“Halloa, little hoppy!” said Harry; “you’re getting spry, aren’t you? Just keep up courage a little longer, old fellow, and you’ll be released from your prison.”
Ascending to the top of the steps, the boy opened the door slightly, and peered forth.
The Hall was full of Gnomes, most of them being armed. A large guard was stationed at each door, but the main body of soldiers was in the centre of the Hall. The King was upon the throne, while a few members of his body-guard were below on the floor a little to his left.
Harry studied the situation for a minute, and then he opened the trap-door, leaped clear over the throne, rushed by the body-guard to the wardrobe, and vaulted upon the top of that familiar friendly refuge. He thought that on top of the wardrobe he would be near the secret door, and that, by watching an opportunity he could drop down, unbolt the door, and admit the Pin Elves. But now, to his chagrin, he noticed that the wardrobe had been moved some distance away from the secret door.
The Gnomes, at his appearance, stood for a moment in silent astonishment, for they supposed him to be still lying bound where they had thrown him, in the Passage of the Toad. But they speedily recovered themselves, and crowded around the wardrobe, yelling and howling with rage.
“Build a fire and smoke him out!” growled the King.
Immediately the wood was brought and laid in a semicircle and ignited, the powder was sprinkled upon the flame, and a dense, stifling smoke enveloped the boy.
“I must run for it,” thought he.
He stood it as long as he could, and then he dropped to the floor, leaped through the smoke and flame, dashed through the mass of Gnomes about the fire, and ran towards the dais.
The Gnomes had been expecting him to do this, and had prepared for it. They had twisted together a number of their strongest ropes, and several lengths of this twisted rope were laid in various places along the floor, with fifty Gnomes holding the end of each length. One of these pieces of rope was stretched near the lower step of the dais, directly across the path that Harry was taking. Just before he reached it, the Gnomes who were holding it by the ends raised it several inches above the floor and hauled it taut, and the boy tripped over it and fell sprawling in front of the throne.