<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i191.png" width-obs="198" height-obs="284" alt="D" title="D" /></div>
<h2 class="left r8">CHAPTER XX</h2>
<p class="st">DISASTER TO<br/>
DRAGONFEL</p>
<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Dragonfel’s</span> mine was flooded,
and as the water kept pouring in
from all sides, there was no escape
for the unfortunates who were in
its chambers.</p>
<p>The passage which was mainly
used in a descent to the mine had
become a raging river impossible
to withstand so deep was it and with a current so strong.</p>
<p>The way by which the Brownies had entered the mine was
blocked by the giant boulder which could only be removed by the
pressure of a secret spring from the outside. The boulder had
brought captivity to the band, and now it threatened even direr
results, for those several tons of stone stubbornly barred the
way to safety.</p>
<p>It was evident that the violent disturbances deep down in<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</SPAN></span>
the earth which had caused the earthquake and volcano were
likewise responsible for the flood.</p>
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<p>The water came in streams from the entrances, cracks, and
fissures until the main-shaft was transformed into a lake that
constantly grew deeper, and through this with shrieks and
screams all plunged, fleeing
hither and thither, but
with no definite point in
their dazed minds.</p>
<p>Dragonfel and his followers in particular lost their heads,
and their fear and cowardice were indeed pitiable. All their
bravado had deserted them, and from the blustering bullies they
had been they became sorry, trembling wretches vainly beseeching
help and voicing the terror at their hearts in wild,
unearthly cries.</p>
<p>But, though the Brownies were alarmed like all the rest, they
still retained their presence of mind, and under the cool-headed
direction of King Stanislaus they at once set about to do certain
things, with the hope that a way would afterward be<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</SPAN></span>
found to get them out of all danger, helping hands were
busy.</p>
<p>Prince Florimel assisted Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and
Daffodil to a 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.</p>
</div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i193.png" width-obs="446" height-obs="230" alt="Rescue" title="" /></div>
<p>The little mine-sprites were most in need of aid, and to them
the Brownies devoted the work of rescue. They were all in
great peril of drowning, and though it seemed that such a fate
could only be delayed for a time, they started to remove the
poor, frightened creatures to places as far beyond the rapidly
encroaching waters as possible.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i194.png" width-obs="356" height-obs="499" alt="In the basket" title="" /></div>
<p>Brownies scaled the walls and lodged themselves in a pocket
up to which they hauled with great effort a number of mine-sprites
in one of the large baskets that were used in loading
the jewels before they were carted away.</p>
<p>Others of the terrified sprites sought refuge by climbing over<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</SPAN></span>
the Brownies’ willing backs to a temporary refuge high among
the rocks.</p>
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<p>The Irishman, Scotchman, and German put three in a wheelbarrow,
and started to trundle them off, but to their great dismay
it turned over, and spilled them out. Assistance, however,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</SPAN></span>
was quickly rendered, and with the mine-sprites back in the
wheelbarrow they continued on their way.</p>
<p>Still the waters
rose, and the
excitement
increased.</p>
<p>Dragonfel in
the most
abject
terror
stormed and
shouted at
his followers,
issuing angry
commands
for them to exert themselves to do something, but they were all<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</SPAN></span>
helpless, and his words were wasted on the air to no purpose.</p>
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<p>They were too frightened to be of assistance, even if it had
been possible to render it, though
in cases where one was overcome
there were those who attempted
the work of resuscitation.</p>
<p>The wicked enchanter ran about like a maniac, with little
or no thought of where he was going, until suddenly with
a shriek of fright he plunged into a circular pit that had
been dug deep into the earth for a distance of perhaps fifty
feet.</p>
<p>There was sufficient water at the bottom of the pit to break
his severe fall, which was fortunate for him, as otherwise it
would have resulted in his end.</p>
<p>He was stunned and dazed, but in nowise injured beyond
some bruises, and he frantically reached up and clutched a<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</SPAN></span>
jagged point of rock by which he pulled himself out of the
water that was nearly to his neck and promising him more.</p>
<p>The horror of his situation was at once made plain to him.
