG. 144.--"The Criss-Cross and Knotted Net of the

Lineweavers."]

"What can it mean?" asked Saltus.

"No one knows," replied the runner.

"P'raps they've got up a big feed and pow-wow for some pompous general,"

growled Heady.

"Aha!" said Ensign Lawe; and having doubled the guard, he sped away

through the moonlight. When he came back with the glorious news of the

rescue of the Nurses, his squad of troopers could not restrain their

joy, and broke out with a round of cheers.

"Whew!" cried Cito, "Brownies here, as I live! After them, lads!" and he

ran up the Rose Bush full speed.

"Heigh-ho!" cried Saltus, leaping upon the leaves, "mount for them,

Vaulters! Jump, jump quickly!"

[Illustration: FIG. 145.--"Dysdera of the Tubeweavers."]

"Confusion seize 'em," growled Heady between his teeth, "I'll put a

stopper on your throats, my pretty chickidees!" Thereupon he swung

himself to a twig and followed his comrades. But Lawe had taken the

alarm, and betook himself and troopers to the Virginia creeper above the

parlor window, where they were out of harm's way.

Now the night passed merrily along. From the depth of despair the Ensign

and his men were suddenly lifted to the height of joy. The news seemed

too good to be true; moreover, it was like a prophetic assurance of

further good fortune on the morrow. Lawe's spirits rose to the highest

pitch; and when at last he fell asleep it was to dream of victory, love

and Grace.

"Oho, oho! Did I surprise you, Mr. Ensign?" was the greeting which came

to him as he awoke. It was daybreak. There sat Madam Breeze on the

Virginia creeper above him, smiling good-humoredly, and shaking the vine

gently. He hurried to her side, bade her good morning, and told her the

news of Faith and Sophia's rescue. Madam shook with joyful excitement

until the vine clattered against the wall.

"Hist!" she cried, "that will never do! Silence--do you hear?

Softly--hu-sh! We must keep cool a while longer--wheeze!" She choked off

her cough as she spoke, and sat still, at least as still as she could

sit.

Lawe looked out upon the lawn. There was Fairy Dew giving the finishing

touch to her night's work. As she flew with quick wings above the grass,

her arms played rapidly upon the sacs beneath them, and from the many

tubes attached thereto the spray flew in all directions.

"Humph!" said the Ensign as he watched with curious interest this fairy

spraying machine. "What a busy little body Fairy Dew must be! See what

an immense work she has wrought during the night!"

"Aye, aye! That is what we want. Look how the dew brings out to view

yonder Pixie tents on the lawn and in the bushes. Ha, ha! Good,

indeed!--wheeze!" The Elf clapped her hands merrily at the sight. But

Lawe could hardly enter into the pleasure of the view, for as he saw

almost every square foot of his beloved homestead grounds covered with

the tents of his foes, showing white and clear under their load of

dew-drops, his heart beat tumultuously with grief, shame and anger. He

therefore shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.

"Never mind," cried Madam Breeze, "we shall see presently. Aha! lookee

yonder! There comes the sun! All is well! Hoogh!--hurrah!"

The first rays of the rising sun were beginning to peep between the Two

Pines, touch the tip of the Giantstone's poll and shoot out across the

river.

"Bless the kind Cloud Elves," exclaimed Madam, "they have served us

truly, and left the Gate of the Sun open wide. Welcome, welcome, good

Sol! Here, this way now, Fairy Sunbeam, follow me."

[Illustration: FIG. 146.--Dew-Sprinkled Tents upon the Lawn.]

The Elf tossed herself off the vine and bustled away to the front window

that looks toward the northeast, facing the great bend in the Ohio

River. She shook the window shutter until the slats rattled and fell

open.

"In with you now!" she cried to the Sunbeam. "Right in! Off the floor

now, please. Up the white bed-spread. There--that is it; that's it!

Just the spot, full and fair in the Governor's face! Now--wheeze!--rest

there a moment, will you? I'll finish up these shutters--hoogh,

wheeze--_puff!_"

She laid hold of the green slats and shook them again and again. Harder,

Madam, harder, if you would get them open! Once more the Elf threw

herself against the barrier, until the window shook.

"Here, Whisk, Keener!" she called. "Come to my help. And you, Lawe,

creep in here and pry up that catch with your spear. All together,

now!--Whoo-ooo-_whooff!_"

One of the shutters flew back with a loud bang, and as good hap would

have it, the hasp or catch on the end thereof struck the leaf on which

Lacemaker the Pixinee was nested and broke it loose from the vine. It

floated off upon the wind and Madam Lacemaker was sorely tossed about

upon her aerial voyage. Seeing this, a Fairy Sunbeam seized the stem of

the leaf and darted off westward with it. Thereat Elf Keener plunged

away after careering leaf and flying Sunbeam, and with stout puffs of

his breath drove the leaf before him, Madam Lacemaker all the while

tumbling back and forth, holding on to the lines of her dainty web, and

ever and anon from her kneeling or half-prone posture shaking her fists,

and sputtering forth her helpless wrath.

Now through the open space the sun sent in a broad sheet of golden light

that fell full upon Wille's face. The Governor awoke, rubbed his eyes,

grumbled at the wind, grumbled at somebody's carelessness, got out of

bed and crossed the room to close the shutter. Madam Breeze threw around

him the freshest and sweetest breath of the morning as he approached. He

leaned out of the window to draw the truant shutter to its place. He

was wide awake now. The soft sunbeams fell upon him. He drew a full

breath, and sent it forth again with an "ah--aa-ah!" of hearty relish.

