<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</SPAN></span></p>
<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i200.png" width-obs="205" height-obs="288" alt="D" title="D" /></div>
<p class="st">AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY<br/>
EVER AFTER</p>
<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Dragonfel</span> had been rescued
by the Brownies at a crucial
time when perhaps they might
have been justified in trying to
save themselves instead.</p>
<p>The water kept on swiftly
rising, and it forced them out
of the positions they occupied
to ledges and pockets higher
up on the rocks. To these all
were forced to retreat, and the
still senseless enchanter was carried after them by some of his
cowardly, frightened followers who would have left him behind
if it had not been for the stern command of King Stanislaus.</p>
<p>Still higher and higher rose the water till they were again
threatened in their new places of refuge, and it soon<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</SPAN></span>
became evident that something had to be done, and that
quickly.</p>
<p>There was but one passage-way through which the water
was not pouring like that of a swift mill-race, and this was the
one in which the Brownies had been trapped.</p>
<p>As the water ascended they were forced into it, and they
continued on through it well knowing from bitter experience
that the huge boulder effectually blocked the exit, and would
hold them powerless until finally they were submerged by the
relentless flood.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i201.png" width-obs="327" height-obs="251" alt="Conversation" title="" /></div>
<p>But still they
went on, hoping
against
hope, until
they came to
the boulder.
It was still
in place, and
though they
exerted all
their strength
in trying to
remove it they
could not
budge it to
even the extent of a millionth of an inch.</p>
<p>Brownies used sticks as levers, and the demons employed
brute force, but all their efforts proved in vain.</p>
<p>“It’s no use,” at last said King Stanislaus, wiping his perspiring
brow. “It looks as though this would be the end.”</p>
<p>A sudden thought entered Florimel’s head—a wild, foolish<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</SPAN></span>
thought perhaps, but not any more so than when he had aimed
his magic arrow at the crescent moon.</p>
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<p>“Stand back, all of you!” he shouted.</p>
<p>He took one of the four arrows that were in the quiver, and
placed it in the bow.
Then he aimed it at the
rock, and pulled
the cord, making no particular attempt at a display of strength
which he realized fully could not accomplish his purpose.</p>
<p>But to the infinite delight and astonishment of all a strange
thing happened, that made the eyes pop in from every head.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>The arrow struck the base of the rock, which at the moment
of contact burst into hundreds of jagged pieces that flew up into
the air. As these fell they formed a series of steps that were
as good as any mason could have planned.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i203.png" width-obs="454" height-obs="390" alt="The arrow struck" title="" /></div>
<p>They ascended these steps with all possible haste up into the
open, where the blue sky was above them, and where they
could breathe freely the air that never before had seemed so
sweet and pure.</p>
<p>Looking around they could note the ravages of the flood, for<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</SPAN></span>
with it there had come a mighty tidal wave from the sea, with
abnormally high water that had changed the low marshlands
into lakes, and had swollen the small creeks to roaring, rushing
rivers.</p>
</div>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i204.png" width-obs="301" height-obs="313" alt="Whisper to the policeman" title="" /></div>
<p>Just then a vivacious
little mine-sprite
found an
opportunity to
whisper to the
Policeman:</p>
<p>“This is leap-year,
officer, and,
to speak freely,
I loved you at
first sight.”</p>
<p>“Well,” said the
Policeman, with
his usual composure,
“to speak even
more freely, your
love at second sight
is not returned.”</p>
<p>“I would be willing,” she said, “to fly with you to parts unknown.”</p>
<p>“That’s the trouble,” said the Policeman. “No parts are
unknown to the Brownies. The world was our oyster, and
we’ve opened it. We’re just as well known in Timbuctoo as
Tarrytown!”</p>
<p>There was an angry swell that caused Dragonfel’s galleon
to toss violently up and down, but it still held secure to its<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</SPAN></span>
anchor, and formed a picture inviting to a sailor’s eye.</p>
<p>The enchanter was laid upon the greensward by those who
bore him, and he stirred uneasily, while his hand sought his
forehead. Then he opened his eyes, and unsteadily tried to
