CHAPTER XX
DISASTER TO DRAGONFEL
Dragonfel's mine was flooded, and as the water kept pouring in from allsides, there was no escape for the unfortunates who were in itschambers.
The passage which was mainly used in a descent to the mine had become araging river impossible to withstand so deep was it and with a currentso strong.
The way by which the Brownies had entered the mine was blocked by thegiant boulder which could only be removed by the pressure of a secretspring from the outside. The boulder had brought captivity to the band,and now it threatened even direr results, for those several tons ofstone stubbornly barred the way to safety.
It was evident that the violent disturbances deep down in the earthwhich had caused the earthquake and volcano were likewise responsiblefor the flood.
The water came in streams from the entrances, cracks, and fissures untilthe main-shaft was transformed into a lake that constantly grew deeper,and through this with shrieks and screams all plunged, fleeing hitherand thither, but with no definite point in their dazed minds.
Dragonfel and his followers in particular lost their heads, and theirfear and cowardice were indeed pitiable. All their bravado had desertedthem, and from the blustering bullies they had been they became sorry,trembling wretches vainly beseeching help and voicing the terror attheir hearts in wild, unearthly cries.
But, though the Brownies were alarmed like all the rest, they stillretained their presence of mind, and under the cool-headed direction ofKing Stanislaus they at once set about to do certain things, with thehope that a way would afterward be found to get them out of all danger,helping hands were busy.
Prince Florimel assisted Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil toa ledge that was still out of the reach of the advancing waters,charging them most earnestly to remain there, after which he ran back,and added his efforts to those of his companions.
The little mine-sprites were most in need of aid, and to them theBrownies devoted the work of rescue. They were all in great peril ofdrowning, and though it seemed that such a fate could only be delayedfor a time, they started to remove the poor, frightened creatures toplaces as far beyond the rapidly encroaching waters as possible.
Brownies scaled the walls and lodged themselves in a pocket up to whichthey hauled with great effort a number of mine-sprites in one of thelarge baskets that were used in loading the jewels before they werecarted away.
Others of the terrified sprites sought refuge by climbing over theBrownies' willing backs to a temporary refuge high among the rocks.
The Irishman, Scotchman, and German put three in a wheelbarrow, andstarted to trundle them off, but to their great dismay it turned over,and spilled them out. Assistance, however, was quickly rendered, andwith the mine-sprites back in the wheelbarrow they continued on theirway.
Still the waters rose, and the excitement increased.
Dragonfel in the most abject terror stormed and shouted at hisfollowers, issuing angry commands for them to exert themselves to dosomething, but they were all helpless, and his words were wasted on theair to no purpose.
They were too frightened to be of assistance, even if it had beenpossible to render it, though in cases where one was overcome there werethose who attempted the work of resuscitation.
The wicked enchanter ran about like a maniac, with little or no thoughtof where he was going, until suddenly with a shriek of fright he plungedinto a circular pit that had been dug deep into the earth for a distanceof perhaps fifty feet.
There was sufficient water at the bottom of the pit to break his severefall, which was fortunate for him, as otherwise it would have resultedin his end.
He was stunned and dazed, but in nowise injured beyond some bruises, andhe frantically reached up and clutched a jagged point of rock by whichhe pulled himself out of the water that was nearly to his neck andpromising him more.
The horror of his situation was at once made plain to him. Beyond thisrock there was nothing by which he could maintain even the slightesthold, and the waters which were steadily rising would soon submerge himand end all.
His evil scheming had led to his own undoing, and in causing misfortuneto so many he had brought upon himself the most terrible misfortune ofall.
Looking up helplessly he could see a number of the Brownies trying topeer down at him through the darkness. They lay flat on their stomachs,and leaned as far out over the hole as prudence would permit.
"Help! help!" screamed Dragonfel, in a frenzy of fear. "Save me! saveme!"
His piteous cries were heard by all the Brownies, and they lookedat each other in doubt and uncertainty. When the monster whom theyhad every reason to fear had met with the mishap which now made himpowerless it was not to be gainsaid that a feeling of great relief wasexperienced by one and all. No matter what harm might come to them fromother sources, certainly his power to injure them was gone.
"Why should we help him?" said one of the Brownies. "He has harmed usall he could."
"If he drowns," said another, "he will never have a chance to do soagain." But King Stanislaus looked very grave.
"No matter how much he has wronged us," he said decidedly, "he needs ourhelp, so we must give it."
"But he is our enemy," objected the Policeman.
"That makes no difference," said His Majesty. "He will drown if we donot aid him."
"If we save him," said Uncle Sam, "he will only make trouble for usagain."
"We must not think of that," said King Stanislaus. "He's in distress,and doesn't need to advertise it. That's where the Brownies step in."
He gave his orders, and the Brownies with the realization that there wasnot a moment to be lost ran with all possible speed for the long ropewhich they had used in hauling up the mine-sprites in the basket. Thisthey brought to the opening, tripping and sprawling over it in theeagerness and anxiety they displayed.
They stood in a line, and lowered the rope down into the pit.
"Slip the noose at the end of the rope under your arms," shouted KingStanislaus to Dragonfel, "and we will pull you up."
The water was nearly over Dragonfel's head by this time, and he hadceased his cries for help, for whenever he opened his mouth he chokedand strangled. He heard the welcome words of the king as in a dream,but half unconscious as he was he reached out, and caught the rope,tightened his grip upon it. He discovered the slip-noose at the end,and with his senses fast leaving him had just enough strength left toadjust this under both his arms. When the Brownies felt the rope growtaut they began to haul away with might and main. Around the pit nowthere were willing minds and itching fingers. Some fell over withtheir exertions, but in a trice they were up again to contribute allthe strength they had to the work. "Pull away, boys!" shouted KingStanislaus encouragingly, with his own royal digits wound tightlyaround the rope. "A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together!That's the ticket! Hurray! We'll soon have him up."
His words incited them so that through undue effort they suddenly losttheir balance and sprawled over backward like ten-pins.
Like a shot Dragonfel fell back into the water again, almost draggingafter him a half-dozen Brownies who still clung to the rope. But othersquickly grasped them by the legs, and prevented them from going overinto the pit until a fresh hold of the rope was secured, and anotherattempt was made.
"Avast there, messmates!" cried the Sailor. "Give an old salt a chanceat the fore-clutch on the hawser, and the old pirate will soon come upfrom the bottom of the sea!"
This time the Brownies were successful, and they pulled Dragonfel to thebrink, and rolled him over to a place of temporary safety.
Water poured from his drenched form, and with a groan he relapsed intounconsciousness.
The Brownies looked first at him, and then at each other. Though no onesaid a word, all had the same thought.
Soon Dragonfel would revive, and then what would happen? They had savedtheir foe, but to what purpose? If by any chance they should escape thepresent dreadful da
nger they were in they would still be in the wickedenchanter's power.
How would he use it?
NEARING A FINISH.]