"Well, this is a glorious morning," he muttered. "Ah, Nature gives us

our sweetest tastes of life, after all. How still it is here! A real

relief from the excitement and clamor of my life." He stood and gazed

quietly upon the lovely scene before him. His eyes were fixed upon the

rising sun, the glowing hill top and golden zoned river. A feeling of

sadness fell upon him. It deepened into regret, as he silently looked

and mused. He was thinking,--and who has not so thought?--of the

earlier, the purer, the happier morning of life, ere the ambitions and

struggles of manhood had awakened within him to warm the heart to fever

heat, and taint the freshness and purity of nobler and holier desires

and aims.

"Heigho!" he sighed, as he slowly drew the shutter to its place.

He felt a light touch upon his hand. A small, thin voice, but very sweet

and familiar, fell upon his ear. It was the well-known greeting of his

Brownie friends.

"God speed, Brother Wille; hail and good speed!"

He looked down, and saw standing upon the window-sill Ensign Lawe and

his troopers.

"Welcome, brothers hail and good speed!" he answered. There was a

heartiness in his tone and genuine pleasure in his face, which made the

hearts of the fairies jump for joy. It was so like the tone and look of

old time!

"What do you bring me, brothers?" continued Wille. "What can I do for

you, or what will you do for me?"

"Look yonder, please," said Lawe, pointing toward the lawn.

[Illustration: FIG. 147.--Fairy Sunbeam and Elf Keener Banishing Madam

Lacemaker Beyond the River.]

The Governor leaned over the window-sill and followed the direction of

the Ensign's pointed spear. He started! The Pixie encampment covered the

place! The dew drops on the tent-tops were glistening in the sunbeams

like jewels.

[Illustration: FIG. 148.--A Dew-Laden Web.]

"Look out of the west window, now," said Lawe. The Governor threw back

the shutter and saw the same dew-laden webs and silken tents stretching

in close array up toward the orchard to the very bank of the lake and

inlet.

"And has it come to this, my good friends?" cried Wille. His voice

trembled, and a tear started upon his cheek. "Have your old foes driven

you from your homestead, and shut you out from the mansion and from me?

I see, I see! Not another word! I know that it is my fault. Forgive me!

I will right the wrong without delay. I will, indeed! And Dido will do

her best to help me. Depend on us. When the sun has dried the dew from

the grass, meet us at our old trysting place by the Rose Bush, and you

shall see us scatter the Pixies, and give back the Home Lawn to my

Brownie brothers. Good-bye!"

He lay down again, but could not sleep. His thoughts were too busy with

the past, and too sad, in sooth, to allow rest. He aroused Dido and told

her all. Like a good wife she heartily sympathized with him in his new

resolves, and agreed to join him in the crusade against the Pixies.

Breakfast over, the two went out to the lawn. "Let the gardener bring up

the lawn mower," said Dido.

"Not I," answered Wille. "I shall do the work myself. It is quite as

little atonement as I can make for neglecting my old, true Brownie

friends."

He threw off his coat, donned his wide-brimmed hat, and brought the

scythe from the tool house. The hone rung merrily upon the steel as the

Governor sharpened the blade. He had not forgotten his skill of earlier

days, and while he was bringing the scythe to a good edge his mind

followed along the path of his life to the quiet village among the green

hills on the banks of Little Beaver Creek, where his boyhood had been

spent.

One spot very dear to memory came into view--Aunt Fanny's farm! The

good, strong face of dear old Aunt Fanny arose before him. What happy

days he had spent in her quiet country home! He felt again the thrill of

holiday freedom that stirred his young heart on those summer days when

he set out upon the four miles' walk to the farm. In imagination once

more he passed the old Factory Dam; he saw the water tumbling over its

breast; he stood on the Sandy and Beaver Canal locks, and watched Sam

Underwood and Ike Clunk pull up their dipnets from the bays. With what

eagerness of interest did he gaze when the net was swung ashore with a

silvery sucker or a pink chub swaying down the centre!

On, on, along the Elkrun Valley. There is Orr's; and there is Meldrum's;

and there is Charters' farm; and there is Kimball's mill; and there is

Squire Clem Crow's cooper shop; and yonder is Elkton. One mile more! The

road turns here to the left, winds down the deep cleft of Pine Hollow,

shady the whole summer long between its sharp ridges crowned with

hemlocks, and musical with the ripple of its clear mountain run.

There is the old District School house!--and many a lusty conflict he

recalls with the country lads who waged with him the traditional feud

between "country haw-bucks" and "town boys." Now he climbs up the hill

road; there to the right is the Crow place, and the Governor smiles as

he recalls the easy boyish wit that dubbed it the "Crow's nest." At last

through the trees comes the longed-for glimpse of the white house on the

knoll, and Aunt Fanny sitting on the porch!

"Hurrah! she rises; she has seen me!"

Up the lane on a run now, and soon at rest before a bowl of snowy bread

and fresh milk.

What days those were! full of pleasure from early rising with the sun to

twilight bed-going with the birds. The wanderings in wood and orchard;

the expeditions after gay field lilies, aromatic calamus and sweet

myrrh; the long hunts after hens' nests in the fence corners; the walks,

musings and amusings among the sheep and their frisky lambs, the cows

and calves, the colts and piggies, the hens and their yellow puffy

broods of muffies; the big roosters, the speckled guinea fowl,--how keen

was the zest of these engagements and pursuits!

