CHAPTER XXI
AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Dragonfel had been rescued by the Brownies at a crucial time whenperhaps they might have been justified in trying to save themselvesinstead.
The water kept on swiftly rising, and it forced them out of thepositions they occupied to ledges and pockets higher up on the rocks.To these all were forced to retreat, and the still senseless enchanterwas carried after them by some of his cowardly, frightened followerswho would have left him behind if it had not been for the sterncommand of King Stanislaus.
Still higher and higher rose the water till they were again threatenedin their new places of refuge, and it soon became evident thatsomething had to be done, and that quickly.
There was but one passage-way through which the water was not pouringlike that of a swift mill-race, and this was the one in which theBrownies had been trapped.
As the water ascended they were forced into it, and they continued onthrough it well knowing from bitter experience that the huge bouldereffectually blocked the exit, and would hold them powerless untilfinally they were submerged by the relentless flood.
But still they went on, hoping against hope, until they came to theboulder. It was still in place, and though they exerted all theirstrength in trying to remove it they could not budge it to even theextent of a millionth of an inch.
Brownies used sticks as levers, and the demons employed brute force, butall their efforts proved in vain.
"It's no use," at last said King Stanislaus, wiping his perspiring brow."It looks as though this would be the end."
A sudden thought entered Florimel's head--a wild, foolish thoughtperhaps, but not any more so than when he had aimed his magic arrow atthe crescent moon.
"Stand back, all of you!" he shouted.
He took one of the four arrows that were in the quiver, and placed it inthe bow. Then he aimed it at the rock, and pulled the cord, making noparticular attempt at a display of strength which he realized fullycould not accomplish his purpose.
But to the infinite delight and astonishment of all a strange thinghappened, that made the eyes pop in from every head.
The arrow struck the base of the rock, which at the moment of contactburst into hundreds of jagged pieces that flew up into the air. As thesefell they formed a series of steps that were as good as any mason couldhave planned.
They ascended these steps with all possible haste up into the open,where the blue sky was above them, and where they could breathe freelythe air that never before had seemed so sweet and pure.
Looking around they could note the ravages of the flood, for with itthere had come a mighty tidal wave from the sea, with abnormally highwater that had changed the low marshlands into lakes, and had swollenthe small creeks to roaring, rushing rivers.
Just then a vivacious little mine-sprite found an opportunity to whisperto the Policeman:
"This is leap-year, officer, and, to speak freely, I loved you at firstsight."
"Well," said the Policeman, with his usual composure, "to speak evenmore freely, your love at second sight is not returned."
"I would be willing," she said, "to fly with you to parts unknown."
"That's the trouble," said the Policeman. "No parts are unknown to theBrownies. The world was our oyster, and we've opened it. We're just aswell known in Timbuctoo as Tarrytown!"
There was an angry swell that caused Dragonfel's galleon to tossviolently up and down, but it still held secure to its anchor, andformed a picture inviting to a sailor's eye.
The enchanter was laid upon the greensward by those who bore him, and hestirred uneasily, while his hand sought his forehead. Then he opened hiseyes, and unsteadily tried to get on his feet, in which effort otherssprang to his assistance.
"Where am I?" he asked, as dazed and puzzled he looked around. "What hashappened?"
His gaze took in the Brownies, and, in spite of all they had just donefor him, it was not a reassuring one. But somehow they feared him nolonger, for they felt that no matter what further villainy he mightattempt they were more than a match for him.
But before some one could answer Dragonfel Euphrosyne, the Goddess ofMirth, suddenly appeared in their midst, though no one could tell justhow or from whence she came.
"Meddlesome spirit that you are," she said sternly, addressing her wordsto the crestfallen enchanter, "you can no longer trouble the Brownies.Your commission to do evil has expired."
"How so?" he demanded. "I made application for a renewal."
"Yes," she said, "but, through an error in the date, you were too late."
"Too late?" he repeated blankly.
"Yes, by thirteen seconds," she announced triumphantly, "and Beelzebubrefuses to renew the policy."
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Dragonfel, with much chagrin. "This comes oftrying to run business without an almanac!"
"Henceforth you will be compelled to be good," said Euphrosyne.
"Yes," said Dragonfel, in a rather shamefaced manner. "It may comerather hard at first, but I suppose I will get used to it in time. As amatter of fact, I'm growing rather tired of being bad. There's nothingto it, after all. The only thing one gets from being bad is a lack ofrespect in the community."
"I see you're somewhat repentant," said Euphrosyne encouragingly. "It'sa little late, of course, but still it's better late than never. Youunderstand, don't you, that after this you're to let the Browniesalone?"
