The Wishing-Chair Again

  “Yes, Mr. Spells, sir,” said Winks, trying his best to hide behind Mollie and Peter.

  “I hope you got spanked for that,” said Mr. Spells. “I had a terrible job turning the pigs back to their right colour again. I believe they've still got blue tails.”

  Winks wished the floor would open and swallow him up, but it didn't. Mr. Spells turned to Peter.

  “Well, have you come visiting my dear old mother?” he said. “She's a wonder at spells, you know—she taught me most of what I know.”

  Peter explained how it was they were in his mother's room. Then he told the enchanter about poor Chinky and the chair.

  “Good gracious! “ said Mr. Spells. “We must certainly find out where that chair has gone. If it falls into the hands of some rogue he can use it for all kinds of wrong purposes. And Chinky, too—what a silly thing to do, to tie his foot to the chair! Why didn't he tie the chair to the door-handle, or something like that?”

  “We didn't think of that,” said Peter. “Can you help us to find out where the chair is, and Chinky, too, Mr. Spells?”

  “Of course,” said Mr. Spells. “Now, let me think for a moment. This happened at night, you say—and the chair, as usual, flew up into the sky?”

  “Yes,” said everyone.

  “Well, then—who was about that night in the sky, who might possibly have seen the chair and Chinky?” said Mr. Spells thoughtfully.

  “Hoot, the owl,” said the old lady at once,

  “Quite right, Mother,” said Mr. Spells. “Splendid idea. We'll call Hoot, the owl, and see if he knows anything about this. He's a very wise and observant bird, you know,” he said, turning to the children. “Never misses anything that goes on at night,”

  “Shall we go and ask him if he knows anything, then?” said Mollie. “Where does he live?”

  “Oh, we'll get him here,” said Mr. Spells. “That's the easiest way. I'll go and call him.”

  He went to the window that looked out on the sunny hillside. He clapped his hands three times and muttered a word so magic that Winks trembled in his shoes. And a very curious thing happened. The sunny hillside went dark—as dark as night —and behind the trees shone a little moon! It was all very peculiar, especially as the sun still shone out in the backyard and on the sea that could be seen from the other windows!

  “I must make it dark, or the owl won't come,” explained Mr. Spells. “Now I'll call him.”

  He put his hands up to his mouth, placed his thumbs carefully together, and blew gently—and, to the children's delight and surprise, the hoot of an owl came from his closed hands. ''Ooo-ooo-oooo-oooh! Ooo-ooo-ooh!”

  “What a wonderful spell!” said Peter.

  “That's no spell!” said the enchanter. “Why, anyone can do that. Look how I put my hands! Now you try!”

  So Peter tried—and then he blew into his closed hands, between his two thumbs very gently—and, lo and behold, the hoot of an owl came from his hands, too. It was marvellous!

  An answering hoot came from outside the window. A dark shadow passed across the room. Then a big owl flew silently down and perched on Mr. Spells' shoulder. He caressed the big-eyed creature, whilst Cinders looked on rather jealously.

  “Hoot,” said Mr. Spells. “Listen carefully. Two nights ago a Wishing-Chair flew off into the sky, and hanging to it by a rope tied to his foot was a pixie called Chinky. Did you see anything of this?”

  “Ooooooo-ooo-ooo! Oooooo-oo! Ooooh! Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ooooooooh!” answered the owl, hooting softly into Mr. Spells' ear.

  “Thank you, Hoot,” said Mr. Spells, looking grave. “You may go.”

  The owl flew off silently. Mr. Spells waited a moment and then muttered another magic word. The moonlit hillside grew lighter and lighter—and, hey presto, it was the sun behind the trees now and not the moon— daylight was everywhere!

  “What did the owl tell you?” asked Peter.

  “Oh—I forgot you couldn't understand,” said Mr. Spells. “Well, he saw the chair—and Chinky, too, dangling by his foot. He followed them out of curiosity—and he says they flew near the Wandering Castle, where Giant Twisty lives, and the giant must have seen them and captured them. He saw no more of them after that.”

  This was very bad news indeed. “Oh, dear—whatever are we going to do, then?” said Peter at last. “Poor little Chinky!”