Then came the warm bright days of harvest, and the mowers came with

their scythes. What fun to toss the fragrant hay! What glorious fun to

see the mowers run from the stirred up bumble-bees' nest! What fun, most

glorious of all, to fight the insects with wisps of new mown hay! Ah!

the odor of the fresh mown meadow on dear Aunt Fanny's farm! The

Governor seemed to smell it again, as fresh as on those long past

harvest days, while he stood there whetting his scythe and living over

in memory the scenes of his bright, pure boyhood.

He drew a deep sigh; he dropped the whetstone into his hip-pocket; he

threw back the scythe, then bent down to the grass which had so long

marred the lawn by its overgrowth, and swept a broad clean swath up the

hillside.

"You shall not do the work alone," cried Dido, and seizing her reaping

hook began to trim away the struggling tufts along the border walk.

When Ensign Lawe had received Wille's promise to break up the Pixie camp

and disperse and destroy the Pixies, he straightway sent messengers to

Bruce and Rodney to follow up the proposed attack. Swiftly but silently

the orders went forth. Fort Home, which commanded a point of the inlet

nearest the Mansion, was strongly reinforced, and the big david,

"Example," manned and made ready for use. The ships were cleared for

action, the crews sent to quarters, and all things made ready for

weighing anchor. Never did Soldiers and Natties await the command with a

more cheerful, willing and confident courage. The rescue of the Nurses

had given them new life; the good news of Governor Wille's conduct

lifted them all into the height of hope. The battle cry was passed:

"Wille, Dido and Victory!" All was ready. All were waiting.

Now came a trooper dashing post haste into headquarters. "The Governor

has prepared his scythe and is just advancing to work."

Then came a second courier: "The Governor has begun the attack; Dido

joins him in it!"

A third came: "Wille is cutting a broad swath up the lawn; the Pixie

tents are swept away before him, and our foes are fleeing in all

directions."

Close upon this messenger came Lawe himself, spurring at topmost speed

into the Brownie camp, swinging his sword around his head in high

ecstasy, and crying, "Forward all! Forward at once! Fall upon the foe,

and we are saved and safe forever!"

"Forward!" cried Bruce.

"Forward!" at the same moment shouted Rodney, and the signal flag flew

to its place.

The ships moved out under a favoring breeze, and opened full broadsides

upon the Stygian vessels. Ensign Lawe, once more at the head of his

gallant troopers, led across the inlet and dashed at once upon the

retreating Pixies. The footmen poured out of the gates of Fort Home and

marched away to join the attack.

The Governor had now reached the bank of the inlet, and as he swung his

scythe merrily, and bowed to the good work, he was greeted with three

times three from forts and ships:

"Wille, Dido and Victory! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!"

Wille paused a moment and swung his hat above his head, while Dido waved

her handkerchief in recognition of the Brownie cheers. Then the Governor

turned, and mowed down the lawn, throwing off at each swing of the

scythe a bunch of grass mingled with the ruins of Pixie tents and huts,

whose inmates lay struggling beneath the wreck of their homes, or fled

to the standing grass, or burrowed and hid around the roots. The

Brownies followed them up, searched them out, dispersed or slew them. It

was a complete destruction and rout. In a few hours the fragrant grass

lay curling in the sun, and not a Pixie tent was left upon the lawn.

Spite and Heady made a strong effort to rally their soldiers, and

succeeded in forming a line of battle. But the Pixies were so

demoralized that the troops broke and fled before the Brownie charges.

Many found hiding places in holes and dens of the earth; some escaped in

the small boats of the smugglers and pirates; numbers were taken aboard

the Stygian ships, and were borne down the lake, closely pursued by the

Natties.

Lieutenant Heady lay dead upon the field. What had become of Spite? When

we last saw him he was sitting alone upon the cliff, filled with rage

and wonder at the Brownie rejoicings over the rescue of Faith and

Sophia, and waiting in the moonlight for the return of the scouts whom

he had sent out to get the news. Not a whisper of tidings could he hear.

Bruce had ordered the Brownie pickets to keep the matter from their

foes, and no breath of the good news could be gathered from them. For

good and sufficient reasons Raft the smuggler had held his knowledge

secret, and had kept away from Spite's presence. His yacht, the Fringe,

was now anchored just under the cliff, hidden from view by the

overhanging grass. Raft had heard for some time the commotion on the

lawn, but gave little heed to it. It drew nearer. The singing swish of

the scythe against the grass, the cheers of the Brownies and Governor

Wille excited his interest. He climbed up the cliff and reconnoitered.

He took in the situation at a glance, then turned his eyes toward the

inlet. Thereaway the Nattie fleet was under way, and bearing down

straight toward the cliff.

"It's all up with Pixiedom!" he cried, "for one good long while at

least. Good-bye to the lawn! I'm off with the Fringe to safe quarters; I

wouldn't lose her to save the whole nation. Every fellow for himself,

and deil take the hindmost! That's good Pixie doctrine, so here's cut

and away!"

He spun out a drag-line, Pixie fashion, and fastening it to a rock,

thereby swung himself down the cliff to the grass at the water's edge.

Thence he boarded the Fringe, set his sail, pulled up anchor, and was

just about leaving the harbor, when a shower of sand and small pebbles

rolled upon him. He looked up, and saw a Pixie officer lowering himself

down the side of the cliff by blades of grass and ferns. The form seemed

familiar; he looked more closely. Yes, it was Spite the Spy.

"Hold on,--hold!" cried Spite.

