CHAPTER XIX
THE MISSION OF THE DOVE
After the huge boulder had shut in the unsuspecting Brownies their onlyalternative was to follow the winding passage-way of the mine whereverit might take them. They could not remain where they were to perishmiserably of hunger and thirst, so they crept cautiously along in thedark with the faint hope that in some way they might gain the open. Butthe passage they were forced to travel led them direct to the main-shaftwhere the mine-sprites were at work. Nearly all of Dragonfel's followerswere there waiting to receive them. For the Demon Usher afterimprisoning them had descended by the main entrance and gleefullyimparted the news, claiming high honors.
Sheepishly the Brownies slunk in, with the Dude's white handkerchieffluttering at the end of his cane in token of the band's completesurrender, for King Stanislaus knew how useless it would be to offer anyresistance.
They were all huddled together in a body, and a sorry, crestfallen lotthey were. Never before had such great misfortune overtaken them.
At times the Student Brownie would discourse on Liberty, Justice, orGood Fellowship, and find appreciative listeners, and he lifted up theirhearts by assuring them that history repeats itself, and that they wouldyet enjoy the freedom of the comets and wandering stars.
While others of Dragonfel's followers guarded the Brownies so that theycould not escape, and brandished sharp-pointed spikes, battle-axes,bludgeons, and other formidable-looking weapons significantly, Groutheadran in hot haste to inform his master.
Soon the wicked enchanter made his appearance, and his rubicund faceshowed high elation.
"Put 'em all to work!" he shouted.
"Don't let 'em stand here idle."
"What do you want me to do?" asked King Stanislaus meekly.
"Here, stop your talking, and get busy!" cried Snoutpimple, thrusting inthe king's hand a pick.
"I haven't any choice," said His Majesty, "so I'll have to take mypick!"
The airy persiflage was lost upon Dragonfel, who frowned on himseverely.
"I'm a king in my own right," continued the monarch, pointing to hiscrown, "and never used a pick except to bury a dead dog, but I'll notmake a scene in the presence of my subjects, so here goes for thejewels." His cheerfulness told on others.
"If it was digging shedder-crabs or scallops," remarked the Sailor,"I'd soon fill a basket."
"I've broken stones before," said the Irishman, "but this is the firstchance I ever had to get a whack at diamonds."
"Vell," said the German Brownie, "if I see somedings in dot blaceshining like blitzen I bulls him oudt alretty yed und say noddings!"They were then hustled off to their new tasks.
With the mine-sprites and Brownies the king started to dig away, and hetried not to shirk, but to do his stint with the rest of them. The sightof royalty reduced to hard labor affected all his subjects greatly,though they had little opportunity for sympathy so severely did theirtaskmasters press them.
The heaps of precious stones piled up higher and higher, and their eyesfairly blinked at the sight of them.
"I never saw so many jewels before in all my life," declared HisMajesty, wincing as he felt a sudden crick in his back. "Whenever Ilook at them I feel just as though I were going to break out withcarbuncles."
"I wonder when they'll bring us something to eat," said Florimel, whowas beginning to grow hungry.
He was very much relieved when some time later Boundingbore appearedwith a cauldron of lukewarm soup, which was served in skimpy littleplates.
"Here, take mine back," complained King Stanislaus. "Look what's in it!Just imagine what would have happened to me if I had swallowed it."
As he spoke he held up a pin which he had found in his soup.
"It wouldn't have hurt you, Your Majesty," said the Policeman. "It's asafety pin."
Now and then some adventurous Brownies would discover a new darkpassage, and with the hope that it might lead to liberty the moreprogressive would get their heads together and plan a break for freedom.
For a time it looked as though one of these attempts would be crownedwith success, and liberty itself seemed to beckon in the offing. But,just as promising enterprises in our own uncertain careers often end indisappointment, so would each noble effort only result in a punishmentof heavier burdens and shorter rations.
Mandrake with a tray of food went down one of the dark passages, andsoon returned empty-handed. This Florimel noted, and he said to KingStanislaus:
"Your Majesty, Titania and her companions must be over there. I am goingto try to find them."