  “I must help you,” said Mr. Spells. “I can't let Twisty own that chair. Sit down. We must think of a plan!”

  Away on Another Adventure

  “We can't do anything this evening,” said Mr. Spells. “That's quite certain. Anyway, the first thing to do is to find out where the Wandering Castle is.”

  “Don't you know?” said Mollie, in surprise.

  “I know where it was last year, and the year before, and even last month,” said Mr. Spells, “but I don't know where it is now. It may have wandered anywhere.”

  “Oh—does it move about?” asked Peter in amazement.

  “Good gracious, yes! It's always wandering,” said the enchanter. “One day it may be here, the next it's somewhere else. Giant Twisty finds that very useful because he's always getting into trouble because of his bad ways, and it's very convenient to have a castle that can slip away in the night.”

  “It's going to be very difficult to find, isn't it?” said Mollie. “I mean, even if we find out where it is now, it may not be there when we get there.”

  “True. But there's a chance it may rest in the same place for some weeks,” said Mr. Spells. “We must chance that. Winks, what are you doing?”

  Winks jumped. “Just—just stirring this stuff in the pot,” he said.

  “Look at your hands! “ thundered Mr. Spells. “You've been dipping them in—and now see what you've done! Meddlesome little brownie!”

  Winks looked at his hands. Oh, dear, they were bright blue! He stared at them in horror.

  “Now you know what your grandmother's pigs must have felt like when you turned them blue,” said the enchanter. “Well, keep your blue hands. Every time you look at them you can say to yourself, 'I must not meddle. I must not meddle.'”

  Winks put his hands into his pockets, looking very doleful. “Blue-hand, the Brownie,” said Peter. “Oh, Winks, you're always into some mischief or other. Can't you be good even for a little while?”

  “Well, children,” said Mr. Spells, “I think you'd better leave things to me tonight. I'll do my best to find out where the Wandering Castle happens to be at the moment and we will make a good plan to get back the chair and Chinky. Can you come along early tomorrow morning?”

  “Yes. We'll ask mother to let us go out for the day,” said Peter. “Come on, Mollie. Thank you, Mr. Spells, for your help. Goodbye, Mrs. Spells. Goodbye, Cinders.

  “You can go out of this door if you like,” said the enchanter, and the children suddenly saw a small silver door gleaming in the wall near the window that looked out on the hillside. They were sure it hadn't been there before. Cinders opened it for them.

  He bowed politely to the children, but dug a claw into Winks, who yelled and shot outside in a hurry. Winks shook a bright blue fist at the cat.

  “Oh, dear, look at your hands,” said Mollie. “I do hope, Winks, that the blue will fade. You really do look awful.”

  “Where are we?” said Peter, as they walked down the hillside, now filling with shadows as the sun sank low. “Goodness—why, there's our garden!”

  So it was, just nearby. How very extraordinary.

  “If only people knew how near their gardens are to curious and wonderful places, how surprised they would be!” said Mollie, walking in at their side-gate, and going to the playroom. “Well, we can take that short cut tomorrow. I do wonder how it is that the sea is outside that other window. I just simply can't understand that!”

  They said goodbye to Winks, who had tried in vain to wash the blue off his hands under the garden-tap. Then off they went to ask their mother if they could have the whole day to themselves tomorrow. Sh
e said, Yes, of course they could! It would do them good to go into the country in the lovely summer weather they were having now.

  “Well, I don't know what Mother would say if she knew we were going to hunt for Giant Twisty in his Wandering Castle!” said Peter. “I suppose she just wouldn't believe it.”

  The next day the children had breakfast very early indeed, and then set off down the garden to collect Winks. His hands were still as blue as ever, so he had put on a pair of gloves.

  “Oh—you've borrowed them from my biggest doll, Winks,” said Mollie. “You might have asked permission first. I should have said, 'No, certainly you can't have them.'”

  “Yes. I felt sure you wouldn't let me,” said Winks. “That's why I didn't ask you. I'll take great care of them, Mollie, I really will. Your doll doesn't mind a bit.”

  “Of course she doesn't. She hates wearing gloves!” said Mollie. “Well, I don't blame her. I don't like wearing them myself. Now, do take care of them, Winks, please.”