get on his feet, in which effort others sprang to his assistance.</p>
<p>“Where am I?” he asked, as dazed and puzzled he looked
around. “What has happened?”</p>
<p>His gaze took in the Brownies, and, in spite of all they had
just done for him, it was not a reassuring one. But somehow
they feared him no longer, for they felt that no matter what
further villainy he might attempt they were more than a match
for him.</p>
<p>But before some one could answer Dragonfel Euphrosyne,
the Goddess of Mirth, suddenly appeared in their midst, though
no one could tell just how or from whence she came.</p>
<p>“Meddlesome spirit that you are,” she said sternly, addressing
her words to the crestfallen enchanter, “you can no longer
trouble the Brownies. Your commission to do evil has expired.”</p>
<p>“How so?” he demanded. “I made application for a renewal.”</p>
<p>“Yes,” she said, “but, through an error in the date, you were
too late.”</p>
<p>“Too late?” he repeated blankly.</p>
<p>“Yes, by thirteen seconds,” she announced triumphantly,
“and Beelzebub refuses to renew the policy.”</p>
<p>“Great Scott!” ejaculated Dragonfel, with much chagrin.
“This comes of trying to run business without an almanac!”</p>
<p>“Henceforth you will be compelled to be good,” said Euphrosyne.</p>
<p>“Yes,” said Dragonfel, in a rather shamefaced manner. “It<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</SPAN></span>
may come rather hard at first, but I suppose I will get used to
it in time. As a matter of fact, I’m growing rather tired of
being bad. There’s nothing to it, after all. The only thing
one gets from being bad is a lack of respect in the community.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i205.png" width-obs="439" height-obs="299" alt="Somewhat repentant" title="" /></div>
<p>“I see you’re somewhat repentant,” said Euphrosyne encouragingly.
“It’s a little late, of course, but still it’s better late
than never. You understand, don’t you, that after this you’re
to let the Brownies alone?”</p>
<p>“I should say I will let them alone,” coincided Dragonfel
heartily. “The Brownies are too much for me. They have
beaten me at every point. Even if I were disposed to do them
further mischief I am placed in a rather delicate situation. I
owe my life to the Brownies.”</p>
<p>“There is one thing on which I insist,” spoke up King Stanislaus.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</SPAN></span>
“You must do something for these poor mine-sprites.”</p>
<p>“I will see that they are restored to their parents from whom
they were stolen,” asserted Dragonfel hastily. “Furthermore
they shall all be given handsome dowries, with a beautiful solitaire
diamond of a half-dozen karats more or less for each, so
that when the right young man comes along the engagement-ring
will be easy.”</p>
<p>Here the mine-sprite who had expressed her preference for
the Policeman gave him a coy glance, but he twirled his club,
and looked the other way.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i206.png" width-obs="228" height-obs="238" alt="Dragonfel eating" title="" /></div>
<p>“It’s too bad about your
palace,” said the Dude to
Dragonfel.</p>
<p>“Oh, don’t trouble yourself
about that,” said the enchanter
cheerfully. “I never
did like its style of architecture,
anyhow.</p>
<p>I’ll soon have it rebuilt,
and give the Union scale
for labor, with double pay
for over-time. The palace
was a rather tame affair
anyway, I ran too much to
the emerald, topaz, and turquoise in its composition. I’ll make
more use of the sapphire, the ruby and cornelian, in the makeup
of the new structure; and those columns, I always felt a
little weak over them, as they were only imitation chalcedony,
the real thing goes in the next one, if I have to import it from
Palestine.” The glances the Brownies exchanged showed they
felt that they had struck a master in his line.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>It is said, that some of the Brownies, to this day, annually
celebrate their deliverance from the mine, and the reformation
of Dragonfel, by proudly parading half the night, bearing the
implements they had to use while in captivity.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i207.png" width-obs="329" height-obs="190" alt="Parading" title="" /></div>
<p>So delighted was King Stanislaus over the general outcome
that his blithe spirits found expression in a jolly song that
was a great favorite of his, and the Brownies all joined in the
chorus. The words follow:</p>
<h3>I’M RULER OF THE BROWNIE BAND!</h3>
<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">King Stanislaus</span><br/>
<span class="i0">I’m ruler of the Brownie band,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Most favored of personages;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I sway my sceptre o’er a land<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Not found upon hist’ry’s pages;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I take my nightly promenade<br/></span>
