Part 2

Now, all this time, Prince Henry had been standing directly in front of the round opening in the hedge, looking through it to the other side, where he thought he could see the black ball lying beside a bush. The north wind blew so strongly as almost to take his breath away, and the spot on his chin burnt him so that he was ready to cry with pain and vexation. Still for all that, he longed so much to do what he had been told not to do, that by and by he could stand it no longer; but, just as the last bit of the sun sank out of sight beneath the edge of the world, he jumped through the round opening against the north wind, and ran to pick up the ball. At the same moment, Tom the cat came springing across the lawn, his yellow eyes flashing, his back bristling, and the hairs sticking straight out on his tail until it was as big round as your leg. But this time he came too late. For, as soon as Prince Henry jumped through the hedge against the north wind and ran to pick up the black ball, out rushed Rumpty-Dudget from behind the bush, and caught him by the chin, and carried him away to the thousand and first corner in the gray tower. As soon as the corner was filled, the north wind rose to a hurricane and blew away the beautiful palace and the lovely garden, and nothing was left but a desert covered with gray stones and brambles. The mischievous Rumpty-Dudget was now master of the whole country.

V

TOM’S PLAN

MEANWHILE, Princess Hilda and Prince Frank were sitting on a heap of rubbish, crying as if their hearts would break, and the cat stood beside them wiping its great yellow eyes with its paw and looking very sorrowful.

“Crying will do no good, however,” said the cat at last; “we must try to get poor little Henry back again.”

“Oh, where is our fairy aunt?” cried Princess Hilda and Prince Frank. “She will tell us how to find him.”

“You will not see your fairy aunt,” replied Tom, “until you have taken Henry out of the gray tower, where he is standing in the thousand and first corner with his face to the wall and his hands behind his back.”

“But how are we to do it,” said Princess Hilda and Prince Frank, beginning to cry again, “without our fairy aunt to help us?”

“Listen to me,” replied the cat, “and do what I tell you, and all may yet be well. But first take hold of my tail, and follow me out of this desert to the borders of the great forest; there we can lay our plans without being disturbed.”

With these words, Tom arose and held his tail straight out like the handle of a saucepan; the two children took hold of it, off they all went, and in less time than it takes to tell it, they were on the borders of the great forest, at the foot of an immensely tall pine-tree. The cat made Princess Hilda and Prince Frank sit down on the moss that covered the ground, and sat down in front of them with his tail curled round his toes.

“The first thing to be done,” said he, “is to get the Golden Ivy-seed and the Diamond Water-drop. After that, the rest is easy.”

“But where are the Golden Ivy-seed and the Diamond Water-drop to be found?” asked the two children.

“One of you will have to go down to the kingdom of the Gnomes, in the center of the earth, to find out where the Golden Ivy-seed is,” replied the cat “and up to the kingdom of the Air-Spirits, above the clouds, to find out where the Diamond Water-drop is.”

“But how are we to get up to the Air-Spirits, or down to the Gnomes?” asked the children, disconsolately.

“I may be able to help you about that,” answered the cat. “But while one of you is gone, the other must stay here and mind the magic fire which I shall kindle before we start; for if the fire goes out, Rumpty-Dudget will take the burnt logs and blacken Henry’s face all over with them, and then we should never be able to get him back. Do you two children run about and pick up all the dried sticks you can find, and pile them up in a heap, while I get the touch-wood ready.”

In a very few minutes, a large heap of fagots had been gathered together, as high as the top of Princess Hilda’s head. Meanwhile, the cat had drawn a large circle on the ground with the tip of his tail, and in the center of the circle was the heap of fagots. It had now become quite dark, but the cat’s eyes burned as brightly as if two yellow lamps had been set in his head.

“Come inside the circle, children,” said he, “while I light the touch-wood.”

In they came accordingly, and the cat put the touch-wood on the ground and sat down in front of it with his nose resting against it, and stared at it with his flaming yellow eyes and by and by it began to smoke and smolder, and at last it caught fire and burned famously.

“That will do nicely,” said the cat; “now put some sticks upon it.” So this was done, and the fire was fairly started, and burned blue, red and yellow.

“And now there is no time to be lost,” said the cat. “Prince Frank, you will stay beside this fire and keep it burning, until I come back with Princess Hilda from the kingdoms of the Gnomes and Air-Spirits. Remember, that if you let it go out, all will be lost; nevertheless, you must on no account go outside the circle to gather more fagots, if those that are already here get used up. You may, perhaps, be tempted to do otherwise; but if you yield to the temptation, all will go wrong; and the only way your brother Henry can be saved will be for you to get into the fire yourself, in place of the fagots.”