"Aye, aye!" answered Raft. "This way now--down that tall rush--so! Now

swing upon the mast. There,--you're safe. All right!" He unmoored the

yacht, and pushing against the cliff sent her out with one vigorous

shove into clear water. The wind caught the sails, and the Fringe flew

merrily over the surface of Lake Katrine. Raft now had leisure to give

some attention to his chief. Spite had thrown himself upon the deck, and

was fairly panting with fatigue, and livid and trembling with passion.

Wrath, terror, disappointment, shame were in turn and in quick

succession reflected from his face. The smuggler had little love for the

chief, but he pitied him now, and in his rough way tried to comfort him.

"Better luck next time, Cap'n," he said. "We've had many a backset

before, and have come out all right again. Cheer up!"

"Backset, indeed!" growled Spite. "It's annihilation! There's not enough

left of Pixiedom to make a decent funeral. But--" and he rolled out a

string of oaths--"I shall have such revenge as they little dream of!

I'll tear the accursed Nurses limb from limb and fling the pieces into

the Brownie camp! Say! what are you putting her head down the lake for?"

he shouted, suddenly starting to his feet.

"That's the way of safety, Sir," answered Raft. "We must make for the

outlet or Orchard Cave at once. Look there at the Natties hard upon the

wake of our fleet. We must get out of their way, Sir!"

"Curse the Natties!" answered Spite fiercely; "and confound you for a

coward! Put her toward Ellen's Isle, I say! I will land there if the

whole Nattie fleet were following us. But they'll not bother us now;

they have better game at present than the Fringe."

Raft's cheeks burned at the word "coward," and he could hardly refrain

from tossing Spite overboard. But even the worst of Pixies have some

reverence for a chief, and Raft was one of the best. Besides, he really

pitied Spite, and was willing to allow for his bitter disappointment. He

saw that he had not yet heard of the escape of the Nurses, and resolved

that he would tell him now, so that he might be persuaded to give up the

trip to Ellen's Isle. It was pretty hard to get started, however, with

the story. Raft hemmed, stammered, and at last began:

"Cap'n, there's no use going to the island now. All's up, there, as

well--"

Spite interrupted him. "No use? What is that to you? Do as you are

bidden, and do not dare to question or comment upon my orders. Change

her course at once, or--or--" he fairly screamed these words, and

stopped suddenly in the midst of his threat, choked by passion.

Raft trembled with anger. He dropped the helm, laid hold upon a

marline-spike and advanced toward the chief. Then he suddenly changed

his mind, and retraced his steps.

"Very good," he answered quietly. "You shall have your own sweet way, my

dear! Ellen's Isle it is!" He pressed his tiller and shifted the sail;

the Fringe swung around, and in a few moments was quietly riding in one

of the secluded harbors with which the smuggler was familiar, at the

head of the island, and not far from the cave of Tigrina and Aranea

Hall.

"Wait here until I return," said Spite leaping ashore. "I shall be back

soon."

There was a strange look in Raft's eye, that caught the chief's

attention, for in a moment he turned back, and shaking his clenched hand

at the smuggler, said:

"If you fail me, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth and drink your

heart's blood! If you prove true you shall be Admiral of the fleet.

Beware!" He turned again and was soon out of sight.

"Admiral!" sneered Raft, when Spite had disappeared. "Admiral, indeed!

That sounds grand, verily. But I wouldn't stand the fury of his wrath

and disappointment to be the chief himself. That is, even if--" Raft

shook his head, and glanced toward the cave. "However, he would have his

own way, and he may find out for himself how much better it is than the

one Raft advised." He pushed the Fringe out of the harbor, and spreading

full sail ran rapidly toward the outlet.

Let us follow Spite. He came to the door of the cave without noting any

signs of the Brownies' recent camp in the neighborhood. He found the

door fastened on the outside. What could that mean?

"Curses on the old hag Tigrina," he cried, "she is out on some

expedition, and has left the Nurses locked within. Well, they're safe

enough under these fastenings," he muttered, as he cut away the thongs,

"and I'll have the Brownie beauties all to myself. But I'll flay the

vile hag alive for this disobedience. It's time that I were rid of her,

at any rate."

The strong fastenings which the Brownies had put upon the door were at

length removed, and Spite entered the cave. All was as still as the

grave. Not a sound from the bright and busy world without fell inside

those silent halls. He pushed on. The fox-fire lights had burned out. He

was well used to groping in the dark, but he could scarcely make out the

objects before him.

"Hello!" he called.

The echoes of his voice rolled back upon him again and again from either

end of the cave. A strange sensation came over him. His heart began to

quicken; a cold chill seized him. He threw off the feeling. He cursed

his timidity and superstition. "On, on!" he cried. "Revenge is near." He

reached the silken curtain that formed the door of the fairies' room. He

drew it aside, gloating over the thought of the terror which his sudden

appearance would excite. A single lantern burned upon the wall, and by

its light he saw that the room was empty! Signs of confusion were

everywhere. The stand lay just where it had fallen, and under it the

"Wisdom of the Pixies" was outspread upon the floor.

"Faith! Sophia!" he shouted. The voice died away among the arches. There

was a faint noise at his side. He turned quickly. There stood Tigrina.

Her face was gaunt, her cheeks hollow, her eyes burned like balls of

fire.

"Hag! fiend! wretch!" yelled Spite. "What have you done with the

Nurses?" He drew his sword and took a step toward the old Pixinee.

