ON reaching the Castle Tommy and Helen had been filled with surprise and wonder at its marvellous beauty. The decorations were all so rich and so appropriate, that they could not refrain from expressions of the warmest admiration. The Lords and Ladies, too, said they had never seen anything quite so beautiful.

The Prime Minister met the King and Queen, and when he had presented them with the Castle, in the name of the happy people of Toyville, he announced that the banquet was ready to be served. {90}

After the King and Queen had changed their dusty, travel stained clothes for the pretty robes that had been prepared for them, the Lords and Ladies, led by their Majesties, entered the Royal Dining Room, where were a number of little tables laden with all manner of good things. Here the decorations were even more beautiful than in any other room of the Castle, and when the company were seated in the quaint chairs at the tables and partaking of the fine banquet that was served for them, one and all felt that in no way could they have been blessed with a more gracious Queen, or a more perfect hostess.

The first course, as it always should be, was ice cream, served in many fanciful shapes and of the most delicious flavors. With the ice cream there was served cake—light, feathery and perfectly cooked; with just the right amount of egg, not a bit too much sugar, and flavored to the point of nicety.

There were many kinds of cake served, so that everybody might have the special kind which was best liked. After the cake course, there were cream puffs, luscious eclairs, thin, delicate sugar wafers, candies, fruits, nuts and every dainty confection which could be imagined.

The Queen, remembering what she had been told about the candy fruit in the orchard, that it wouldn’t make them ill, as city candy did at home, very thoughtfully told her guests that each might have two helpings of everything, or even three, or four, if they desired.

Mr. Poodle, thinking it would be a rare treat to the Toy people to have something from the city over the hills, reminded the Queen of the chicken sandwiches and the {91} two rosy red apples. He said these had come safely through the hills, and had been delivered at the Castle by the driver of the express wagon.

The Queen hurriedly sent for the sandwiches and the apples. When these were cut up and served to the guests, everyone spoke of them in the highest terms of praise, and said that never before had they tasted quite such a nice dessert.

It was as plain as it could be that everyone had spoken the truth, for when the banquet was finished, not as much as one single crumb of the dessert could be found on the plates.

During the progress of the banquet, Long Jim, as we already know, had been busy spreading his news in the streets of the city.

It didn’t take long for this news to travel, I can tell you; and just as the King and Queen and their guests were about to rise from the tables, there was a big commotion in the Castle; and through the open windows were heard the cries of alarm in the town.

Then the Major Domo came hurriedly into the Royal Dining Room and announced that the city had been attacked by the army of Grumbletown.

As may well be imagined, there was now great excitement in the Castle, and especially, among the Ladies. The Queen turned anxiously to the King. “Is there going to be a war?” she asked, “because I don’t want a war; battles are awfully scarey.”

“Don’t be afraid, Helen,” said King Tommy. “Nothing will harm you. It won’t take us long, with the fine army of Toyville, to drive the enemy out of the hills and back to {92} their own Grumbletown.” Then mounting a chair, and being quickly surrounded by the House Guards, he cried: “There is no time to be lost; every man will be needed among the defenders to-day; let every man buckle on his sword and follow me!”

The Mayor also jumped up on a chair. “A cheer for Toyville!” he cried; “long may it prosper! Three cheers for our brave and noble King; long may he reign!”

Everybody joined in the cheering, the sweet voices of the ladies mingling pleasantly with the strong, lusty shouts of the men.

But no time had been lost by the cheering; for all the while the attendants were busy buckling on the swords and fetching helmets and shields. Meanwhile, the neighing and stamping of horses in the court outside the Castle, indicated that the grooms also were busy, and already had the strong, noble steeds waiting for the brave and fearless riders.

When the King and his companions reached the streets, they found everything in commotion, with brave soldiers galloping here and there, and frightened faces peering out of the windows of the houses.

“Ha, ha, ha!” chuckled Long Jim when he saw the King depart; “I tell you, I am a clever one! That’s the time I fooled the King of Toyville! And now there is no time to lose; the Queen is in the Castle without any guards, and the three Buccaneers in the Black Rover will be waiting out on the lake.” With his face twisted in a wicked grin the crafty courtier now entered the gates and went through the quiet, deserted court yard, where presently, with a rap, tap, tap, he stood waiting at the front door of the Palace. {93}

Meanwhile, King Tommy and his companions rode to the barracks of the cavalry. As might have been anticipated, it took hard, quick work to get out all the soldiers, cannons and ammunition wagons, and to issue orders so that everything would go smoothly. But the King was equal to the task, and before long, the sound of galloping cavalry, tramping infantry, and rumbling wheels of cannons and ammunition wagons, told the frightened Toy people that the troops were hurrying off to the hills and to the defense of the realm.

When King Tommy had issued all his orders and arranged every little detail, he mounted a fine war horse, and asking Mr. Poodle to ride with him, the two with the King’s Guards set forth at a fast gallop for the front. But {94} when they came to the hills where the horses were obliged to walk, the King found time to do a little thinking. The most he had to think about was the coming battle, but some of the time he thought of Helen, and wondered if she would be frightened upon hearing the cannon roaring, and if she would really be safe in the Castle. He wished now that he had left more guards at the Castle. “I will be glad,” he thought, “when the war is over, and I can go back again to Helen.”

The roads were now one mass of hurrying troops, all in bright colored uniforms, with the sun glistening on the polished gun barrels and on the officers’ swords. The King noticed how willingly the big horses tugged at their heavy loads, and how the drivers never used their whips, but always spoke kindly to them.

Upon reaching the front, they found many cannons mounted on the hills, and company upon company of soldiers waiting in battle array, but never a sign anywhere of the enemy.

“Have you sent out scouts?” asked the King to the Commanding General.

“Yes, your Majesty,” answered the General; “and all report that none of the enemy can be found.”

“That is strange,” said the King. “How about the prisoners, have you rescued them?”

“There have been no prisoners taken, your Majesty,” answered the General; “neither has there been any attack made upon our outposts.”

While the King and the General were talking, another scout came to report. “My General,” said the scout, “I have ridden to the very walls of Grumbletown, where I was {96} told by a peasant that the Grumbletown army has not ventured outside the gates of their city.”

While this scout was reporting, another came riding up as fast as his horse could gallop.

“My General,” cried the second scout, “I have come from the high hills yonder. There is a ship entering the Lake of Toyville. It is the pirate ship from Grumbletown, called the Black Rover manned by the Buccaneers.”

“We have been tricked!” cried the King. “We have left the Castle unguarded, and the Queen without protection. The Queen will be made captive! We must ride to her rescue!”

“To the Queen’s rescue! To the Queen’s rescue!” cried an officer of the King’s Guard; and, shaking the reins over their horses’ necks, a great company of riders led by the King and Mr. Poodle went galloping back to Toyville.