CHAPTER III
FLORIMEL REACHES THE ENCHANTED COUNTRY
On and on flew Prince Florimel from the wicked uncle who meant to do himharm.
The friendly stars shone down to guide him on his way, but just whatthat way was he did not know. His only thought to put the palace as farbehind him as he could, and at times he turned his head to look backat its frowning, shadowy walls that finally disappeared from sight.Florimel gave a deep sigh of relief, but did not relax his speed in theslightest.
The words of the faithful old Gando were strongly impressed upon hismind, and he realized that the duke had designs on his life. When it wasdiscovered that he was missing, a search would be made for him, and oncein the power of the duke it would go hard with him.
So on he ran, and the few people whom he met paid little or no heedto him, thinking perhaps that he was some frightened peasant-childhastening to or from home upon some urgent night-errand. And as he went,always further and further away from the palace, the houses grew fewerand still fewer, till finally he found himself out in the open country.
The stars were paling out, and by this time Florimel was very tired,so that when he saw a hay-stack in a field he quickly sought it, andburrowing from sight down into the sweet-smelling mass was soon asleep.
The sun was up when he awoke refreshed. He heard the cooling trickle ofa brook hard by, and drank thirstily, and laved his face and hands. Somedistance off upon a dew-spangled hillside thin smoke curled lazily upfrom the thatched roof of a farmer's cottage. Florimel who felt thequalms of hunger drew nigh to it resolved to ask for food.
As he approached the cottage a dog stretched out in the doorway to enjoythe first genial rays of the sun jumped up and started to bark, butalmost instantly his barks ceased, and he wagged his tail instead withfriendly violence.
A stout, middle-aged woman with a kerchief on her head came to the opendoor and eyed him questioningly.
"Good mother," he said, with a winning smile, "may I trespass upon yourhospitality? I would fain break my fast, and this coin will pay my way."
"Food have we a-plenty, and to spare," said the kind-hearted woman, "sothat you are welcome to it. But who are you, and whence came you? You donot speak like a peasant's child."
"Nay, I have some knowledge of fair speech," said Florimel. "Yet do Icount myself one of the people. And I fare from the city in quest ofadventure. See, I have brought this bow and quiver of arrows with me!"
"Then most surely you will find it," said the dame, "for we live almoston the edge of the kingdom, and beyond that line of deep woods there isa strange country with adventure enough, I warrant you. But come withme, and sit you at the board. My good man has gone to loose the sheepfrom the fold, and will be back very soon."
So Florimel followed his hostess into the plain kitchen, and took hisplace at a bare wooden table while she busied herself in the preparationof the meal. And, as he sat there, and she was occupied with her task,there rose from outside a sudden hub-bub, made up of the gallop of manyhorses' hoofs, the clank and rattle of swords and uniforms, and thejargon of excited human voices.
The woman in great curiosity rushed from the oven to the door, andFlorimel jumped down from his chair, running after her, and peering outfrom behind her.
"Soldiers!" she cried, astounded beyond measure. "What are they doinghere, I wonder?"
LOOKING FOR BROWNIES]
The farmer with cap in hand looked up at them, awed and confused bytheir fine airs and magnificence, and while they volleyed questionsat him silently and stupidly shook his head, until at last in theirimpatience and disgust they put spurs to their horses' flanks andgalloped off in clouds of dust.
Then the good man ran toward the house, suddenly finding voice, andshouting at his wife:
"Here's a great to do! The young Prince Florimel has disappeared in thenight, and the whole kingdom is aroused!"
Then noticing Florimel for the first time he asked:
"But who is this?"
"A chance guest to break his fast with us," said his wife. "But let useat before the food grows cold."
So Florimel partook heartily of the plain fare of the farmer and hiswife, and throughout the meal the talk of his hosts was of the missingprince.
"Poor lad!" said the woman with a sigh.
"I hope that all is well with him. Yet much I fear this search for himis vain. His uncle, the duke, could tell, I warrant, what has happenedto him. But he will never be heard of more, and the wicked duke willnow be king." "You who have come from the city," said the farmer toFlorimel, "no doubt some time have seen the poor prince. What kind of ayoung lad was he? A likely one, so I have heard." "He had his faults,"admitted Florimel. "He was very small of build--no taller than I. Whenlast I saw him he looked not unlike me. I doubt if he weighed a pennyweight more."
"Was he handsome?" asked the woman.
"Am I handsome?" asked Florimel in return.
"Candor compels me to tell you you are not," she frankly said, "thoughyou are not ill-favored, either."
"Still if I wore the prince's attire," said Florimel, "I would be ashandsome as he. But let us change the subject. You spoke but a while agoof that strange country which lies adjacent to this. In what manner isit strange?"
"But little is known of it," said the woman, "for, in truth, it is aplace to be avoided. There are few humans bold enough to penetrate itsmysteries, for in the forests and dense undergrowth are savage beaststhat wreak harm. Often we can hear their wild cries at night, and ourhearts are chilled. And, even if one escape the beasts, there areBrownies and fairies to weave their mystic charm."
