“Hallo!” cried Harry, sitting upright, “how did you get here?”
“Sh—sh!” said the elf, “don’t talk so loud! I came in at the door just now.”
“How’s that? I didn’t see you,” said Harry.
“No, of course not,” was the reply; “we elves are invisible to any mortal who hasn’t one of our hats on. You see me now because I just put my hat on your head.”
“Well, say, old fellow, or whatever your name may be—what is your name, by the way?”
“Wamby,” answered the elf.
“Well, Wamby,” continued Harry, “why am I shut up here, and what is going to be done with me?”
The elf answered: “You are shut up because at your former visit you turned your back on the King. When to-day you came to that door near the foot of the hill of glass, you could see no one because you hadn’t one of our hats on; but the two guards were there, and while one remained to watch you, the other carried the news to the King. Instantly, a body of soldiers was sent to seize you, and carry you to this prison. I was unable to prevent it, but I made up my mind to see you, and so I deliberately turned my back on the King and, of course, was at once arrested and brought here as a prisoner too. As to what is to be done with us, I believe they intend to send us down to work with the Gnomes.”
“Where is that?” asked Harry. “And who are the Gnomes?”
“Why, the Gnomes are the elves who work in the mines far down in the earth, way down below where we are. They are bad fellows, those Gnomes, black and ugly, and awfully old. They dig gold and silver and iron, and have big forges where they make lots of things. It’s very hot down there, and they have to stay there all the time. One of the worst punishments that can befall a Pin Elf is to be sent to work with the Gnomes. No one ever is permitted to return, and there is no chance to escape from the mines.”