"Oho!" said Tigrina, uttering a harsh cackling laugh. "You have come at

last, have you? The pretty Nurses! Where are they? Ha, ha, ha! That is

good--good! You didn't know that the Brownies had been here, hey? Didn't

know that Faith and Sophia are safe in the Brownie camp, hey? Oh, no!

that is very good--very! You didn't know that I had been left here

sealed up in the cave--oh, no, not you!"

Spite stopped, then staggered backward as though he had been struck a

violent blow. The whole truth flashed upon him. He understood now the

mysterious outburst of joy in Brownie camp and fleet. Faith and Sophia

were gone,--safe from his power and revenge among their own friends!

Fortune had again failed him. His breast was torn by a tempest of

passions. This last defeat was even worse than the loss of his camp and

the rout of his army. He broke forth into wild, blasphemous reproaches

of Tigrina for failing to keep the fairies in her charge. Again he

lifted his sword and again he started toward the Pixinee.

There was something in the attitude of Tigrina which caused him suddenly

to pause. Her eyes shone in the dim light of the cave; her sharp, long

fangs swayed back and forth, touching each other with a grating sound;

her back curved; she sank into a stooping posture. Spite felt her hot

breath strike his face as it hissed through her clattering teeth. He

knew too well what all this meant. The "blind fury" had seized the

Pixinee!

Fly, Spite, fly! It is for your life!

He turns, flees! Too late! The rush of Tigrina's form is heard as she

springs upon the doomed chief. Her fangs are fastened in his throat. He

is borne down to the floor, and without a struggle and without a cry he

yields up his life. The enraged and hungry Pixinee drank up his blood,

and left the dry carcass hung against the wall by broken strands of

web-work, to moulder into dust with the silken ornaments of Aranea Hall.

Summer passed. Autumn came and hung her gaily colored banners upon the

trees and shrubbery of Hillside. The Brownies dwelt in peace upon the

lawn, and Governor Wille and Dido held the Mansion with happier hearts

than ever. The winds blew more and more keenly around the hills. The

Fall had well nigh merged into Winter. Thanksgiving day came. Great

preparations had been making at the Mansion, and now the family meeting

was being held. Gray-haired sires, strong men and matrons, and

fair-haired children, down to crowing baby Paul, all were there. How the

halls rang with merry-making! What a happy, hearty company sat down to

the Thanksgiving dinner!

[Illustration: FIG. 149.--A Dead Orbweaver Hanging by Broken Strands of

Web-work.]

It was a bright crisp day, and when dinner was over, all went out upon

the lawn and gathered around the great Rose Bush. There was a quadruple

wedding in Brownieland: Lieutenant MacWhirlie and Agatha, Adjutant

Blythe and Faith, Sergeant True and Sophia, Ensign Lawe and Grace, all

stood up together, and were joined in holy wedlock according to the

simple rites of the Brownies. Then, amid shouts of the children, cheers

of the older folk, and the wildest hurrahs of Brownie soldiers, sailors

and people all, the eight happy fairies rode away, escorted by a gaily

uniformed troop, to the Lone Aspen, where Madam Breeze had prepared for

them a grand reception. Fairy Dew and Dewpoint were there, and the four

sister Cloud Elves, and Whisk, Keener and Whirlit, and before the

merrymaking ended, even Elf Frost looked in, quite happy to be once more

free to roam abroad.

As the evening was fine, and the moon full, Commodore Rodney and Pipe

the Boatswain arranged to give the party a reception on the Emma and a

moonlight sail upon the lake. The sailors had beautifully decorated the

ship; fox-fire lanterns gleamed from every part of the forts, and shone

all along the shore. Our old friends Captain Ask, Help, Clearview, Mate

Angel, Howard, Hope, Rise, Shine, the Twadeils and many others were

aboard. The wind was fresh and the lake was a little rough, but that

only made matters all the merrier. How the ship did scud along!

It was passing the Point of Ellen's Isle, when suddenly a small vessel

pushed out from the brown grasses at the water's edge, crossed the wake

of the Emma within a stone's throw, and stood away toward the shore.

"Sophie, Sophie!" cried Faith, "look yonder! Do you know that yacht?"

Sophia glanced a moment at the beautiful vessel as it rose and fell on

the waves and sped swiftly through the moonlight.

"It is the Fringe!" she cried. "And there--see! There is Raft the

Smuggler. He has raised his hat! He is waving it. Hurrah! hurrah!"

Perhaps had she stopped a moment to ask whether or not such conduct were

orthodox in a Brownie bride, she would not have done it, but she simply

gave way to the impulse of her heart; she plucked her bridal veil from

her head and, quite unconscious of what she did, waved it again and

again at the fast flying yacht.

The Natties had sprung to their guns at the Fringe's appearance,

prepared to pour a broadside into her; but when they saw Sophia's

greeting and heard her shout, they took their cue from her, and instead

of shot sent cheers after the smuggler and his pretty craft.

[Illustration: ((hand printed) Orb-Weaver)

THE BOYS' ILLUSTRATION.]

"Poor fellow!" sighed Faith, as she leaned over the rail, and watched

Raft's vessel disappear under the shadow of the shore; "poor fellow;

what a pity that he should be a Pixie!"

THE END.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

CHAPTER II.

=Note A, p. 14.=--Atypus piceus is a European species of Tunnelweaver

(Territelariae), which inhabits Great Britain. It resembles in habit our

Atypus Abbotii, the Purse-web spider, found in the Gulf States,

especially Florida; but supports its external tube upon the trunks of

trees, instead of on the grass or surface.

