Harper's Round Table, December 17, 1895

by Various

CHAPTER V.

Presently there ran a rumor through the town that Count Gofaster, who had already performed two notable exploits, was engaged in something which promised to be of great advantage to the people of the capital city. What that was no one knew besides the King and Princess, but it was noticed that a number of mechanics, among them a noted boiler-maker, had been sent for, and visited the apartments of Gofaster in the palace, whence they emerged with countenances of satisfaction, which proved they were to be employed on a job they deemed to be profitable; but they had been forbidden to speak on the matter until the time came.

It was a month before even they learned the nature of the undertaking, and in the mean while other rumors arose of a different nature. It was whispered around that the stranger was a foreign prince in disguise, a son of the King of Giant-land, and that he was merely paving the way to an attempt to dethrone King Jornet and crown himself instead. Some believed the story, and some did not. The party of Count Snarlitz were active in circulating and commenting upon the charge, while the party of Count Merit ridiculed it and branded it as an absurdity. The people loved their King, but the mass of them remembered that Gofaster had saved his Majesty from death, and had destroyed one of the greatest perils to the state; and the general current of opinion sided with the party of Count Merit. It was well known too by this time that the Princess Amber—who was even more beloved than her father—favored the stranger, who had nothing to gain but almost everything to lose by sinister conduct. Of this Gofaster would have known nothing, perhaps, had it not been for his friend the Phooka, who told him of the rumors and the discussion thereon.

These, he said, were through Count Snarlitz, who would probably make them the basis of charges later on, leaving no means untried which would crush this stranger, to whom he had taken an invincible dislike. "Count Merit," said the Phooka, "well divines the object of this movement and who has set it on foot, and will use it as a lever to overthrow his rival and elevate himself to power. You now see the advantage of having gained a friend in Count Merit. Go on with your present design, and let these parties in the mean time fight it out. It is enough for you to face the danger openly when it presents itself."

Gofaster took this advice, and making no sign that he knew of the intrigues around him, proceeded with his work. Large iron tubes were brought from time to time to the park around the palace, and to various points between that and the gas springs, and these were carefully guarded. Then a troop of laborers, like busy ants, began to delve around the gas springs, excavating a large circle, and from thence making a ditch down the hill and through the town so far as the royal palace: a cross ditch was also made along the principal street.

When the authorities, under the direction of the Minister of the Interior, prepared to stop this work, they were shown the King's order investing Gofaster with full power. Count Snarlitz, on learning of this, waited upon the King, and supposing that his services could not be dispensed with, complained that a royal order had been issued, contrary to form, without being attested by him, and tendered his resignation. To his great surprise and chagrin, the King accepted it, and sent for Count Merit, whom he commanded to form a ministry.

Though there were no newspapers but one—the Court Journal—and this was seen by but few people, the news of the downfall of the Snarlitz ministry went from mouth to ear throughout the country. Count Snarlitz had been so haughty and overbearing that he had few friends among the common folk; and among the nobles his party speedily diminished when it was discovered that he had lost the confidence of the King, and that the Princess Amber was decidedly unfriendly to him. He retired from office, secretly vowing vengeance on the stranger, and waiting for an opportunity to gratify his malice.

The people soon forgot all about him in their wonder at the new and strange work going on under their eyes. They speculated a deal upon it without learning its object, since none, with the exception of Gofaster, knew that the gas of the springs could be burned, and if they had would not have believed that it could be done with safety.

Even when the masons had built a wall around the cavity that had been made at the springs, and immense columns had been erected around it, they were still ignorant, and their wonder heightened. It was only when the boiler-makers had completed a huge tank which filled the cavity, and connected the pipes therewith—smaller tubes having been laid in the King's palace, and others connected with the pipes buried in the streets—that the people became aware of what was to be done.

And now there arose a whisper around which soon deepened into clamor. It was said that the purpose of Gofaster was to force this deadly gas into the palace, killing the King and Court, and, by throwing the bulk of it into the town, so enfeeble the people, as well as the army, that the place would become a ready prey to a band of giants, who were to come no one knew how, and whence no one could tell.