He took from the Sailor, who had charge of it, Euphrosyne's dove, and,opening the bosom of his jacket, let it cuddle close against his breast,with just its head now and then showing.
At a moment when the attention of all Dragonfel's followers wastemporarily diverted by some remarkable discovery he made a sudden dashdown the passage where he believed Queen Titania and the others wereimprisoned.
His companions grouped themselves together to screen his fleeing form asbest they could, and he succeeded in getting away without detection.
Florimel ran along the passage, and his supernatural vision guided him.So when he came to a gem-crusted door he was able to see stretchedbefore it a form that he at once recognized as the Red Spirit.
The lazy fellow had been left to guard the prisoners, but had neglectedhis duty, and was fast asleep.
Florimel heard him snoring away so that he knew his slumber was a heavyone, and he tiptoed up to him with confidence.
He was rejoiced to see lying beside him the bow and four arrows, and henoiselessly reached for the bow, and restored the arrows to his quiver.
Then he turned the big diamond that served as a knob for the door, andstepping cautiously over the unconscious Red Spirit, entered.
Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil were seated upon one of thedivans, and they sprang up joyously when they saw him.
"Florimel!" cried Titania, and ran toward him.
"'Sh!" he warned, and closed the door softly after him. "The Red Spiritis supposed to be guarding you, but he has fallen asleep. We must becareful not to wake him."
They embraced fondly, and Titania asked:
"When will the Brownies take us away from here?"
Florimel shook his head despondently as he answered:
"I am sorry to say that we are all prisoners like yourselves. See,Titania, I have brought you this. I thought perhaps that it might helpus."
He took the little cooing creature from the bosom of his jacket andstroked its soft sides.
"Euphrosyne's dove!" exclaimed Titania. "There is a shaft above throughwhich it can escape. Let us send it with a message to her."
Upon a scrap of paper she hastily wrote the words:
"_Euphrosyne, Fair Goddess of Mirth:_
"Dragonfel the wicked enchanter holds us captive in his country. Help us, we beseech you, before it is too late.
"QUEEN TITANIA."
While she wrote Florimel noticed with some uneasiness that water wastrickling down the walls and that in some places on the floor pools hadalready formed.
"Tie the note to the dove's neck," he said. "Let us dispatch itimmediately."
They did so, and he flung the little creature upward toward the shaft.Its talons clutched a side precariously while it fluttered its wings tosustain itself in the frail, uncertain hold it had.
"Poor little thing!" said Titania, when she noticed that it was in greatdanger of falling. "It cannot help us."
"Look!" cried the excited Violet. "It is making for the opening."
To the relief of all its watchers the bird crept through the shaft anddisappeared.
"Good luck go with it!" was Dame Drusilda's fervent ejaculation.
"Oh, Titania, Titania," said Florimel, "it may be our happiness dependsupon that bird!"
Then almost immediately afterward to their utter horror andconsternation water in immense volumes began to
pour down through theshaft until blinded and drenched as they suddenly became it seemed tothem as if all the flood-gates of the earth had been opened.
"Quick!" shouted Florimel. "We must get out of here!"
He flung open the door, fearing that the Red Spirit was still outside,but the terrified clamor of voices that rose from all sides had causedhim to desert his post.
The water which in an incredibly short time had risen nearly to theirwaists began racing down the passage, but still it did not appear torecede. "Let us go at once," urged Florimel, "for if we stay here weshall be lost." He gathered up the trembling Titania in his arms, andwith his burden staggered through the water toward the door, while DameDrusilda, Violet, and Daffodil followed close upon his heels.
Down the passage that had now become a violent raceway of raging,foaming water they all fled, for Florimel realized that their onlychance of escape, small as it might be, was to join those who werefamiliar with the entrances to the mine.
But as they got closer to the main-shaft the confusion and uproar grewwilder, and with a sickening feeling he became aware that those whosehelp he had hoped for were quite as powerless as he. Ear-splittingshrieks of horror made a very pandemonium of awful sound, and over allwas heard the despairing cry of Grouthead: "The mine is flooded, and theforce-pumps can't save us. We shall all be drowned!"
The Brownies and Prince Florimel; Or, Brownieland, Fairyland, and Demonland Page 20