=Note B, p. 16.=--Spiders are extremely cleanly in their habits, and brush

and comb the various parts of the body with their hairy and spinous legs

and palps. When brushing the head and chest (cephalothorax) the

resemblance to the cat's toilet habits warrants the reference in the

text.

=Note C, p. 18.=--Some of our American spider species have been imported

from Europe, and I have seen them on vessels stowed away in divers

crannies and under sundry parts of the ship, and overspun in the method

attributed to Spite and his companions, and shown Fig. 15.

CHAPTER III.

=Note A, p. 22.=--Epeira globosa is a species of Orbweaver, which spins

above its round snare a bell-shaped silken tent, represented at Fig. 17,

p. 21.

=Note B, p. 22.=--One of the most common webs spun upon grass, on box-wood

borders of flower beds, on arbor vitae hedges, and such like positions,

is that of the Speckled Tubeweaver, Agalena naevia, here described. It is

a broad sheet, usually concave or funnel-shaped, with a circular opening

near the middle or at one side, which leads into a long silken tube

extending downward among the branches, or to the ground. At the opening

the spider is usually seen waiting for prey. Lines are attached to the

sheet at various parts and reach upwards to bits of foliage, forming a

network of lines which support the sheet. Insects in flight strike

against these cross lines, and fall down upon the sheet, and become the

prey of the Speckled Agalena who rushes upon them from the opening of

her tube.

=Note C, p. 24.=--The cables here referred to are the upright lines

described in Note B. (See Fig. 28, p. 54.)

=Note D, p. 26.=--The turret of Lycosa arenicola, is here described. It is

popularly known as the Turret Spider. This animal is widely distributed

throughout the United States, and may be found along the Atlantic shore

where it burrows in the sand, and sometimes selects small pebbles for

the foundation of its tower. The shape of the tower is not always a

regular pentagon, but inclines to take that form. Beneath the surface is

a tubular burrow extending straight down as far sometimes as twelve

inches. The spider is frequently found on guard at the top of the tower.

=Note E, p. 26.=--See Note A above. The web of the Speckled Agalena when

spun upon grass often takes this form and shows a striking likeness to a

miniature circus tent.

=Note F, p. 27.=--The Turret Spider is sometimes seen at the summit of its

tower with head and fore limbs thrust over the edge, apparently on the

lookout for passing insects.

=Note G, p. 35.=--The above description and Fig. 22 are of the cocoon of

the large and beautiful Orbweaver Argiope cophinania (or riparia). It is

a pear-shaped object about an inch or an inch-and-a-quarter long, and is

suspended in the manner shown, among the branches of bushes, etc. The

outside is a closely woven silken cloth of a dull yellow color. Next to

this is a coating of bright yellow flossy silk, and in the centre is a

closely woven ball of purplish or brownish silk, within which may be

found the eggs of the mother spider. These sometimes number more than a

thousand. When the little ones are hatched out, they live within this

silken house until they are strong and old enough to cut their way out

and form webs for themselves.

CHAPTER VI.

=Note A, p. 52.=--The lodge here referred to as used for a guard house by

the Pixies, is supposed to be a snare of the Speckled Agalena, which

often spins its tent-like web upon the low grass of a lawn. Fig. 27

shows a web spun upon a honeysuckle vine, whose over-arching tendrils

form a little cavern or booth which might well suggest a lodge.

CHAPTER VII.

=Note A, p. 62.=--Spider webs are often destroyed or injured by wind

storms.

=Note B, p. 62.=--A common habit of ground spiders and those that weave

snares upon the ground is to thus hide themselves when molested or

alarmed.

=Note C, p. 67.=--"Hand over hand." This roughly describes the method of

some spiders in raising their prey when swathed, and in moving building

material and debris.

=Note D, p. 69.=--See Note C. The figure is from life.

=Note E, p. 73.=--The achievement attributed to Spite is based upon a

recorded account; but the author is bound to say that he has seen no

examples of webs that had been counterpoised with intent, as above

described. Webs are sometimes found thus balanced as at Fig. 34; but it

is doubtful if this is not the result of accident.

CHAPTER VIII.

=Note A, p. 75.=--The mandibles or external jaws of spiders are shown in

Fig. 39, and described in the text; the poison gland is shown at Fig.

40. The outlet for the poison may be seen at the tip of the fangs in

Fig. 39.

CHAPTER IX.

=Note A, p. 84.=--Certain species, especially Orbweavers (Fig. 86) and

Lineweavers, swathe their prey when captured and before eaten. (See Fig.

33, p. 69; Fig. 134, p. 318.)

=Note B, p. 88.=--The bridge-lines here described are common objects in

Nature. Spiders move freely from point to point, thereby often crossing

considerable intervals. Fig. 44 shows the way in which these bridges and

webs may block a path.

CHAPTER X.

=Note A, p. 97.=--The egg-bag within which the mother spider places her

eggs is popularly, though not quite correctly, called a cocoon. It is

sometimes simply a wad or ball of loose silk, but more frequently is a

bag of stiff and closely woven silk as at Fig. 22. Fig. 47 is the cocoon

of an Orbweaver, Nephila plumipes; Fig. 48, of a Saltigrade or Jumping

Spider, Phidippus opifex MCCOOK.

CHAPTER XIII.

=Note A, p. 115.=--Dolomedes fimbriatus, a rather common English spider,

makes or utilizes a rude raft of leaves, and drifts over the fens

thereon. The American Dolomedes frequents the water but has not been

observed to act as above.

