Part 39 (1/2)

Before this movement was finished Scaly had emerged from the water. The black form of Strangle still clung to her back! The poor fish made the most frantic efforts to shake off her enemy, who held on as with a death grip. Scaly plunged under the Styx and tried to sc.r.a.pe off the Pixie against the keel. Strangle swung his body over upon the fish's side but never relaxed his merciless grasp. Frantic with pain and terror, Scaly swam round and round in circles, plunged into the water again and again, and finally, nearly worn out, dragged herself toward the sh.o.r.e, and ran her head under the gra.s.s. Strangle held on to her body with his fangs, laid hold with his claws upon the gra.s.s stalks above him, and drawing himself up with his utmost power, had well nigh succeeded in landing his huge prey ere Spite and his friends reached the spot.[BK] In a few moments more the unfortunate Scaly was drawn up upon the green bank, where she was at once a.s.sailed by a brood of voracious Pixies in the same manner as her unhappy ally Twist the Serpent. Strangle quietly shook the water from his hair, and perched upon a cliff, together with Spite and other officers, to watch the turn of events. The fate of Scaly had made a great change in the condition of the two fleets.

The Stygians had been much scattered, but were beginning to rally. Their boats put back to the abandoned s.h.i.+ps, carrying with them many of the sailors who had been picked up from the wrecks. The loss of the Stygians was two s.h.i.+ps, several boats and a few drowned sailors. But the victory over Scaly, and the moral effect upon the navy, was counted a fair offset to this loss, and on the whole the Pixies were mightily satisfied with the night's work.

On the other hand, the Natties had at once taken in sail, and cast anchor. Some damage had been wrought upon their enemies by the expedition of Twist, Slymousie and Scaly; but the defeat and capture of these mammoth adversaries, under circ.u.mstances that showed to such advantage the Pixies' skill and power, well nigh demoralized the Brownies. Thrice that night had their enemies wrested victory from the jaws of defeat, and had triumphantly annihilated the Grand Alliance of Corporal Policy. While the Pixies were highly elated, the Brownies were dispirited, cowed, well nigh in despair. But, courage, good fairies! The Hebrews had a proverb--”When the tale of bricks is doubled, then comes Moses!”

”The darkest hour is just before the dawn.”

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote BH: Appendix, Note A.]

[Footnote BI: Appendix, Note B.]

[Footnote BJ: Appendix, Note C.]

[Footnote BK: Appendix, Note D.]

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

HOME AGAIN.

Sightwell, the lookout on the Emma, had observed, during the late stirring events, a suspicious-looking craft hovering on the outer line of the Stygian fleet. It was a yacht, apparently one of the privateers or smugglers that infested the lake. When first sighted it was hugging the sh.o.r.e, the side opposite the Pixie camp, as though planning a raid upon the Brownies encamped on that side of the inlet. When the Stygies had been scattered by Scaly's first onset, this yacht pushed boldly out from sh.o.r.e, and headed directly for the inlet, as though she would come to the rescue of her friends. In the excitement of the closing incidents in Scaly's career, Sightwell had quite forgotten the stranger; but as the Emma came to anchor, he sighted her once more. She was bearing down upon the inlet under full sail.

”Sail ho!” cried the lookout.

”Where away?” called Ask the mate.

”Dead ahead, and bearing straight down upon us.”

”What do you make her out?”

”A yacht,--a smuggler, I judge. And--yes, there are two boats pulling along close under her sides!”

”That looks suspicious,” said Ask. ”Call the Commodore.”

Just as Rodney arrived on deck Sightwell called from the fore topmast cross-trees: ”Our boats are about to make an attack,--I mean the boats that first went out with Scaly and afterward turned back sh.o.r.eward.

They pull up cautiously to the strangers. The two boats from the yacht dash away to meet them. They are about to grapple. Hah! No! what can that mean? The men in the boats rise and swing their hats. The yachtsmen are hanging in the rigging swinging kerchiefs, scarfs, bonnets and swords; I can see the flutter of one and the flash of the other in the moonlight. Hark! they are cheering each other!”

It was so, indeed. Over the s.h.i.+mmering surface of the lake rolled a volume of sound such as never before went up from so small a company in all the history of Brownieland.

By this time every soul on s.h.i.+pboard who could get aloft, or find place at the railings, was gazing across the water and wondering at this strange occurrence. No one could solve the mystery. Meanwhile the lookout continued his report: ”The whole scene is now fully in view. One of the Brownie boats is pulling for the sh.o.r.e with might and main; the other has left the yacht and is making straight for the Emma. The oars flash in the moonlight, and are played so rapidly that the wake of the boat is an almost unbroken line of gleaming gold. The Kind, Commander Takeheed, lies directly in the boat's course, and as the crew pa.s.s under the s.h.i.+p's bows they pause a moment,--only a moment--and then on again as though making a final spurt at a rowing race.

”But what is this? The whole s.h.i.+p's crew has surely gone mad! Cheer on cheer, wild, loud, uttering the very madness of joy, goes up from the Kind's crew, till the welkin rings. See! the flag is being dipped. The sailors are running over the rigging carrying with them lanterns which they hang upon every available spot. The vessel is a blaze of light!

They are manning the yards! And still the cheers rise up and roll over the lake with unabated energy. Ah! they have caught the contagion on the sh.o.r.e, which the first boat has already reached. A line of lights follows from the landing to the headquarters tent, springing up at once behind the running boatmen, until every tent, bush and tree-top is gleaming with lanterns and torches. The fort is all ablaze. And such cheers! The camp is wild with joy over some great event.”

”What can it be?”

”Governor Wille has come!” cried an enthusiastic Natty.