Palmer Cox

THE FLIGHT TO
THE MINE

In bringing about the destruction of his palace Dragonfel’s only thought had been the destruction of the Brownies. He had hoped to crush the sprites by means of the falling walls and columns, and when he invoked Vulcan for the assistance he felt sure would be given to him he was very careful to keep out of harm’s way himself.

But like many another vindictive, revengeful person the wicked enchanter overreached himself. He had no idea when he called upon Vulcan to get busy that the latter would make such a good job of it.

He fully expected the palace to topple down, for that was what he had asked for. But he did not want the volcano that had been thrown in for good measure. It made things too hot and uncomfortable.

He was very much alarmed when he saw the volcano in violent eruption, for he realized that the downpour of lava boded ill for himself as well as for others over whose safety he was not at all concerned.

Thinking only of himself, he was on the point of ordering out his volunteer fire department to subdue the flames in the crater when to his great relief he noticed that King Stanislaus had taken the matter out of his hands.

From his place of safety Dragonfel watched the operations of the Brownies, and he breathed more freely when he noticed that they were getting the fire well under control, so that the prospect of all danger was fast being removed through their energetic efforts.

He realized that after the volcano was subdued these indomitable little people would devote their attention to him, and in considering what the outcome would be he grew more and more uncertain. As a matter of fact, he was beginning to fear the mystic power of the Brownies, and he very much doubted if his big followers with all their boasted strength were a fit match for these sprites who had not only cunning but courage.

He decided that in the clash which was bound to come it was best not to risk any chance of defeat in a fair, open fight, but by underhanded means to overpower them.

Then the diabolical scheme of making the Brownies prisoners, and setting them to work in his mine, presented itself. If he fled there with his captives, they would undoubtedly follow in pursuit, and once in the mine they easily could be made helpless.

The Demon Usher at his feet was going through all sorts of contortions of fear, and Dragonfel looked sneeringly down at him.

“Stop your shaking, and listen to me,” he commanded. “We are going to take the captives to the mine.”

“Let us start at once, kind master,” said the Demon Usher, in a fever of impatience. “If it gets cool here it will be too hot to hold us.”

“You will be the only one to stay,” said Dragonfel.

“Oh, say not so, kind master!” cried the Demon Usher, shaking with even greater violence than before. “If they catch me they will kill me.”

“Then it will be good riddance to bad rubbish,” was Dragonfel’s unfeeling retort. “I said you were to stay, so that settles it. When the Brownies ask you where we’ve gone, you’re to tell them to the mine. They’ll probably make you lead them to it. When they do take them to the secret entrance, and after they are in close the boulder on them. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, I grasp you perfectly,” said the Demon Usher, “but, oh, kind master, I have a weak heart, and at times it fails me. Would it not be better to intrust a delicate matter like this to Snoutpimple?”

At the ceiling which was thickly crusted with diamonds there was a slender open shaft that evidently had been made to provide air and light but which was too small to provide a means of escape.

“This is where you’ll stay,” announced Dragonfel. “The place isn’t half-bad, as things go, so you ought to make yourselves fairly comfortable in it. You’ll find both hot and cold water in the little ante-room screened off by those peacock-feather portiÈres. Your meals will be brought to you. If you want to read there’s the dictionary.”

“How long are you going to keep us here?” asked Titania, with a sinking of her heart.

“Always, and maybe longer,” was Dragonfel’s gruff response. “Have you brought your knitting with you?”

“If you think you can keep us here against our will,” said Titania, in a decided tone, “you will find that you are very much mistaken.”

“How so?” said Dragonfel contemptuously.

“It won’t be long before the Brownies are here.”

“That’s what I fully expect,” said the enchanter, with a knowing wink, “and after they come there’ll be something doing, believe me!”

He laid great emphasis upon the last two words, and in spite of all her confidence in Florimel and the Brownies Titania was filled with great uneasiness.

But she knew that further words would be wasted on him, so she said nothing more. With Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil she retired to a corner of the room, as far removed from him as possible, where they discussed among themselves in whispers this new phase of the disagreeable situation.

They hoped that Dragonfel and the rest would go, but still they lingered, and the enchanter at times looked up at the narrow opening cut into the ceiling. Finally he gave expression to a grunt of satisfaction as something he had been watching for met his gaze, and they noticed with him that a golden flood of sunshine was pouring through the opening.

“Day at last!” he cried, and, almost with his words, the Demon Usher made his appearance with a hop, skip, and jump, while at his back stood a half-starved looking demon whose hair had not been cut for a long time, and who had a distinctly artistic appearance.

“Master, kind master,” the Demon Usher joyously cackled, “I bear good news. The little commission you intrusted me with I executed to the best of my ability. Oh, master, you should have seen how brave I was. I was with them single-handed, yet I was more than a match for them all. I had the whole band in terrible fear of me.”

“Stop throwing bouquets at yourself!” ordered Dragonfel. “Tell me where they are.”

“It’s all easy now,” went on the Demon Usher. “The dangerous part has been done by me. I’ve got them so cowed that now they’ll eat out of your hand. I captured them all by myself, and drove them into the south lode, where they wait to do your bidding.”

“Will you permit me a word, kind master?” then spoke up the half-starved looking demon, as he unrolled a large sheet of paper. “He doesn’t deserve a medal, or even honorable mention. I took a rough sketch of him when he had the Brownies at his mercy, and here it is.”

Dragonfel stared at the effort in astonishment.

“You have missed your calling,” he remarked. “You should be in the Academy of Design.”

Titania had listened with fast increasing alarm, and now with Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil she advanced quickly toward him. “Of whom is this creature speaking?” she asked, in evident distress. “Of the Brownies?”

The Demon Usher uttered his disagreeable cackle as Dragonfel exultingly responded:

“Yes, the Brownies! They are prisoners like yourselves. Their nights of adventure are over, and they’ll never more delight in harmless pranks and helpful deeds. Those who seek their aid will henceforth look for them in vain. They are doomed to slave in this mine for the rest of their lives!”

Then Grouthead came up running, and he cried in great excitement:

“Master, kind master, we have captured all the Brownies, and they are helpless. What shall we do with them?”

“Set them to work at once,” spoke Dragonfel. “I will go back with you to gloat over them.”

He started immediately, and Titania and her companions attempted to follow, but Mandrake barred the way, and held them back.