“You might go around through the Passage of the Toad,” said Wamby, “and see what is taking place in the Hall.”
“How can I get there?” Harry inquired.
“Why,” replied Wamby, “one of the small, branching passages runs from this antechamber. The door is over in that corner. When the passage was built, the intention was to afford means of escape in various directions, so the small passages branch out on all sides.”
“Then I’ll go down at once,” said Harry. “You quietly tell your men to be prepared for anything that may happen, and to be ready to obey without questioning any orders I may give.”
When the boy reached the trap-door behind the throne, the King of the Gnomes was on the point of receiving a report from his men, who had been searching for the three fugitives.
Harry silently chuckled as he heard the King demand, “Have you found the fugitives?”
“If it please Your Majesty,” was the answer, “we have looked everywhere and can discover no traces of them whatever.”
“Hum! hah!” growled the King.
He stroked his beard for several minutes, and then arose, saying, “Prepare the tables for a banquet on our return in half an hour.”
Having given this command, he left the Hall with his attendants, and his example was shortly followed by all of the Gnomes except the servants who were to prepare the banquet. These began to put the tables in order, and then presently brought in dishes of all kinds of tempting food.