Part 27 (1/2)

”A friend without the countersign.”

”Advance, friend without the countersign.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 94.--”The Bugle had Sounded the Sick Call.”]

As the stranger drew near he showed the form and features of a Brownie soldier. They were indeed marred and wasted, and the uniform was tattered and soiled; but a Brownie soldier the fugitive certainly was.

When he had come near enough the sentinel halted him and called:

”Corporal of the guard! Post four!” When the Corporal arrived the stranger was ordered to advance to the post.

”Who are you and whence do you come?” asked the Corporal.

”What! friend Steadypace,” was the reply, ”don't you know me? Well, well! A Pixie prison must have made sad changes in me if you can't recognize your old comrade Dodge.”

”Dodge? Dodge! Can it be? Yes; so it is! Dear old fellow!” Corporal Steadypace embraced his friend, hurried him to the guard tent, had him fed and tidied up, meanwhile relating the particulars of Sergeant Clearview's story, and what the Brownies knew of his own capture. Thence Dodge was taken to headquarters, where he was heartily greeted by the Captain, and bidden tell the story of his adventures and escape.

”Well, Sir,” said Dodge, ”when our boat was captured, as Sergeant Clearview has told you, I was thought to be the only survivor of the scouting party. The Pixies made a great hurrah over me as they led me through their fort, and I was pelted, hooted and cursed by all the youngsters along the way. Spite the Spy tried hard to pump out of me some information about our plans, but failed.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 95.--The Labyrinth.]

”Well, my daisy,” he said at last, ”we'll try you another time. Guards, take the Brownie off to the Labyrinth.”

”At this order I was led away to the sh.o.r.e, ferried across the lake to Orchard Camp, and put in a prison located on the lake side within the Pixie picket lines. It is a curious structure, and looks as though several architects had wrought upon the design. One of the sides, built by Engineer Epera, is a delicately woven orbweb. The other side, together with the gables, battlements and roof have been built by Engineer Theridion. The upper part of the prison is a maze of crossed lines, in the midst of which is a dome after the style of Engineer Linyphia. Above the dome is a dry leaf rolled up into a hollow cylinder.[AQ] I was placed within this leaf, which served as a dungeon or cell, and just beneath me in the little silken dome the keeper of the prison had her station. Her name, as I soon learned, is Labryinthea, a suitable one certainly for the keeper of such an establishment.

Occasionally, two or three Pixies would hang around the premises, joining in the watch or exchanging gossip and flirtations with Madam Keeper. A few survivors of a brood of younglings sported in the maze, and when a small insect struck and was entangled upon the threads, they would creep through the crosslines, seize the unfortunate prey and feed upon it.”

”But Dodge, pray tell us how you saw all this from your inner prison?”

asked the Captain.

”Certainly. I didn't see anything for some time, my leaf cell was so dark; but looking carefully around, I found one spot where the roof was nearly worn through. By some strange good fortune, when the Pixies searched me before bringing me to the prison, they overlooked my clasp knife which I had thrust into the band of my Scotch bonnet. I was thus able to work out a s.p.a.ce large enough to let my head through. I cut out three sides neatly, and made a sort of trap door that hinged upon the uncut end. I was engaged on this for some time, as I had to work secretly, catch all the chippings in my hat, and then conceal them in my pockets. Had they dropped upon the domed roof below they would have awakened suspicion. By following the lines of the leaf veins I made a cut so clean and close that my door was quite concealed from ordinary notice. I now had many opportunities to peep out of my trap and see what was going on around me. I thought I knew something of Pixie tricks and ways before, but dear me! I learned more from that hole in the roof than I ever dreamed of.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 96.--”Above the Dome is a Dry Leaf Rolled Up.”]

”There were several Pixies domiciled on the branches of a tree that overhung the Labyrinth, whose manners especially interested me. They are practicing a new mode of hara.s.sing Brownies, a sort of patent spring net.”

The Brownie officers quickened attention at this statement, for they are not only blessed with healthy curiosity, but naturally are always vigilant to meet their enemies' plots. Amidst a running fire of questions Corporal Dodge told the following story: One day while looking out of my door, I heard beneath me the voice of Spite the Spy. From the prison talk I had already picked up the news that Fort Spinder was abandoned, and the Pixies transferred to Orchard camp, and was not surprised at the chief's presence.

”h.e.l.lo!” said Spite in his rough way, ”Where's old Hyp this morning?”

Labyrinthea ran down her trap line, pushed her head between the bars of a window and called out, ”Who's there?”

”Only myself, sweetheart!” answered one of her lovers; and thereupon he sprang out of an adjoining window and clambered up the ladder-like lines toward the keeper.[AR] But madam was in no humor for such trifling, so she lashed the gallant heartily with a whip of silken cords that she carried at her girdle along with the prison key. The amorous Pixie retreated, more rapidly than he had advanced, amidst the jeers and laughter of the crowd beneath. The keeper again looked out and seeing who was there, asked what was wanted.

”The Captain wants to see old Hyp,” one of his aides replied.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 97.--Madam Labyrinthea Lashes an Impudent Lover.]

”You'd better put a bridle on your tongue, young sir,” was the response.

”Isn't it just as easy to call folks by their proper names? 'Hyptiotes'

isn't much more to say than 'old Hyp;' and besides shows decent respect to a better man than yourself.”

Another burst of laughter greeted the discomfiture of the Pixie aide; after which Spite said: ”We have called to see this patent spring net that Hyptiotes has invented. Where shall we find the fellow's laboratory? It is close by here we are told.”