“Shall we run, Wamby?” he whispered.
“No, keep still, or we’re lost!” replied the elf.
Finally the King summoned an officer, and said, in a snarling tone, “Take a hundred soldiers, and bring hither all of the Pin Elves in my dominions. Begone!”
Presently the officer returned with the elves. They looked astonished and bewildered when they saw Harry and Wamby, and bowed low to the King of the Gnomes and then to the royal hat-pin, but of course were afraid to say a word.
“There they are,” growled the King, with a rather menacing wave of his pickax. “Take them, and begone!”
Nothing loth, they all retired from the room as fast as they could back out.
“Now I’ll run ahead and get the boats ready,” said Wamby, “and the rest of you hurry after me before the King has a chance to change his mind and stop us.”
By the time they reached the lake, Wamby had a fleet of boats in waiting, and had adjusted a piece of hose and turned on the wind. It took but a moment for them to tumble aboard and push the boats into the wind, and they were soon sailing rapidly towards home.
CHAPTER V.
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
When they arrived at the opposite side of the lake they found the fifty soldiers seated on the exact spot where they had left them.