Part 19 (2/2)

Grasped firmly by the coat-tails, with face downward, and legs and arms spread out like a Maltese cross, was the immaculate Brownie Dude, and he still was clutching in his right hand the cane that was his most treasured possession outside of his monocle. The Brownies watched this most extraordinary spectacle as though they were fascinated, and their pop-eyes almost popped out of their heads.

Lower and lower settled the great bird, and the anxious watchers now realized that its offices toward the Dude in time of danger had been of a most heroic nature.

With great haste some secured a net, which they held outspread. When the bird was still some distance above, it c.o.c.ked its eye as though it were making some nice calculation and suddenly let go of its burden.

The Dude came hurtling through the air, landing safely in the net, while the bird sailed off, and was soon gone from sight.

As soon as the Dude got on his feet he started to dust off his clothes with a tiny whisk-broom.

”I shouldn't care to go up in an aeroplane!” he said.

He looked infinitely relieved when one of the overjoyed Brownies who crowded around in congratulation handed him his opera-hat box.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

It may here be mentioned, that the Fairies, who had been left behind, made a desperate attempt to follow their Queen, and the Brownies, across the sea. But, after great difficulties, and dangers, they were glad to get back to their own sh.o.r.e in safety.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

But though Florimel, like all the rest, was delighted beyond measure that the Dude had been so miraculously restored to them, so they were now once more complete, he could not restrain his tortured feelings when he thought of Queen t.i.tania, and he was in a fever of impatience to rush at once to her rescue.

”We only waste time here while t.i.tania may be in danger,” he said, with a strong trace of irritation in his tone. ”Is not that Dragonfel's palace over yonder?”

King Stanislaus gazed at the highly expensive but forbidding-looking edifice toward which Florimel pointed.

”Maybe so,” was his guarded response.

”Then let us storm it, and force him to surrender the queen and her companions!”

”Yes, yes!” cried all the Brownies.

But King Stanislaus shook his head in a very decided manner.

”My son, you're too impulsive,” he said kindly but reprovingly. ”Judging from what you've told me, for I've never seen any of them, each of those fellows must stand full six times as high as one of us, and there may be six times as many besides. We must exercise caution.”

”Have you anything to propose?”

”Nothing just now,” said King Stanislaus. ”We must reconnoitre a bit, and get the lay of the land, before considering any plan whatever. An open attack would be entirely out of the question. They'd have the advantage of us in size and maybe numbers. No, no, my boy, we must use Brownie cunning.” Reluctantly Florimel was obliged to admit the force of the shrewd old monarch's reasoning.

Concerned as he was in mind to rescue t.i.tania as soon as he could, he had no desire by any rash act to imperil or, even worse still, destroy the entire band.

King Stanislaus motioned to the Brownies, who drew closer to give respectful heed to what he might have to say to them.

”I want each of you to go out and see what you can learn,” he instructed. ”But, as you value your life, and the lives of your fellows, you must not allow yourselves to be seen or heard by anyone. When a half-hour has elapsed we will a.s.semble here.” Following His Majesty's directions, the willing band immediately dispersed, Florimel choosing a way to take alone, as did each other, and so careful were they all that no one in the neighborhood would have suspected they were near.

When the half-hour was up King Stanislaus was back on the same spot, and the Brownies began to pop up in the dark around him from all sides.

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