The Lord of the Safety-Pin shook his little fist at Harry, as he stood before him, and cried out shrilly, “You are a common mortal, and have no right to be our king! I hate you! You stole my slave Wamby. I’m glad I stuck you with a pin. ’Twas I had you and Wamby arrested! ’Twas I—”
When he had gotten thus far, he choked and spluttered with rage.
“Here!” cried Harry, “hand him up to me!” Taking the vicious little fellow by the collar, he laid him across his knee and gave him a sound spanking, while the assembled elves danced and shouted with delight.
“Take from him all his safety-pins,” said Harry, “and give them to Wamby, who will divide them among the most worthy of the esquires and retainers of the Safety-Pin Order. Then shut up the fellow in prison for two months, and after that let him begin over again as a common Pin Elf.”
“And now,” went on Harry, “for the third time, let us dispose of the ex-King. Which one of you elves has been down with the Gnomes the longest?”
Kitey arose and said, “If it please Your Royal Majesty, I have; fifteen years ago, as you mortals count time, was I banished to the mines.”
“Is that correct according to records?” Harry asked of the Grand Royal Recorder.
“If it please Your Royal Majesty, it is correct,” responded that individual.
“Then listen to my sentence,” said Harry. “The ex-King is to be sent to the Gnomes to work in the mines for fifteen years. After that he is to become a retainer in the Order of the Hat-Pin, with a chance to work his way up, if he behaves himself. If any of you object to the sentence, don’t be afraid to speak out.” For he noticed that many of the elves looked dissatisfied.
“The sentence is too light,” cried a number of voices.