THINKING there was now nothing to fear from an attack by the army of Grumbletown, the Toyville soldiers were ordered to return from the hills, and already the sound of rumbling wheels in the streets, told how promptly this order had been obeyed by the Commanding General.

“We have much to make us thankful,” said the Mayor to one of his councillors. “It certainly would have been a sad occurrence had the capture of the Queen resulted in her being carried away to Grumbletown. I think the occasion demands a celebration, and I should suggest that {130} we at once prepare a big party to take place on the lawns and in the pavilions of the Palace gardens.”

“A splendid suggestion,” cried the councillors with one accord. “Let us lose no time in getting under way the arrangements.”

The gardens, brilliant with pots of flowering shrubs and beds of blossoming plants, their broad stretches of lawn bordered by hedges of box, and interlaced with white pebbled walks, formed an ideal place for the holding of a social gathering of this nature.

When to the natural beauty of the gardens there was added the beauty of the handsome dresses and uniforms worn by the guests, the scene thus presented proved of untold loveliness.

In one of the pavilions sat an orchestra which rendered the most delightful music imaginable; in another pavilion were many little tables where were served refreshments of the daintiest confections; in a third pavilion the highly polished and waxed floor was given over to dancing.

Under such delightful conditions, the King and Queen, as well as the Lords and Ladies, soon forgot their recent fears, and with Rolie Polie in his new uniform standing guard at the front gate, one and all felt perfectly safe.

Outside the walls of the Castle and gardens, the streets of the city were quiet and almost deserted, for the Toy people had repaired to the park, where they, too, were celebrating with all manner of jolly games and sports.

Meanwhile, King Red Beard had not been idle, and by the time his spies returned to tell how matters were going in Toyville, he had two hundred picked ruffians ready to make a last attempt to capture the King and Queen. {131}

How Red Beard did laugh when his spies told him of the celebration that was being held in Toyville. “Ha, ha, ha,” said he, “those Toy people think they have seen the last of old Red Beard, do they? Well, we will soon show them their mistake.”

After that it wasn’t long before the Grumbletown King and his two hundred hardy rascals had travelled through the secret passage of the hills and were in the quiet, deserted streets of Toyville.

When the company came near the Castle and could hear the sweet strains of music and the sound of happy laughter, King Red Beard sent Long Jim on ahead to spy how the land lay.

Presently, Long Jim returned. He had taken a peek here and there, and told Red Beard that there was only one soldier standing guard at the front gate. “And your Majesty,” said he, “I think the soldier is that stupid clown, Rolie Polie, now dressed in the uniform of the King’s Guard.”

Red Beard gave a wild laugh when he heard what Long Jim had to say. “Forward, march!” he cried; “we can easily fool that simpleton.” Then away they all went, and in two jiffies Red Beard was tapping at the front gate and parleying courteously through the wicket with Rolie Polie.

Now, the kernel to the nut Red Beard tried to crack on Rolie Polie’s skull, was just this: he wanted to have the gates opened so he and his two hundred tatterdemalion followers could enter the gardens and capture all the people.

Red Beard was good at arguing and gave all manner of reasons, but none of these availed him in the least, for {132} Rolie Polie, now very proud of being a King’s Guard, would never think of doing anything untrue to his trust.

At the last, when Red Beard was about ready to give up trying trickery and guile, and almost on the point of ordering his men to make an assault, a brilliant idea came jumping into the brain of Rolie Polie. “Oh, ho,” thought he, “I know King Tommy would like to have me capture this old Red Beard, and here, the very first thing, is my chance. I will just open the gate and let them inside the walls, then I will jump outside, close and lock the gate, and there I shall have the whole company safe and sound where they can’t get away.”

No sooner did this clever idea enter the brain of Rolie Polie, than the little guard was unlocking the gate and throwing it wide open. Then step, step, step, every man going softly on tiptoe, through the gate went Red Beard followed by his two hundred ragamuffin ruffians.

“Ha, ha, ha,” laughed Rolie Polie, as he turned the key in the lock, “that is the time I was too clever for Red Beard!”