Kitey had directed him where to find the pin-hole in the trap-door above, and when he had inserted the pin, he shut the lantern-box, pressed upon the pin three times, and said:
“Pin, pin,
Trusty and stout,
I am within
And want to look out.”
The door opened slightly and he peeped through, and seeing no one upon the dais, he opened the door wide, and crawling through, peered cautiously around the edge of the throne.
The Hall was empty, and Harry’s first thought was that perhaps he had lost the elfin hat from his head, and therefore the Hall only seemed empty. But the hat was still there when he felt for it, so he quietly remained waiting for some one to appear. After a time a number of Gnomes entered, bearing dishes of various kinds of food, which they deposited upon a table near the throne. Then they all withdrew.
Quick as a flash Harry darted forward, and dumping the food from the dishes upon the table-cloth, he gathered up the cloth by the corners, and carried it with its savory contents down through the trap-door to the passageway, and then ran up the steps again to his hiding-place behind the throne. Just as he reached his position, two doors opened. Through one filed the servants who had set the table, and through the other came the King of the Gnomes with his attendants.
Imagine, if you can, how they all looked when they beheld the empty table and the empty dishes scattered around on the floor!
The servants were so astonished at the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the food, that they forgot even to make obeisance to the King. As for the King, he became black in the face with rage, and his terrible right eye fairly flashed fire.