"I should say I will let them alone," coincided Dragonfel heartily. "TheBrownies are too much for me. They have beaten me at every point. Evenif I were disposed to do them further mischief I am placed in a ratherdelicate situation. I owe my life to the Brownies."
"There is one thing on which I insist," spoke up King Stanislaus. "Youmust do something for these poor mine-sprites."
"I will see that they are restored to their parents from whom they werestolen," asserted Dragonfel hastily. "Furthermore they shall all begiven handsome dowries, with a beautiful solitaire diamond of ahalf-dozen karats more or less for each, so that when the right youngman comes along the engagement-ring will be easy."
Here the mine-sprite who had expressed her preference for the Policemangave him a coy glance, but he twirled his club, and looked the otherway.
"It's too bad about your palace," said the Dude to Dragonfel.
"Oh, don't trouble yourself about that," said the enchanter cheerfully."I never did like its style of architecture, anyhow.
I'll soon have it rebuilt, and give the Union scale for labor, withdouble pay for over-time. The palace was a rather tame affair anyway,I ran too much to the emerald, topaz, and turquoise in its composition.I'll make more use of the sapphire, the ruby and cornelian, in themakeup of the new structure; and those columns, I always felt a littleweak over them, as they were only imitation chalcedony, the real thinggoes in the next one, if I have to import it from Palestine." Theglances the Brownies exchanged showed they felt that they had struck amaster in his line.
It is said, that some of the Brownies, to this day, annually celebratetheir deliverance from the mine, and the reformation of Dragonfel, byproudly parading half the night, bearing the implements they had to usewhile in captivity.
So delighted was King Stanislaus over the general outcome that hisblithe spirits found expression in a jolly song that was a greatfavorite of his, and the Brownies all joined in the chorus. The wordsfollow:
I'M RULER OF THE BROWNIE BAND!
KING STANISLAUS
I'm ruler of the Brownie band, Most favored of personages; I sway my sceptre o'er a land Not found upon hist'ry's pages; I take my nightly promenade By anarchists unmolested; On me no bomb or hand grenade Has ever by them been tested! If you could only see me dine, You'd find me extremely placid; I never fear a dish of mine Is seasoned with prussic acid!
BROWNIES
Oh, you're all right!
KING STANISLAUS
Eh, I didn't catch it quite; Repeat
it, please! I didn't understand.
BROWNIES
Why, you, you, you, you! You're all right!
KING STANISLAUS
And so is the Brownie band!
KING STANISLAUS
I need no sabre, lance, or spear To guard me whene'er I slumber; My people kneel, but not thro' fear; Love governs the entire number. My slightest wish they all obey; I never use any axes; I always let them have their way; They don't have to pay high taxes; No undertaker need apply; I'm not for embalmment crazy; My subjects cry as I pass by, "The Brownie king is a daisy!"
BROWNIES
Oh, you're all right, etc.
The refrain was so rollicking and infectious that when it was repeatedDragonfel and his followers could not keep from joining in with theBrownies, and they lustily roared out the words with a right good will.
The delayed wedding of Prince Florimel and Queen Titania was celebratedvery soon after in the fairy-palace with all the joy and happiness thatcan come to such a momentous occasion.
Brownies and fairies vied with each other in having a good time, and thewalls rang with their innocent merry-making. Everyone said that KingStanislaus was the life of the party.
Dragonfel and his followers participated in the festivities, this timeunfeared, and to the strains of a Brownie orchestra they mingled withothers in the dance. Dragonfel even tried to do the fox-trot with DameDrusilda, which greatly delighted Euphrosyne who was among thosepresent.
In place of the useless, cumbersome presents he had first brought theenchanter gave the bride the more appropriate and useful gift of a dozenbushels of precious stones.
So in this wonderful country King Florimel and his beautiful queen arestill living and ruling wisely, and, to make their happiness complete,there are little children round them.
To these King Florimel will leave the heritage of the magic bow andarrows, for life has glided smoothly on, and the time has never been sograve or distressing, as to necessitate their use. But should that timeever come the king has full confidence in his ex-fairy godmother's gift.
To the palace the Brownies come frequently, and it is needless to saythat they are welcome, just as they are welcome everywhere.
But they cannot be there as often as King Florimel would like them to bebecause their kindly spirit takes them over the whole world to promotepeace, good humor, and good will to all human kind.
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The Brownies and Prince Florimel; Or, Brownieland, Fairyland, and Demonland Page 22