Though Prince Frank did not much like the idea of being left alone in the woods all night, still, since it was for his brother’s sake, he consented; but he made up his mind to be very careful not to use up the fagots too fast, or to go outside the ring. So Princess Hilda and Tom the cat bade him farewell, and then the cat stretched out his tail as straight as the handle of a saucepan. Princess Hilda took hold of it, and away! right up the tall pine-tree they went, and were out of sight in the twinkling of an eye.

VI

THE DIAMOND WATER-DROP

AFTER climbing upward for a long time, they came at last to the tip-top of the pine-tree, which was on a level with the clouds. The cat waited until a large cloud sailed along pretty near them, and then, bidding Princess Hilda hold on tight, they made a spring together, and alighted very cleverly on the cloud’s edge. Off sailed the cloud with them on its back, and soon brought them to the kingdom of the Air-Spirits.

“Now, Princess Hilda,” said the cat, “you must go the rest of the way alone. Ask the first Spirit you meet to show you the way to the place where the Queen sits; and when you have found her, ask her where the Diamond Water-drop is. But be careful not to sit down, however much you may be tempted to do so; for if you do, your brother Henry never can be saved.”

Though Princess Hilda did not much like the idea of going on alone, still, since it was for her brother’s sake, she consented; only she made up her mind on no account to sit down, no matter what happened. So she bade the cat farewell, and walked off. Pretty soon, she met an Air-Spirit, carrying its nose in the air, as all Air-Spirits do.

“Can you tell me the way to the place where the Queen sits?” asked Princess Hilda.

“What do you want of her?” asked the Air-Spirit.

“I want to ask her where the Diamond Water-drop is,” answered Princess Hilda.

“She sits on the top of that large star up yonder,” said the Air-Spirit; “but unless you can carry your nose more in the air than you do, I don’t believe you will get her to tell you anything.”

Princess Hilda, however, did not feel so much like carrying her nose in the air as she had felt at any time since the black spot came upon her forehead; and she set out to climb toward the Queen’s star very sorrowfully; and all the Spirits who met her said:

“See how she hangs her head? She will never come to anything.”

But at last she arrived at the gates of the star, and walked in; and there was the Queen of the Air-Spirits sitting in the midst of it. As soon as she saw Princess Hilda, she said:

“You have come a long way, and you look very tired. Come here and sit down beside me.”

“No, your Majesty,” replied Princess Hilda, though she was really so tired that she could hardly stand, “there is no time to be lost; where is the Diamond Water-drop?”

“That is a foolish thing to come after,” said the Queen. “However, sit down here and let us talk about it. I have been expecting you.”

But Princess Hilda shook her head.

“Listen to me,” said the Queen. “I know that you like to order people around, and to make them do what you please, whether they like it or not. Now, if you will sit down here, I will let you be Queen of the Air-Spirits instead of me; you shall carry your nose in the air, and everybody shall do what you please, whether they like it or not.”

When Princess Hilda heard this, she felt for a moment very much tempted to do as the Queen asked her. But the next moment she remembered her poor little brother Henry, standing in the thousand and first corner of Rumpty-Dudget’s tower, with his face to the wall and his hands behind his back. So she cried, and said:

“Oh, Queen of the Air-Spirits, I am so sorry for my little brother that I do not care any longer to carry my nose in the air, or to make people mind me, whether they like it or not; I only want the Diamond Water-drop, so that Henry may be saved from Rumpty-Dudget’s tower. Can you tell me where it is?”

Then the Queen smiled upon her, and said:

“It is on your own cheek!”

Princess Hilda was so astonished that she could only look at the Queen without speaking.

“Yes,” continued the Queen, kindly, “you might have searched throughout all the kingdoms of the earth and air, and yet never have found that precious Drop, had you not loved your little brother Henry more than to be Queen. That tear upon your cheek, which you shed for love of him, is the Diamond Water-drop, Hilda; keep it in this little crystal bottle; be prudent and resolute, and sooner or later Henry will be free again.”

As she spoke, she held out a little crystal bottle, and the tear from Princess Hilda’s cheek fell into it, and the Queen hung it about her neck by a coral chain, and kissed her, and bade her farewell. And as Princess Hilda went away, she fancied she had somewhere heard a voice like this Queen’s before; but where or when she could not tell.

VII

THE GOLDEN IVY-SEED

IT was not long before she arrived at the cloud which had brought her to the kingdom of the Air-Spirits, and there she found Tom the cat awaiting her. He got up and stretched himself as she approached, and when he saw the little crystal bottle hanging round her neck by its coral chain, he said:

“So far, all has gone well; but we have still to find the Golden Ivy-seed. There is no time to be lost, so catch hold of my tail and let us be off.”

With that, he stretched out his tail as straight as the handle of a saucepan. Princess Hilda took hold if it; they sprang off the cloud and away! down they went till it seemed to her as if they never would be done falling. At last, however, they alighted softly on the top of a hay-mow, and in another moment were safe on the earth again.