"Are the Brownies there too?" asked Florimel, with interest.
"Aye, that they are!" said the woman. "But it is not the Brownies thatwould hurt you. They are kind little creatures who would help instead ofharm you."
"I would like to see them," said Florimel reflectively. "Many a night asI lay in my bed have I dreamed of the Brownies."
"See them you cannot," said the woman decidedly, "since you have notsecond sight. Many have tried to see the Brownies, but they havefailed through lack of supernatural vision. But there are Browniesnevertheless, and they go everywhere. Of that we have abundant proof,have we not, husband?"
"Aye!" said the farmer. "Once when I lay flat upon my back, and thegrain in the field was in danger of rot, the Brownies came one night andharvested it. In the morning it was all cut and stacked."
"Yes," the good wife hastened to add, "and that very same night theychurned the cream to butter."
"Are you sure the Brownies did it?" asked Florimel, in surprise. "Whoelse but the Brownies?" said the farmer positively. "We had set a bowlof cream for that is all they ask, and next morning the cream was gone.Wife, show him the bowl!"
The woman thereupon exhibited an empty blue delf bowl, and Florimelwas convinced. He rose with his hosts from the table, and went to thedoorway from which he gazed to the far line of woods that now held suchcharm for him.
"Let me pay you my faring, good people," he said, "for I would be on myway."
"Nay, there is naught you owe us," said the farmer, "for you have been awelcome guest. You are a fine young lad, and I have a fancy for you. Youhad better bide here with us. There is work for you to do for your boardand lodging. I need someone to tend the sheep."
"I thank you, my good man," said Florimel, "but I must leave you."
"Whither would you go?"
"To that strange country of which your good wife spoke."
"Say not so, young master," implored the woman earnestly. "There arewild beasts there waiting to devour you."
"And there are wild beasts of men sometimes even more terrible," saidFlorimel. "I will take my chances with the beasts. All that I have lovedI have lost, so there is naught to keep me. Each moment I tarry but addsto the danger that encompasses me."
"Master, can it be?--yes, it must be!" cried the man, with a great lightbreaking upon him. "You are the prince!"
"Yes, I am indeed he!" said Fl
orimel. "Convey word to my uncle that I amgone, and that the child of the brother who trusted in him will nevertrouble him again. If the people choose him for their ruler, let theconsequences be on their own heads. And now farewell!"
With this last word on his lips he broke into a run. The man with thebest of intentions tried to follow in the hope of dissuading him fromhis rash purpose, while his wife frantically shouted for the youngprince to come back.
But with the bow and arrows that might mean so much to him Florimelonly increased his pace, so that the other was soon distanced. Finallythe man in despair gave up the chase, and stood watching until Florimelturned, waved his hand, and disappeared into the heavy growth of forest.And on and on he went, though nothing extraordinary befell him. So forthree days he continued, suffering neither from hunger nor from thirst,for there were plenty of pure brooks at which he could lave and drink,and it was the time of the delicious tomtom, a juicy fruit everywhere ingreat abundance, which tasted like a banana flavored with vanilla icecream, and which had all the sustaining qualities of beefsteak.
Of this Florimel partook heartily and at will, as well as of berries andnuts, and when weary slept for precaution's sake in the forked branchesof trees, with his rest broken only by the crashing of some skulkinganimal through thick, tangled underbrush in quest of prey or a long,drawn-out, shuddering night-cry that would chill his blood and cause hisheart for a moment to cease its beat.
Still there were trees growing thickly together, and retardingand making difficult one's advance. But, just when he was growingdiscouraged, they began to thin out, and he came into more open spaces.
Finally he reached a tiny lake that shone like a turquoise in abowl-like formation at the base of a steep hill.
A path ran up the hillside, and this evidently had been much in use, forthe grass was worn and trodden by many feet. On a ledge there was anold, decaying, leafless tree, and on one of its gaunt, top-branches thatjutted over the lake a pair of intrepid eagles had built their nest.Florimel looked up and spied the young eaglets who were just old enoughto essay flight, selfishly trying to crowd each other out of their airystructure of sticks and straws. Far overhead their parents describedinvisible circles in the sky, emitting as they did so harsh shrieks ofpride.
While he gazed upward, thinking meanwhile that it was a strange abodefor eagles to choose, in place of the customary mountain-crag, he wassuddenly startled by the savage roar of beasts.
Quick as a flash he turned, and saw a wild, fierce, snarling pack--aconfused, horrifying vision of lions, tigers, and leopards--their redtongues lolling from their watering mouths--their nostrils dilated atthe scent of human blood--flying with leaps and bounds to rend and tearhim apart and devour him.
Desperately he seized an arrow from the quiver, and placing it in thebow pointed it at them and pulled back the cord.
But the cord snapped in twain, and the arrow fell harmlessly to theground.