  They went out of the garden gate and looked round. Where was that short cut now? How queer! They couldn't find it at all! But Winks spotted it for them.

  “I've better eyes for strange things than you have,” he said. “I can see a little shining path in the grass that you can't see. Follow me.”

  “Well, you must be right,” said Peter, as Winks led them straight over the grass to the same trees on the same sunny hillside as they had seen the day before. “And there's the little silver door!”

  Cinders opened it as they came near. Winks shot in so quickly that he hadn't time to scratch the brownie, though he did try!

  Mr. Spells was there, surrounded by papers and old books of all kinds. “My mother is still asleep in bed,” he said. “I'm glad you're early. We can start off straight away.”

  “Oh—have you found out where the Wandering Castle is?” asked Mollie, in delight. “Did your magic books tell you?”

  “They helped,” said Mr. Spells. “And Cinders and I did a little Find-Out Spell we know. Wandering Castle is now on the island belonging to Giant Small-One, Twisty's brother.”

  “Giant Small-One—that's a funny name,” said Mollie.

  “Not really,” said Mr. Spells. “He's small for a giant, that's all. Well, we'd better start.”

  “But how can we get to an island?” said Peter. “We haven't a Wishing-Chair to fly over the sea!”

  “That doesn't matter,” said Mr. Spells. “Cinders has been getting my ship ready. Haven't you noticed it out there?”

  He pointed to the window that so surprisingly looked out on the sea. The children stared in wonder and delight. A most beautiful ship rocked gently on the calm blue sea, a picture of loveliness with its big, white sails.

  Mollie cried out in joy “Oh—what a beauty! And it's called The Mollie!”

  “Just a little compliment to you,” said Mr. Spells, smiling. “Also it's supposed to be lucky to sail in a ship bearing one of the passengers' names. Well—shall we set off? The wind is just right.”

  Cinders opened the window. Just outside was a stone ledge, with steps leading down to a tiny jetty. Cinders went first and helped Mollie down politely. Winks waited till last. He was afraid of Cinders' claws.

  They all stepped aboard the beautiful white-sailed ship. Mr. Spells took the tiller.

  “Blow, wind, blow. And on we will go over the waters blue,” he sang, and the white ship leapt forward like a bird.

  “Is that a spell you sang?” said Mollie.

  “Oh, no—just a little song,” said Mr. Spells. And he began to sing again, whilst the ship sailed lightly over the blue waters. The children and Winks enjoyed it very much. Mollie trailed her hand in the water. So did Winks—but his came up as blue as ever! He sat as far away from Cinders as possible.

  “Did we bring any food?” asked Mollie, suddenly.

  “No,” said Mr. Spells, and everyone at once looked rather gloomy. “Enchanters don't need to,” he went on. “I always carry a spell in my pocket that I use when I need any food. Is there anything you fancy at this particular moment, Mollie?”

  “Well—it would be nice to have an ice-cream—if it's possible,” said Mollie.

  “I knew she was going to ask that,” said Peter. “I'd like an iced strawberryade, please, Mr. Spells.”

  Soon they were all eating and drinking, as the ship sped on and on. Cinders had a plate of fish and chips and Mr. Spells made him go right to the other end of the ship to eat them. “I wish you wouldn't always ask for fish and chips,” he complained. “Really, Cinders, you always smell of food nowadays.”

  For two hours the ship sailed on—then Cinders gave a shout. “Land ahoy! It's the island, Mr. Spells, sir.”

  “Aha!” said the enchanter. “Now we must be a bit careful.” They all looked hard at the island that was rapidly coming nearer as the ship sped over the water. It didn't look very big. It was crowded with tall buildings, some of them looking like palaces, some like castles.

  “Which is the Wandering Castle, I wonder?” said Mollie.

  “Can't possibly tell,” said Mr. Spells. “Now here we go towards this little jetty. We'll land there. You'll have to watch out a bit, because several giants live here and you don't want to be trodden on like ants.”

  Mollie didn't like the sound of this much. She determined to keep very close to Mr. Spells. Cinders was left with the ship, much to Winks' relief. They all set off up an extremely wide street.