Close beside the hay-mow was a field-mouse’s hole, and the cat began scratching at it with his two fore-paws, throwing up the dirt in a great heap behind, till in a few minutes a great passage was made through to the center of the earth.

“Keep hold of my tail,” said the cat, and into the passage they went.

It was quite dark inside, and if it had not been for the cat’s eyes, which shone like two yellow lamps, they might have missed their way. As it was, however, they got along famously, and pretty soon arrived at the center of the earth, where was the kingdom of the Gnomes.

“Now, Princess Hilda,” said the cat, “you must go the rest of the way alone. Ask the first Gnome you meet to show you the place where the King works; and when you have found him, ask him where the Golden Ivy-seed is. But be careful to do everything he bids you, no matter how little you may like it; for, if you do not, your brother Henry never can be saved.”

Though Princess Hilda did not much like the idea of going on alone, still, since it was for her brother’s sake, she consented; only she made up her mind to do everything the King bade her, whatever happened. Pretty soon she met a Gnome, who was running along on all-fours.

“Can you show me the place where the King works?” asked Princess Hilda.

“What do you want with him?” asked the Gnome.

“I want to ask him where the Golden Ivy-seed is,” answered Princess Hilda.

“He works in that great field over yonder,” said the Gnome; “but unless you can walk on all-fours better than you do, I don’t believe he will tell you anything.”

Princess Hilda had never walked on all-fours since the black spot came on her forehead; so she went onward just as she was, and all the Gnomes who met her said:

“See how upright she walks! She will never come to anything.”

But at last she arrived at the gate of the field, and walked in; and there was the King on all-fours in the midst of it. As soon as he saw Princess Hilda, he said:

“Get down on all-fours this instant! How dare you come into my kingdom walking upright?”

“Oh, your Majesty,” said Hilda, though she was a good deal frightened at the way the King spoke, “there is no time to be lost; where is the Golden Ivy-seed?”

“The Golden Ivy-seed is not given to people with stiff necks,” replied the King. “Get down on all-fours at once, or else go about your business!”

Then Princess Hilda remembered what the cat had told her, and got down on all-fours without a word.

“Now listen to me,” said the King. “I shall harness you to that plow in the place of my horse, and you must draw it up and down over this field until the whole is plowed, while I follow behind with the whip. Come! There is no time to lose.”

When Princess Hilda heard this, she felt tempted for a moment to refuse; but the next moment she remembered her poor little brother Henry standing in the thousand and first corner of Rumpty-Dudget’s tower, with his face to the wall and his hands behind his back; so she said:

“O King of the Gnomes! I am so sorry for my little brother that I will do as you bid me, and all I ask in return is that you will give me the Golden Ivy-seed, so that Henry may be saved from Rumpty-Dudget’s tower.”

The King said nothing, but harnessed Hilda to the plow, and she drew it up and down over the field until the whole was plowed, while he followed behind with the whip. Then he freed her from her trappings, and told her to go about her business.

“But where is the Golden Ivy-seed?” asked she, piteously.

“I have no Golden Ivy-seed,” answered the King; “ask yourself where it is!”

Then poor Princess Hilda’s heart was broken, and she sank down on the ground and sobbed out, quite in despair:

“Oh, what shall I do to save my little brother!”

But at that the King smiled upon her and said:

“Put your hand over your heart, Hilda, and see what you find there.”

Princess Hilda was so surprised that she could say nothing; but she put her hand over her heart, and felt something fall into the palm of her hand, and when she looked at it, behold! it was the Golden Ivy-seed.

“Yes,” said the King, kindly; “you might have searched through all the kingdoms of the earth and air, and yet never have found that precious seed, had you not loved your brother so much as to let yourself be driven like a horse in the plow for his sake. Keep the Golden Ivy-seed in this little pearl box; be humble, gentle and patient, and sooner or later your brother will be free.”

As he spoke, he fastened a little pearl box to her girdle with a jewelled clasp, and kissed her, and bade her farewell. And as Princess Hilda went away, she fancied she had somewhere heard a voice like this King’s before; but where or when she could not tell.

It was not long before she arrived at the mouth of the passage by which she had descended to the kingdom of the Gnomes, and there she found Tom the cat awaiting her. He got up and stretched himself as she approached, and when he saw the pearl box at her girdle, he said:

“So far, all goes well; but now we must see whether or not Prince Frank has kept the fire going: there is no time to be lost, so catch hold of my tail, and let us be off.”

With that, he stretched out his tail, as straight as the handle of a saucepan; Princess Hilda took hold of it, and away they went back through the passage again, and were out at the other end in the twinkling of an eye.