<span class="i2">By anarchists unmolested;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">On me no bomb or hand grenade<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Has ever by them been tested!<br/></span><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</SPAN></span>
<span class="i0">If you could only see me dine,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">You’d find me extremely placid;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I never fear a dish of mine<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Is seasoned with prussic acid!<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">Brownies</span><br/>
<span class="i0">Oh, you’re all right!<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">King Stanislaus</span><br/>
<span class="i8">Eh, I didn’t catch it quite;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Repeat it, please! I didn’t understand.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">Brownies</span><br/>
<span class="i0">Why, you, you, you, you! You’re all right!<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">King Stanislaus</span><br/>
<span class="i0">And so is the Brownie band!<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">King Stanislaus</span><br/>
<span class="i0">I need no sabre, lance, or spear<br/></span>
<span class="i2">To guard me whene’er I slumber;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">My people kneel, but not thro’ fear;<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Love governs the entire number.<br/></span>
<span class="i0">My slightest wish they all obey;<br/></span>
<span class="i2">I never use any axes;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I always let them have their way;<br/></span>
<span class="i2">They don’t have to pay high taxes;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">No undertaker need apply;<br/></span>
<span class="i2">I’m not for embalmment crazy;<br/></span>
<span class="i0">My subjects cry as I pass by,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">“The Brownie king is a daisy!”<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i6">Brownies</span><br/>
<span class="i0">Oh, you’re all right, etc.</span><br/>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</SPAN></span></div>
</div></div>
<p>The refrain was so rollicking and infectious that when it
was repeated Dragonfel and his followers could not keep from
joining in with the Brownies, and they lustily roared out the
words with a right good will.</p>
<p>The delayed wedding of Prince Florimel and Queen Titania
was celebrated very soon after in the fairy-palace with all the
joy and happiness that can come to such a momentous occasion.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i208.png" width-obs="451" height-obs="309" alt="The wedding" title="" /></div>
<p>Brownies and fairies vied with each other in having a good
time, and the walls rang with their innocent merry-making.
Everyone said that King Stanislaus was the life of the party.</p>
<p>Dragonfel and his followers participated in the festivities,
this time unfeared, and to the strains of a Brownie orchestra
they mingled with others in the dance. Dragonfel even tried<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</SPAN></span>
to do the fox-trot with Dame Drusilda, which greatly delighted
Euphrosyne who was among those present.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i209.png" width-obs="447" height-obs="448" alt="Having a good time" title="" /></div>
<p>In place of the useless, cumbersome presents he had first
brought the enchanter gave the bride the more appropriate and
useful gift of a dozen bushels of precious stones.</p>
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<p>So in this wonderful country King Florimel and his beautiful<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</SPAN></span>
queen are still living and
ruling wisely, and, to make
their happiness complete,
there are little children round
them.</p>
<p>To these King Florimel will
leave the heritage of the
magic bow and arrows, for
life has glided smoothly on,
and the time has never been<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</SPAN></span>
so grave or distressing, as to necessitate their use. But should
that time ever come the king has full confidence in his ex-fairy
godmother’s gift.</p>
<p>To the palace the Brownies come frequently, and it is needless
to say that they are welcome, just as they are welcome everywhere.</p>
<p>But they cannot be there as often as King Florimel would like
them to be because their kindly spirit takes them over the whole
world to promote peace, good humor, and good will to all
human kind.</p>
</div>
<p> </p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i211.png" width-obs="326" height-obs="178" alt="END" title="" /></div>
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