CHAPTER IX
Leo tried to go to sleep; but after doing everything he could think of,such as imagining a flock of sheep jumping a fence, and counting ahundred backward and forward, he gave it up as useless. All the strangethings he had seen would come back, and his eyelids were like littlespring doors that bobbed open in spite of his attempts to close them. Asthey lifted for the hundredth time he saw Paz doubled up in a heap, withhis knees drawn up to his chin, his elbows resting on them, and his facein his hands. He was intently watching Leo.
"Hallo!" said Leo, "can't you go to sleep either?"
"No need at present."
"Why not?"
"I was going through a formula in D."
"What under the sun is that?"
"Something relating to my pursuits. Don't trouble yourself to try andfind out everything. In my opinion Master Knops has crammed you toohard. What do you say to my telling you a story or two?"
"Splendid! I'm ready when you are."
"No, you are not; you're hungry. You must have a bite first; what shallit be? Oh, no matter; I'll get you something if you promise not to askany questions."
"All right," said Leo, inwardly cringing at the thought of stuffedrats.
Paz was gone but a little while. When he came back he was carrying abasket, from which he produced a small flask of a very sweet, fruitysirup, a dish of something that looked like little fish swimming ingolden jelly--salt and savory Leo found them--and a sort of saladgarnished with tiny eggs. These were followed by nuts of a peculiarflavor, and small fruits as exquisite to look at as they were deliciousto taste.
When Leo had done ample justice to all these things Paz looked relieved,as if he had feared they might not suit.
"Never ate anything better in my life," said Leo.
"I am glad to hear it; tastes differ so. Now these things come from allparts of the world--the fish from Spain, the eggs from Africa, the nutsfrom Italy, the fruits from France, and the sirup from Portugal."
"Oh dear!" said Leo, wondering how their freshness was preserved.
"Yes, I suppose you have no idea of our canning business."
"None in the world."
"I presumed as much," said Paz, wisely, "nor am I going to bore youwith any more information."
Leo looked quite shocked.
"Oh, well," said Paz, profoundly, "there's a limit to all things, andI'm not a Knops."
"But have you been to all parts of the world?" asked Leo.
"Oh, yes," answered Paz, carelessly. "I have wandered far and wide in mytime. Until I caught the diamond fever I was used as an envoy."
"Indeed!" said Leo, having but a faint idea of what an envoy was. "Whatdid you do?"
"I went on errands of importance."
"Who for, and where did you go?"
"I was sent generally to carry messages from our King to the Queen ofthe Wind Fairies or the Herb Elves, or the Sylphs, sometimes to warnthem of trouble or danger, sometimes to tell them that imps wererampaging or giants were about to make war, but oftener to inform themof some plan for assisting man, or some good to be done for a child: inthese things we delight."
"How kind!" said Leo.
"Kindness has so much power, if people only knew it. But you arewaiting; I must not detain you." So, without further preface, thus began
PAZ'S STORY
"It was a time of trouble to mankind--a year of strange events, and yetso stupid are ordinary mortals--begging your pardon--that none weremaking preparations either to meet or to avoid disaster. The King of theKobolds had been negotiating with our King for the purchase of someimmense tracts of iron ore, and in the course of conversation said hehad received news from Italy that there would soon be a volcanicoutbreak, that the giants there were quarrelling fiercely, and had nothesitated to declare that unless matters were arranged to suit them theywould bid Vesuvius pour forth its death-dealing fires.
"Now on the side of that well-known mountain were living some friends ofour King--two children, a girl and a boy, Tessa and Tasso, daughter andson of an Italian peasant.
"In their little vineyard one day our King's son, an infant, wasswinging in his leafy cradle; it looked like a bird's nest, and so Isuppose they thought it, but a rude playmate of theirs tried to tear itdown from its airy height, and would have succeeded had not both Tessaand Tasso resolutely opposed him.
"First they sought to make him stop by appealing to his feelings, askinghim how he would like to have his cottage ruined, his home desolated;but at this he only mocked and jeered. Then they urged that birds hadthe same right to live and rear their young as had human beings; whichhaving no more effect, they openly forbade his attempt, saying that theground was theirs, the birds were their friends, and they should defendthem. Blows followed, Tessa and Tasso bearing their part bravely, andcompelling the young ruffian to take himself off. Little did they knowwhom they were defending.