VIII

THE MAGIC FIRE

NOW, after Prince Frank had seen Princess Hilda and the cat disappear up the trunk of the tall pine-tree, he had sat down rather disconsolately beside the fire, which blazed away famously, blue, red, and yellow. Every once in a while he took a fagot from the pile and put it in the flame, lest it should go out; but he was very careful not to step outside the circle which the cat had drawn with the tip of his tail. So things went on for a very long time, and Prince Frank began to get very sleepy, for never before had he sat up so late; but still Princess Hilda and the cat did not return, and he knew that if he were to lie down to take a nap, the fire might go out before he waked up again, and then Rumpty-Dudget would have blackened Henry’s face all over with one of the burnt logs, and he never could be saved. He kept on putting fresh fagots in the flame, therefore, though it was all he could do to keep his eyes open; and the fire kept on burning red, blue and yellow.

But after another very long time had gone by, and there were still no Princess Hilda and the cat, Prince Frank, when he went to take a fresh fagot from the pile, found that there was only that one fagot left of all that he and Hilda had gathered together. At this he was very much frightened, and knew not what to do; for when that fagot was burned up, as it soon would be, what was he to do to keep the fire going? There were no more sticks inside the ring, and the cat had told him that if he went outside of it, all would be lost.

In order to make the fagot last as long as possible, he broke it apart, and only put one stick in the flame at a time; but after a while, all but the last stick was gone, and when he had put that in, Prince Frank sat down quite in despair, and cried with all his might. Just then, however, he heard a voice calling him, and looking up, he saw a little gray man standing just outside the circle, with a great bundle of fagots in his arms. Prince Frank’s eyes were so full of tears that he did not see that the little gray man was Rumpty-Dudget.

“What are you crying for, my dear little boy?” asked the gray dwarf, smiling from ear to ear.

“Because I have used up all my fagots,” answered Prince Frank; “and if the fire goes out, my brother Henry cannot be saved.”

“That would be too bad, surely,” said the dwarf; “luckily, I have got an armful, and when these are gone, I will get you some more.”

“Oh, thank you—how kind you are!” cried Prince Frank, jumping up in great joy and going to the edge of the circle. “Give them to me, quick, for there is no time to be lost; the fire is just going out.”

“I can’t bring them in,” replied the dwarf; “I have carried them already from the other end of the forest, and that is far enough; surely you can come the rest of the way yourself.”

“Oh, but I must not come outside the circle,” said Prince Frank “for the cat told me that if I did, all would go wrong.”

“Pshaw! what does the cat know about it?” asked the dwarf. “At all events, your fire will not burn one minute longer; and you know what will happen then.”

When Prince Frank heard this, he knew not what to do; but anything seemed better than to let the fire go out; so he put one foot outside the circle and stretched out his hand for the fagots. But immediately the dwarf gave a loud laugh, and threw the fagots away as far as he could; and rushing into the circle, he began to stamp out with his feet the little of the fire that was left.

Then Prince Frank remembered what the cat had told him; he turned and rushed back also into the circle; and as the last bit of flame flickered at the end of the stick, he laid himself down upon it like a bit of fire-wood. And immediately Rumpty-Dudget gave a loud cry and disappeared; and the fire blazed up famously, yellow, blue and red, with poor little Prince Frank in the midst of it!

IX

THE RESCUE OF PRINCE HENRY

JUST then, and not one moment too soon, there was a noise of hurrying and scurrying, and along came Tom the cat through the forest, with Princess Hilda holding on to his tail. As soon as they were within the circle, Tom dug a little hole in the ground with his two fore-paws, throwing up the dirt behind, and then said: “Give me the Golden Ivy-seed, Princess Hilda; but make haste; for Frank is burning for Henry’s sake!”

So she made haste to give him the Seed; and he planted it quickly in the little hole, and covered the earth over it, and then said: “Give me the Diamond Water-drop; but make haste; for Frank is burning for Henry’s sake!”

So she made haste to give him the Drop; and he poured half of it on the fire, and the other half on the place where the Seed was planted. And immediately the fire was put out, and there lay Prince Frank all alive and well; but the mark of Rumpty-Dudget’s mud on his nose was burned away, and his hair and eyes, which before had been brown and hazel, were now quite black. So up he jumped, and he and Princess Hilda and Tom all kissed each other heartily; and then Prince Frank said:

“Why, Hilda! the black spot that you had on your forehead has gone away, too.”

“Yes,” said the cat, “that happened when the King of the Gnomes kissed her. But now make yourselves ready, children for we are going to take a ride to Rumpty-Dudget’s tower!”

The two children were very much surprised when they heard this, and looked about to see what they were to ride on. But behold! the Golden Ivy-seed, watered with the Diamond Water-drop, was already growing and sprouting, and a strong stem with bright golden leaves had pushed itself out of the earth, and was creeping along the ground in the direction of Rumpty-Dudget’s tower. The cat put Princess Hilda and Prince Frank on the two largest leaves, and got on the stem himself, and so away they went merrily, and in a very short time the Ivy had carried them to the tower gates.

“Now jump down,” said the cat.