CHAPTER XIV.
SURPRISED.
Harry could see no one, of course, as he walked towards the glowing furnaces, for he had no elfin hat upon his head. But the elves soon caught sight of him, and immediately began dancing about in delight, shouting, “Hurrah! hurrah! Here is Prince Harry!”
“Somebody bring me a hat,” said Harry. “I can’t see a single one of you.”
At once a dozen of them ran forward and cried, “Here, Prince, take mine!” But before he had a chance to get hold of one of them, he heard Kitey’s shrill little voice ordering the others to stand aside.
“Here is Wamby’s hat, dear Prince,” cried Kitey. “He left it in my care, for he knew you would come down some time.”
“There, that is better,” said Harry, as he put the hat on his head. “Now, little chap, let us hurry away to see Wamby.”
They found His Majesty in the Grand Reception Hall, and Harry told him everything that had befallen him since they were separated.
“I was sure you would come down soon,” said Wamby, “and have had all my workmen making spears. We have enough now to arm all of the elves; but how can we get across the lake? The Gnomes not only keep the wind turned on over there, but also took away every vessel from this side.”
“I think we can remedy that,” replied Harry. “Can we not cross the lake on rafts or some vessels of our own construction? Or better still, I will cross alone, for I shall only require one boat; then, once on the other side, I can bring over the boats for all the rest of you.”
So the elves, with Harry’s help, constructed, in less than an hour’s time, a temporary boat, much like a raft, made of boards nailed together, and just large enough for Harry to stand on. They also made a paddle, of a narrow board with larger ends.