Part 14 (1/2)
”Where are you off?” asked Sweep, and pointed to a musket flung beside a knapsack.
”Have you not heard the news?” cried Master Jasper eagerly. ”A whole year since, a savage tribe invaded Yelvaland and carried off as prisoner the young and lovely Empress Yelva. Now as this lovely empress has neither father nor husband nor brothers to protect her, and her people cry for aid, all youths who long for n.o.ble adventure are urged to fight beneath her banners. Come join me, Sweep.”
But Sweep shook his head. ”It is not suitable that I should fight for Empress Yelva,” he replied. ”My black face fits me for naught but my trade of sweeping down tall chimneys.”
”But you are wrong, Sweep,” argued Master Jasper; ”a black face in battle is no great matter. Stout hearts and strong arms are sorely needed. Come, and we shall march and fight together as brothers.”
Again Sweep shook his head. ”Indeed, good Master Jasper,” answered he, ”I wish with all my heart that I might fight with thee against this savage tribe and aid the lovely Empress Yelva; but alas! Who, save thee, would care to march and fight beside a black-faced sweep?”
”A thousand would! Two thousand would--Nay! ten thousand would be glad to march with thee, Sweep!” exclaimed a shrill small voice beside them.
On peering down, Sweep beheld a tiny Red Cap perched upon the poker; it was the same that had befriended him so long ago.
”Ah, Sweep!” continued Red Cap briskly, ”I took a fancy to you when we first met, seven years ago, and had a notion then that I would like to know you better. However, since in all these years you have not wished a wish of me, I could not have the joy of your acquaintance. We Red Caps,”
he explained, ”although we be such powerful folk, cannot appear to mortals without they wish for us, you know.”
”I had not known that,” answered Sweep politely, ”or I would have wished some simple thing just for the pleasure of a chat with thee. But tell me, how is it that you thus appear before me now?”
”Have you so soon forgot your wish?” asked Red Cap. ”Did I not hear you wish a moment since to fight beneath the banners of the Empress Yelva?
It is to grant that wish that I now come. And mark, since in seven years you have wished no wish of me, my magic now has grown to power tremendous. Behold thine army!”
Sweep heard the measured tramp of many feet, and looking through the gathering gloom, beheld a line of forms that marched by, four and four, and all were singing gayly as they went. At first Sweep could not tell what manner of soldiers these might be, but presently his eyes became accustomed to the dusk, and he perceived that this vast army was composed of Crossing Sweepers armed with brooms instead of muskets.
Perched atop of every broomstick he could see a tiny creature similar in looks and dress to the Red Cap perched upon the poker.
”My brothers and my cousins and likewise all my friends and uncles have come to help thee too, Sweep,” said Red Cap. ”And thou, good Master Jasper, throw aside thy musket, for in Sweep's army, muskets and such like will be useless things.”
Good Master Jasper quickly did as Red Cap had commanded and followed after Sweep. Sweep shouldered his long brush and marched proudly at the head of his strange army. And thus began the journey into Yelvaland.
Now of that journey there is not much to tell. To be sure, whenever it was time for breakfast, dinner, or supper, the Red Caps clapped their hands and there appeared a thousand tables spread with all good fare.
When night fell, or when storms arose, the Red Caps likewise caused a city of ten thousand tents to spring up on the plains. The Crossing Sweepers enjoyed the whole march as a holiday. In all their wretched lives before they had not had such good things to eat. Their hollow cheeks grew plump and rosy with the winds and sun, and Sweep's heart rejoiced to see the happy changes that came upon his friends. At night when they sat grouped about their campfires, the Crossing Sweepers sang songs loud in praise of Sweep, whom they declared had always been their friend and who now was the cause of their pleasant holiday.
Now while Sweep and his strange army were marching thus toward Yelvaland, the people there were plunged in deep despair. The savage troops had given their soldiers so many drubbings and such bitter punishments in battle that they had quite lost heart. Judge then of their great joy when they beheld a friendly force marching to their aid.
But as this horde drew near, and they perceived what manner of army it really was, their hearts sank again.
”Alas!” sighed these discouraged folk of Yelvaland, ”of what avail against the savage troops will be this ragged rabble that approaches?”
But when Sweep's army entered into Yelvaland and began to lay about them with their broomsticks, that was another story. Aided by the magic power of the Red Caps, each broomstick fell with the force of fifty giant fists and resounded loud as thunder on the mountain tops. The savage troops stood their ground but a short time and then fled in terror before these strange and powerful weapons which they had never seen before. (Savages do not sweep their houses, you know, and so they knew nothing of the useful broomstick.) Sweep, gallantly leading his vast army, pursued the flying savages and gave them battle all the while. So dextrously and well did the little Crossing Sweepers wield their brooms that on the third night, when both armies had agreed to rest, these savage troops rose up and stole off. Over the hills and far away they fled and never again were heard or seen from that day to this. The glorious part of Sweep's great victory was that he had not lost a single follower in battle!
”And now to free the young and lovely Empress Yelva,” said Sweep to Red Cap, ”and then our work is done.”
”In all good time that too will be accomplished,” answered Red Cap. ”The Empress Yelva lies hidden deep down in a well of her own tears. This well lies close beside the gates of Yelvaland, and so you had best face your army right about and march there.”
Then once again the Crossing Sweepers shouldered their brooms and marched gayly off to Yelvaland. They reached the gates of the kingdom just as the moon was sinking slowly in the sky, and Sweep gave orders that they wait until the dawn to enter.
”Come with me, Sweep,” whispered Red Cap; ”the time has come to seek the Empress Yelva,” and led him to a well within a grove of trees.
”Now, Sweep, attend me closely,” warned Red Cap, ”for if you do not as I say, all will be lost. When the moon's last ray will light the waters of this well, plunge down into its depths and bring the Empress Yelva up with you. Lose not a second's time, for if the moonbeam leave the well before you, the lovely Empress Yelva must forever remain prisoner and yourself likewise. Do you think that you are nimble enough to try?”
”I know not of my nimbleness, but I will try,” said Sweep, and plunged down headlong, as a pale moonbeam shone down and silvered the dark waters. Before the winking of an eye, it seemed, he rose again, clasping the Empress Yelva by the hand. The moonbeam tarried long enough for Sweep to see the lovely maiden he had rescued. Her eyes like two blue violets shone with kindliness, her golden hair fell rippling like a cloak about her, and when she spoke her voice was like the chime of silver bells.