A Red Flag
"Who calls my name?" asked the Prisoner in a husky voice, a voice which had not been used for many years.
"It's Smaly and Redy who call you. We want to help you," added Redy.
When he heard a woman's voice Djorak's thoughts flew to the three daughters he had lost, and his madness fell away from him. He drew nearer to the two little people by breaking the sugar-canes in front of him. They could now see him, and he could see them. The Rats lay down to rest, so no new sugar-canes sprang up to bar the way.
"Will you save me?" demanded Djorak.
"It will be the first thing we shall think of when we are allowed out of this cauldron."
"Cauldron?" repeated the Prisoner. "Cauldron? And when will you be allowed out of it?"
"When the sun goes down," cried Redy; "and we will give you back your daughters."
In his profound joy Djorak all but lost consciousness.
"But while we're waiting," remarked Smaly, "tell us how came it about that you were put in this prison."