“And now for our Captain’s! Three cheers for the kindest of Captains! His girdle shall be made of roses—to show that his Company loves him!”
“Rainbow,” said the Captain, “I appoint you Master of Ceremonies. You shall have charge of everything, and if any disputes arise, you must settle them.
“Right! Left! Shoulder arms!”
This, as you know, meant, “Get to work.”
At this command every elf scampered off in high glee.
Rainbow, Iris-Wing, and Touchstone went at once to Cavedale to talk with the Dwarfs about the girdles for the ball. And they decided that they should all be of finely wrought silver, except the Captain’s which should be made of pure gold.
Owly went in search of fireflies and brought home hundreds of them that first night, for an elf can fly faster than fireflies, and has no trouble in catching them if they can only be found.
Lightning went in search of moss-mounds, and flew back and forth so swiftly between Mount Fern and the soft woodsy dells where the moss-mounds grow that the very first evening he had almost enough for the ball.
But when he showed them to Rainbow, he found that some of them were not fresh enough, or fine enough, or high enough, or low enough, or large enough, or small enough, or firm enough, or soft enough; and he had to throw half of them away, and go in quest of more. Rainbow was very particular, and perfection was his law of life.
So the preparations went on, and when Thursday evening came around the busy little elves had everything in readiness. And when the hour of the ball drew nigh, they were waiting to receive their guests.