“Bind them,” commanded Harry, “and carry them over to yonder corner.”
While they were thus engaged, a terrible shout arose from the elves upon the dais. Harry turned about and beheld Cattisack and Grumpy leading the main body of the Gnomes into the Hall, through the secret door by the wardrobe.
“Mercy on us!” cried the boy. “I forgot all about that door! Quick, Smithkin, get your men in order!”
That was easier said than done, for the elves had dropped their spears while binding the Gnoman body-guards, and before they had all recovered their weapons, the foremost of the enemy was upon them.
Harry in his excitement felt in the wrong pocket for his pop-pistol, and not finding that useful weapon, grabbed up a small table standing near, and tilting it up on edge with the top in front of him, he ran forward, pushing it along the floor, and mowed down a wide swath through the ranks of the advancing Gnomes. Again he turned, and levelled another row of them, and yet again, sweeping another hundred of them down.
But now they began scattering over the Hall, and adroitly dodging to the right and left as he charged impetuously back and forth, and his breath also began giving out, and he found himself obliged to rest a moment.
The instant he paused, a vast swarm of the Gnomes was about him, pricking his legs with their sharp spears, clinging by scores to his feet and ankles, and some of the bolder ones even starting to climb up his legs. Two or three times the boy shook them off, and by vigorous kicking managed to clear a little space about him. But finally he could endure the torment no longer, and with a whoop and yell he dashed through the dense mass and ran madly up the Hall.
Right in his path stood Cattisack and Grumpy, grinning maliciously at his discomfiture and defeat. That was more than any boy could stand. He made straight for them, and with a tremendous kick sent them flying through the air. Then he turned aside and vaulted upon the top of the wardrobe and sat down, out of breath, his legs smarting from a hundred spear-pricks.
It gave him no little satisfaction, however, as he looked around, to observe that Cattisack and Grumpy were lying motionless where he had kicked them. They were not killed, however, but only disabled.
Meanwhile, Smithkin and Kitey, with their companions, had been having their hands full. Two or three of them had failed to find their weapons, and had been immediately captured by the enemy; the remainder formed themselves in a circle, and for a while bravely repelled the charges of the Gnomes; but one after another went down before the repeated assaults, and at length the Gnomes broke the circle and caused a large number to seek safety in flight.