“Now,” said Harry, taking from his pocket the lantern-box which Kitey had loaned him, “open the trap-door, and we’ll go down and rescue Wamby and the men with him.”
“Oho!” exclaimed Smithkin, “so that is your plan.”
They quickly made their way over the course Harry and Wamby had travelled during the boy’s former visit, and when they came to the edge of the lake they turned off and proceeded to the chamber with the great trap-door. Opening the door that led to the stairs under the incline, they ran down the long flight of stairs and emerged in the dungeon where Wamby and the rest were confined.
A joyous shout greeted them: “Hurrah! here’s the Prince! Here’s little Kitey! Here’s old Smithkin!”
Harry glanced around, and a disappointed look came into his face. “You are not armed!” he exclaimed.
“No,” Wamby made reply, “we found the armory without any trouble, but it was empty; the Gnomes had removed all of the weapons, so we were unable to arm ourselves. Then, as we were on our way to join you and your men, the rascally Gnomes dumped us down here.”
“Yes,” said Harry, “I know about that. I am sorry, though, that you are unarmed, for that leaves us with only a thousand men ready to fight, and we cannot conquer the Gnomes with that number. However, let us get out of this hole, and join the thousand men in the antechamber above. Come quietly; there may be Gnoman spies about.”
The poor fellows were glad enough to be released from their prison, and when they reached the antechamber adjoining the Grand Reception Hall they were warmly welcomed by their thousand comrades.
Leaving Kitey to tell the elves all that had thus far happened, Harry drew Wamby and Smithkin aside for consultation.
“What is there to be done now?” he asked, after he had given Wamby a brief history of what had befallen them. “We have but a thousand men that are armed, and even they are practically useless, for the door into the Hall is bolted on the inside.”