The Dancing Master, who was very active, sprang up the steps two at a time and met the Magician on the broad landing and attacked him, although he scarcely reached to the Magician’s waist.
Old Jingles struck at the Dancing Master with his cane, but the Dancing Master dodged in under the blow and grappled with the Magician.
The good people of Nite were terror stricken, and stood motionless as the two struggled together.
Finally the Magician pulled his tiny bellows from his pocket and blew it toward the Dancing Master’s back, and the Dancing Master fell to the steps, just as Gran’pa struck the bellows from the Magician’s hand with his cane.
With a roar of pain and rage the wicked Jingles swung his crooked stick at Gran’pa’s head. Gran’pa warded off the blow with his own polished cane and, using it as a sword, he jabbed old Jingles in the stomach.
The Magician swung his large crooked stick again, and Gran’pa again poked him in the stomach, and then, as the wicked creature backed away, Gran’pa gave him a smart tap on the head, sending his tall hat spinning down the steps.
The Princess had recovered and was watching the duel with fascination. Gran’ma was struggling between Janey and Mrs. Tiptoe.
“Let me go!” she cried. “Let me get to him! I’ll tweak his nose! He shan’t hurt Gran’pa! Let me go!”
But Janey and Mrs. Tiptoe held her and tried to watch at the same time.
“Why don’t the people help?” Gran’ma cried. “Let me go, I tell you! I’ll show him, the wicked old thing!”