"Our King heard of the occurrence, and vowed unending friendship; sowhen the King of the Kobolds told him of the danger impending atVesuvius I was at once sent for to convey the information, and do what Icould to save the lives of Tessa and Tasso. It took but a whiff of mypipe to bring me to the desired place, but so calm and bright andpeaceful was the scene that I found it hard to believe in thethreatening evil. Never had I seen a bluer sky reflected in a moresilvery mirror than were the clouds and bay of Naples that day. Thepeople were merry and careless, tending their cattle, gathering theirfruit, singing their songs, and as indifferent to their old enemy as ifhe had never harmed them.
"How should I approach the object of my mission? how put fear into thehearts of joyous innocence? Their father had bidden them go to the citywith a load of oranges. These were to be conveyed in large baskets, orpanniers, on the back of a faithful donkey. If I could keep them awayfrom home, delay them by some pretext from returning for at least a day,I might aid them. So with this determination I proceeded to act.
"At every place or with every person to whom they offered their fruit Iwhispered objections, asked if their prices were not very high, or ifthe fruit were not picked too early. So well did I succeed that I hadnearly upset my own plans, for poor Tessa, becoming discouraged, wantedto return home at once, but Tasso stoutly declared he would sell everyorange before going back--that his fruit was good and ripe, and itshould be appreciated. I was pained to see Tessa's tears, but what couldI do? Already thick smoke was pouring down the mountain's side, and somany were the rumbling sounds that although these children wereaccustomed to such disturbances, fears began to assail them.
"They were now well away from home, and had paused at the roadside toeat their bread-and-cheese. People were becoming unusually numerous.Excitement was prevailing, and Tessa saw with alarm women and childrenhurrying past. At that moment a travelling carriage appeared. One couldsee at a glance from its neat compactness that it was English. I put myhead in the window, and whispered something. At once a gray-haired ladyleaned out, and beckoned to Tessa, who tremblingly obeyed.
"'My child,' said the lady, kindly, 'I want some oranges. Can you givethem to me quickly? You know we have no time to spare.'
"'Yes, madame,' said Tessa. 'But what is the matter? You and every onelook so anxious.'
"Instantly, as she spoke, there was a terrible quivering of the earth,which made every one shudder. The driver could scarcely hold his horses;they plunged and reared and trembled.
"'Ah! we cannot wait,' said the lady; but seeing the terrified looks ofthe children, she paused to ask, 'Are you children alone?'
"'Entirely so, signorina.'
"'And where are you going?'
"'Home, to the mountain.'
"'You cannot go there; it is too late.' Then with a sudden resolutionshe turned to the maid beside her. 'We will take them with us; theirload is too heavy for them to get on fast enough. Quick! quick! Leaveyour donkey; he is tired; every one is so frightened he will not bestolen if he escapes. Come in here,' pushing open the carriage door.
"Tessa turned irresolutely to
Tasso, who was also uncertain what to do;but the tone was imperative; they were accustomed to obey. Crowds werenow jostling them; women were crying; children were pushed hither andthither, their little toys trodden underfoot, more a grievance to themthan the quaking earth. With a regretful glance at the donkey, Tessa andTasso jumped into the carriage, which drove away as fast as thefrightened horses could get through the throng. Miles and miles awaythey went until the horses could go no farther. Then they stopped forthe night at a little inn overflowing with strangers, where they heardthat Vesuvius was pouring forth lava, and where they could see the luridglare of its flames reddening the evening sky. They were saved. Mymission was fulfilled."
Paz stopped; but Leo was unsatisfied.
"And what became of them? Did they ever go home again? Were their fatherand mother killed?"
"No; their parents escaped, but their home was buried in ashes. Thechildren were cared for by the English lady until it was safe to return.All that was left them was the one poor donkey which, unharmed, strayedback to the place of its past abode, and with it they began a trade inlava which proved very remunerative."
"Trade in lava?" repeated Leo, inquisitively.
"Yes; the people pour melted lava in moulds before it cools, and sofashion ornaments out of it--perhaps they also carve it. I know theycolor it beautifully, for I have had to carry bracelets made of it tovarious people with whom we are on friendly terms, and they were blue asa bird's egg or turquoise."
"How curious!"
"No; they were not remarkable, not half as singular as coralformations."
"What are they?"
"Don't tell me you know nothing of coral!"
"I believe I have seen it, but that is all."
"Coral is made by wonderful little animals who live and die in its cellsuntil their structures are big enough for islands; but I will leave thatto Knops: my plan is not to cram."