=Note B, p. 117.=--As a rule spiders prey upon one another, without regard

to species or sex. Fig. 55 represents two males fighting.

CHAPTER XIV.

=Note A, p. 123.=--Lycosa tigrina MCCOOK abounds in the Eastern and Middle

United States, and makes the burrow here described.

CHAPTER XV.

=Note A, p. 128.=--Herpyllus ecclesiasticus HENTZ is a common American

Tubeweaver. It is black, with a dorsal pattern in white like that shown

in the figure of the "Pixie parson."

=Note B, p. 135.=--The aeronautic or ballooning habit of spiders is the

basis of these engineering feats of the Pixies Lycosa and Gossamer. A

pleasant October day is the best on which to observe it; but young

spiders may be seen in aeronautic flight during all warm months. An

elevated spot is usually sought from which to make the ascent. Ground

spiders, as Lycosids, ascend in the manner shown Fig. 57; Orbweavers

drift off as at Fig. 59. This interesting habit is described more at

length in my "Tenants of an Old Farm."

=Note C, p. 137.=--Mother spiders of certain species carry their egg

cocoons until the young are hatched; some take them in their jaws as our

long-legged cellar spider, Pholcus, others beneath their bodies or

lashed to the end of the abdomen.

CHAPTER XVI.

=Note A, p. 144.=--Tetragnatha is a genus which has several common species

in the United States and Europe, T. extensa being most familiar. Its

colors, especially when young, are green and yellow, and when its long

body and legs are stretched upon a leaf or twig (Fig. 64) it is

difficult to detect it. The species here personified is one that keeps

close to streams and ponds, Tetragnatha grallator HENTZ, the Stilt

spider. The method of sailing, Fig. 66, is not imaginative but drawn

from nature. The Pixie "Sixpoint" is a Citigrade spider, Dolomedes

sexpunctatus HENTZ. I have known it to stay under water for forty

minutes.

CHAPTER XVII.

=Note A, p. 153.=--Many Orbweavers spin together several leaves, or roll

up the end of a single leaf and form the nests described and shown, Fig.

69. That at p. 158, Fig. 72, was made by Epeira trifolium HENTZ. (See p.

194.)

=Note B, p. 154.=--"The Cardinal Company." Phidippus cardinalis HENTZ has

its abdomen and venter covered with brilliant red hairs. Phidippus rufus

HENTZ resembles it but is less brilliant. These are jumping or

Saltigrade spiders, belonging to the Attidae.

CHAPTER XIX.

=Note A, p. 188.=--The Sedentary spiders, those which capture their prey

by means of snares, commonly fling bands and threads of silk around the

captive before feeding upon it. (See p. 69.)

CHAPTER XXII.

=Note A, p. 216.=--The habits and spinning work of a common Orbweaver

_Epeira labyrinthea_ are personified in the Pixie jailer Labyrinthea.

=Note B, p. 218.=--The male spiders of Orbweavers when they "would

a-wooing go," hang around the edge of the orbweb, and are not always

received kindly. Sometimes, indeed, they are eaten.

=Note C, p. 220.=--"Hyptiotes." The Triangle Spider, Hyptiotes cavatus

HENTZ. Its snare and mode of capturing prey are most interesting and

ingenious.

=Note D, p. 223.=--This rigidity of limbs is not exaggerated, and is

common to both old and young of this species.

=Note E, p. 226.=--The Labyrinth spider makes several cocoons, strung

together as the several figures show. Each one is made of two circular

caps united at the edges, so that Brownie Dodge could thus open an edge

and peep out.

CHAPTER XXIII.

=Note A, p. 238.=--"The water Pixie's den." The water spider of Europe,

Argyroneta aquatica, makes a cocoon upon the water, somewhat in the

manner described. No species with like habits has yet been discovered in

America, and the author in locating the same at "Hillside," has

sacrificed the facts of geographical distribution to imagination. But no

doubt he will be pardoned for the sake of the incident which brings the

lost Boatswain Pipe to life again.

CHAPTER XXIV.

=Note A, p. 240.=--There is some, though little, variety in the color of

silk with which spiders spin their snares; but their cocoons are often

woven with bright colored silk.

CHAPTER XXV.

=Note A, p. 250.=--The tradition that spiders are sensitive to music is

old and widely spread, but appears to have little or no basis in natural

habit. However, the reader may find, if he will, some pleasant stories

based thereon.

=Note B, p. 250.=--"Feigning death." This habit is strongly developed in

many spider species.

CHAPTER XXVI.

=Note A, p. 259.=--"Bowl shaped battery." Fig. 110 was drawn from a snare

of Linyphia communis HENTZ, woven among morning glories. Compare with

that of Linyphia marginata HENTZ, Fig. 68, p. 151, in which the bowl is

reversed.

CHAPTER XXVII.

=Note A, p. 270.=--The Trap-doors drawn at Figs. 117, 118 and 121 are from

Moggridge, and are not of American species, though they differ only in

size.

=Note B, p. 271.=--This habit has been attributed to the Trap-door makers,

but needs to be confirmed.

=Note C, p. 275.=--The mother wasp, which lances and paralyzes the big

southwestern Tarantula, Eurypelma Hentzii, is Pepsis formosa, called

popularly the "Tarantula hawk." The author has seen it pursuing the

above species, but does not know positively that it attacks the true

Trap-door maker, Cteniza Californica.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

=Note A, p. 280.=--This is no doubt a true representation; see the three

claw marks on the inside of the lid shown at Fig. 124.

