“Lie perfectly still, Kitey,” whispered Harry.
Then making sure that his limbs were free, he sprang to his feet, gave Smithkin a vigorous kick that sent him sprawling on his face, took Kitey in his arms, and dashing down the Hall, threw the little fellow on top of a piece of furniture like a wardrobe, standing against the wall, and vaulted up beside him.
In an instant all was hubbub and excitement. Smithkin, with a shriek, grabbed his spear and rushed after Harry. The table where Grumpy and his adherents were eating was overturned, and my Lord of the Safety-Pin was pinned to the floor under it, yelling and howling like mad. The Gnoman soldiers started for their spears. The King of the Gnomes tried unaided to push his chair back, and in some way his feet got tangled up in his beard, his chair upset, and he lay sprawling upon his back, with his great beard flopping in the gravy and other victuals on the table.
In the midst of the rumpus some one called, “Smithkin is a traitor! He set them free!”
Instantly there was a hoarse cry from all over the Hall: “Catch Smithkin! Punish the traitor!”
“Save me, Prince!” cried the terrified soldier.
“All right,” said Harry, “reach me your hand.” And grasping the outstretched hand, he swung Smithkin up beside him, on top of the wardrobe.
CHAPTER XI.
THE SECRET DOOR.
Smithkin escaped not a moment too soon, for as he dropped in a heap beside Harry, a hundred angry Gnomes were brandishing their spears beneath. Smithkin was no coward when he had half a chance to fight and defend himself, and he brandished his own spear in return, and yelled defiance at the constantly increasing crowd.
The piece of furniture on which the besieged ones were standing, looked like a long wardrobe, and for convenience sake we shall call it a wardrobe, although really it had been used by the Pin Elves as a place for keeping their spears when they were not in use. It seemed low to Harry, but it was too high for even the tallest of the Gnomes to reach the top with his spear; so, for the present, the boy and his two companions were secure from attack. Fortunately, the Pin Elves and Gnomes are unable to hurl their spears at an enemy. They can fight at close quarters only, by thrusting with the weapon.