Meanwhile, much had happened within the walls of the Castle, for Red Beard and his followers had entered the gardens at the exact moment when King Tommy was stepping into the mouth of the fish. {146}
“Look, my men! look!” cried Red Beard, his face white with fright, his hair standing on end. “The Green Fish of the Fountain has swallowed all the Toy people. It is some mighty magician! Oh, why did we ever come into this city! why did we ever leave peaceful Grumbletown!” Then, unable longer to make his trembling legs support him, Red Beard fell fainting with fright.
The faces of his followers were as white as their King’s, save only a few, who were too far behind to see what had happened.
These few, when they reached the garden and found their fellows almost fainting and Red Beard lying like one dead, upon the ground, knew not what to do, until presently one of them, seeing the King yet breathing, cried: “We must get water; somebody bring water to the King!”
This request was more easily asked than answered, as nowhere near at hand could be found anything in which to carry the water. But the ruffians were not long without a way for solving that difficulty, and quick as a wink they had Red Beard in their arms, and the next minute were tumbling him heels over head into the fountain.
It didn’t take long for that ducking to make the Grumbletown King open his eyes. “Where am I? Where am I?” he cried, floundering about in the basin and blowing the water out of his nose and mouth. Then, he looked up and saw the green fish. “Help! help! help!” he called. “The Fish has me! Save me from the Fish!” and with one big effort he reached the rim of the basin, clambered over, and without once turning to look back, he ran with all possible speed through the garden towards the Castle gate, followed by his whole band. {147}
But now the gate was locked, and outside could be heard the cheering Toy people.
“Open the gate, little Guard! Open the gate!” cried the shivering, shaking Red Beard. “Open the gate little Guard! Open it quickly! The Green Fish is after us! Open the gate, and we will lay down our swords and pistols and go back to Grumbletown! Open the gate, little Guard, and never again will we come to Toyville! Save us from the Green Fish!”
The jolly, laughing eyes of the little old lady twinkled at Mr. Poodle. “King Tommy may open the gates without any fear now,” she said. “Red Beard and his fellows are so frightened at the Green Fish that they will never again venture near Toyville.”
Mr. Poodle quickly repeated this message to the King, and as a result, it was not long before the Grumbletown ruffians, led by their King, had laid their swords and guns on the lawn, and were marching out of the gates; a crestfallen and woebegone looking fellowship they were, too, and no mistake.