Beyond this rock there was nothing by which he could maintain
even the slightest hold, and the waters which were steadily
rising would soon submerge him and end all.</p>
<p>His evil scheming had led to his own undoing, and in causing
misfortune to so many he had brought upon himself the
most terrible misfortune of all.</p>
<p>Looking up helplessly he could see a number of the Brownies
trying to peer down at him through the darkness. They lay
flat on their stomachs, and leaned as far out over the hole as
prudence would permit.</p>
<p>“Help! help!” screamed Dragonfel, in a frenzy of fear.
“Save me! save me!”</p>
<p>His piteous cries were heard by all the Brownies, and they
looked at each other in doubt and uncertainty. When the
monster whom they had every reason to fear had met with the
mishap which now made him powerless it was not to be gainsaid
that a feeling of great relief was experienced by one and
all. No matter what harm might come to them from other
sources, certainly his power to injure them was gone.</p>
<p>“Why should we help him?” said one of the Brownies. “He
has harmed us all he could.”</p>
<p>“If he drowns,” said another, “he will never have a chance
to do so again.” But King Stanislaus looked very grave.</p>
<p>“No matter how much he has wronged us,” he said decidedly,
“he needs our help, so we must give it.”</p>
<p>“But he is our enemy,” objected the Policeman.</p>
<p>“That makes no difference,” said His Majesty. “He will
drown if we do not aid him.”<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>“If we save him,” said Uncle Sam, “he will only make trouble
for us again.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>He gave his orders, and the Brownies with the realization
that there was not a moment to be lost ran with all possible
speed for the long rope which they had used in hauling up the
mine-sprites in the basket. This they brought to the opening,
tripping and sprawling over it in the eagerness and anxiety they
displayed.</p>
<p>They stood in a line, and lowered the rope down into the pit.</p>
</div>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i197.png" width-obs="228" height-obs="279" alt="Assorted diamonds" title="" /></div>
<p>“Slip the noose at the end
of the rope under your arms,”
shouted King Stanislaus to
Dragonfel, “and we will pull
you up.”</p>
<p>The water was nearly over
Dragonfel’s head by this
time, and he had ceased his
cries for help, for whenever
he opened his mouth he
choked and 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 to adjust this
under both his arms. When the Brownies felt the rope grow<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</SPAN></span>
taut they began to haul away with might and main. Around
the pit now there were willing minds and itching fingers.
Some fell over with their exertions, but in a trice they were
up again to contribute all the strength they had to the work.
“Pull away, boys!” shouted King Stanislaus encouragingly,
with his own royal digits wound tightly around the rope. “A
long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together! That’s the
ticket! Hurray! We’ll soon have him up.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i198.png" width-obs="438" height-obs="334" alt="Dragonfel rescued" title="" /></div>
<p>His words incited them so that through undue effort they
suddenly lost their balance and sprawled over backward like
ten-pins.</p>
<p>Like a shot Dragonfel fell back into the water again, almost
dragging after him a half-dozen Brownies who still clung to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</SPAN></span>
the rope. But others quickly grasped them by the legs, and
prevented them from going over into the pit until a fresh hold
of the rope was secured, and another attempt was made.</p>
<p>“Avast there, messmates!” cried the Sailor. “Give an old
salt a chance at the fore-clutch on the hawser, and the old pirate
will soon come up from the bottom of the sea!”</p>
<p>This time the Brownies were successful, and they pulled
Dragonfel to the brink, and rolled him over to a place of temporary
safety.</p>
<p>Water poured from his drenched form, and with a groan he
relapsed into unconsciousness.</p>
<p>The Brownies looked first at him, and then at each other.
Though no one said a word, all had the same thought.</p>
<p>Soon Dragonfel would revive, and then what would happen?
They had saved their foe, but to what purpose? If by any
chance they should escape the present
dreadful danger they were in they would
still be in the wicked enchanter’s power.</p>
<p>How would he use it?</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i199.png" width-obs="270" height-obs="263" alt="NEARING A FINISH" title="" /></div>
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