=Note B, p. 284.=--The moulting period (see next Chapter), is attended

with great weakness.

CHAPTER XXIX.

=Note A, p. 290.=--The sting of the spider collecting wasps destroys the

power of motion, but does not at once kill; it is certainly fatal in the

end, if the young wasp larva does not in the meantime eat the victim

stored away for her by maternal foresight.

CHAPTER XXX.

=Note A, p. 309.=--Spiders have been known to thus suspend a snake, which

is not so remarkable as it seems if we consider that a small garter

snake ten inches long may weigh from one-eighth to one-fourth of an

ounce.

=Note B, p. 313.=--The Medicinal spider, Tegenaria medicinalis HENTZ,

builds in cellars and shady spots a strong sheeted web with a tower at

one angle thereof.

=Note C, p. 314.=--The capture of a mouse in a spider web has been proved,

at least to the author's satisfaction. Fig. 135 is a sketch of such a

captive made by Governor Proctor Knott, of Kentucky.

=Note D, p. 319.=--This "fish story" is quite true. The incident occurred

in a draining ditch near Eagleswood, New Jersey. The fish was three and

one-fourth inches long and weighed sixty-six grains; the spider was

three-fourths of an inch long and weighed fourteen grains. It was one of

our large Lycosids, probably a Dolomedes The facts on which the

incidents of this chapter are based, are given in Vol. I, "American

Spiders and their Spinningwork."

CHAPTER XXXI.

=Note A, p. 324.=--Most species of Spiders are solitary in their habits;

not like the social hymenoptera, as bees and ants. In this respect, the

social characteristics of the Pixies are not true to nature, except in

the case of spiderlings, or quite young spiders. However, some recent

discoveries, especially those of the eminent French araneologist, M.

Eugene Simon, seem to point to a decided social habit in several South

American species.

=Note B, p. 329.=--This nest, so much like a bird's in form, is that of

Lycosa Carolinensis. It is made from the needle-like leaves of the white

pine, or other available material by bending and pasting the same, as in

the cut, Fig. 138.

=Note C, p. 330.=--The snares of Agalenanaevia are often seen in such

situations, and are sometimes of immense size.

=Note D, p. 331.=--The belief that spiders can prognosticate the weather

is widely spread, but seems to have little or no basis in fact. The

author has shown the groundlessness of the opinion at least in the case

of Orbweaving Spiders.

"Tenants of an Old Farm."

Leaves from the Note Book

of a Naturalist.

... BY ...

HENRY C. MCCOOK, D.D.,

with 140 illustrations from nature by Dan Beard

and others.

460 PAGES WITH INDEX.

EIGHTH EDITION.

12mo, Cloth $1.50.

Sent postpaid on

receipt of the price

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TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM.

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"His enthusiasm in behalf of his industrious friends is so great that he

actually pitched his tent in the midst of the huge mounds of certain

species in one of the Western States, and had to engage a small army of

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studying the interior arrangements of their elaborately constructed

houses."--From _Chambers' Journal_ (Edinburgh, Scotland).

"Dr. MCCOOK has literally lived among his pets, has studied them by day

and by night in their natural state, has not scrupled to subject himself

to their formidable stings, and has deemed no pains too great to make

the world acquainted with insects upon which he looks with a species of

respectful veneration. He is, in truth, a veritable enthusiast, and it

would indeed seem as though ants, bees and wasps, all belonging to the

same order of insects, possessed a fascination for the true naturalist

far greater than that excited by larger animals."--_The Westminster

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"Dr. MCCOOK is an enthusiastic naturalist, and in one particular branch

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"The common insects take on an aspect of genuine interest in Dr. HENRY

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worms in an easy conversational style."--_Springfield (Mass.)

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which are detailed in such a familiar and winning style that no one can

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"We will venture to say that the Colorado beetle, the apple-worm, moths,

bumble-bees, caterpillars, ants and spiders, were never before made so

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lives among them, finds an inner meaning in their little lives, makes in

every way the most of them.... Housekeepers will surely be amused and

probably surprised by learning just how moths go to work, and the

chapters on crickets and katy-dids are very fresh and animated; the same

is true of the bumble-bees and spiders; and what is not really new is

put in new shape."--_Boston Literary World._

"The illustrations, 140 in number, were prepared expressly for the work,

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The above named works are so well and favorably known to naturalists

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Transcriber's Notes:

The Table of Contents did not appear in the original publication and has

been added by the transcriber.

If an illustration fell within the middle of a paragraph it has been

moved to a position immediately before or after said paragraph.

Minor punctuation inconsistencies and typographical errors of words

otherwise spelled correctly elsewhere in the text have been corrected

without comment.

Word Variants appearing in the original text which have been retained:

"agoing" and "a-going"

"aids" and "aides"

"dragline" and "drag-line"

"Epeira" and "Epeira"

"flagship" and "flag-ship"

"Good bye" and "Good-bye"

"Heighho" and "Heigh-ho"

"Howroad" and "Howrode"

"man-o'-war" and "man-of-war"

"marlinspike" and "marline-spike"

"merrymaking" and "merry-making"

"nearby" and "near-by"

"semicircular" and "semi-circular"

"spring house" and "springhouse"

"thistledown" and "thistle-down"

"trapdoor" and "trap-door"

Words using the [oe] ligature, that have been changed to "oe" are

"manoeuvre" and "manoeuvring"

End of Project Gutenberg's Old Farm Fairies:, by Henry Christopher McCook