  “We shall be all right if we keep to the narrow pavements that run beside the walls of the building,” said Mr. Spells, guiding them to one. “There are plenty of small folk living here, as well as giants.”

  So there were—pixies and brownies and goblins and elves—but there were also giants, and Mollie suddenly saw a most enormous foot, followed by another one, walking down the street! She shrank close to Mr. Spells.

  When the giant came by the children tried to see up to the top of him, but he was too tall. “That's a large-sized giant,” said Mr. Spells. “I know him—nice fellow called Too-Big. Here's a smaller one.”

  It was exciting and extraordinary to see giants walking about. Mr. Spells guided them to a palace not quite so tall as some of the buildings.

  “This is where Giant Small-One lives—the giant the island belongs to,” he said. “Come along—we will ask him whereabouts his brother's Wandering Castle is. Don't be afraid. I am much more powerful than he is and he knows it.”

  They went up a long, long flight of steps. At the top was a big open door, leading into a vast hall. At the end of the hall sat a giant—-but he was such a small one that he wasn't more than twice the size of the enchanter himself!

  “Advance, Mr. Spells, and pay your respects to Giant Small-One,” boomed an enormous voice from somewhere.

  And Mr. Spells boldly went forward. Now to find out what they all wanted to know!

  Wandering Castle at Last

  MR. SPELLS made a small bow. “Greetings, Giant Small-One,” he said. “I see you have not yet found a spell to make you Tall-One instead of Small-One. I come to ask you a question. We want to find your brother, Giant Twisty. Is Wandering Castle on your island?”

  “I believe so,” said the voice of Giant Small-One, rather a feeble voice for a giant. “Go to High Hill and you will see it there. Why does Mr. Spells, grand enchanter, want my brother?”

  “That is my own business,” said Mr. Spells. The children thought he was very bold indeed to speak to a giant like that.

  “Pray stay to a meal,” said Small-One, and he clapped his big hands, making a noise like guns cracking. “I have few guests as important as you.”

  “Thank you, no,” said Mr. Spells. “Our business is urgent. We will go.”

  He turned to go. He walked back to the children and Winks, and they made their way to the door. But it was shut! They couldn't open such a big door themselves, so they had to go all the way back to Small-One and ask for a servant to open the door.

  It took a long time to find a ser
vant, which was strange, considering how many there had been in the hall a few minutes before. “He is delaying us,” said Mr. Spells angrily. “He wants to get a message to his brother before we reach him, to warn him that we are on his track!”

  At last a servant was found, the door was opened and they all trooped down the endless steps. They made their way down the street, came into a wide lane, lined with hedges as high as trees, and then found a sign-post that said ‘To High Hill.’

  “There's High Hill,” said Peter, pointing across the fields to a very tall hill. “There are quite a lot of buildings on it. I wonder which is Wandering Castle?”

  They came to High Hill at last and toiled up it. They met a small pixie running down, and Mr. Spells hailed her.

  “Hey, little pixie! Where's Wandering Castle?”

  “Let me see, now—I saw it yesterday,” said the little pixie. “Yes, I remember now. It's in the Silver Buttercup Field, sir.”

  “Silver Buttercups!” said Mollie, astonished. “I've never heard of those. I don't think I should like them. The golden ones are just right.”

  “I agree with you,” said Mr. Spells, guiding them round a big house. “But some enchanters are very silly—always trying out novelties, you know. Well, here we are—here is Silver Buttercup Field.”

  So it was. Silvery buttercups nodded in a great shimmering carpet. “Beautiful, but washed-out looking,” said Mr. Spells. “The thing is—where's Wandering Castle? It's certainly not here!”

  It wasn't. The field was completely empty—but there was a vast square space in the middle of it where no buttercups grew. “That's where it was,” said Winks, pointing to it with a very blue hand.

  “Yes—it's wandered away again,” said Mr. Spells, annoyed. “Small-One got a message to his brother in time—whilst we were trying to get that door open. Well, where has it wandered to now?”

  “Please, sir, I know!” said a small goblin, running up. “It's gone to Loneliness! I don't know if you know that country, sir. It's over the sea to the east— a very, very lonely place, where nobody ever goes if they can help it. It is going to hide itself there till you've given up looking for Twisty and his castle.”