“Well,” said the king, “if the people refuse to pay, I can still depend upon my army, and we shall see.”
Just at that moment we were interrupted by loud reports like explosions, following each other in rapid succession. This was followed by shouts and cries, and immediately afterwards Cravatu came rushing into the palace, and approaching the king, he said:
“May it please your majesty to take command of the army. The labourers making the hole in the sky have perforated the frontier of the kingdom of the spirits of the air, and the inhabitants offer resistance.”
The king, having still a certain amount of perception of truth, did not get at all excited upon hearing this news, but lighting his pipe, he took a few whiffs, and said:
“What about it? I do not blame them; we can do nothing else but retire.”
Just then the princess entered, and, hearing these words, she exclaimed:
“Rot! who ever heard of a king of the gnomes being afraid of the spirits of the air?”
“I never,” replied the king.
“Well then,” continued Adalga, “we must beat back the intruders, and force our way through their kingdom.”
The king was easily influenced, especially when his ambition was touched. Therefore the words of the princess caused him to fly into a rage. First he grew red in the face, his features expanded from ear to ear like an india-rubber bag. Next, he jumped several feet from the ground and came down again with a thump. After that he threw his pipe upon the floor so that it broke, and stamped upon it with his foot. Finally, he lowered his head and butted it against Cravatu; and, after all this was done, he began to yell, crying at the top of his voice: “We must drive the rascals away! We must force a passage through them!”