THE ELVES AND GNOMES TO THE RESCUE. 79

elfin king, pointing solemnly to the little form
on the ground, said : —

“Good subjects mine, here have we come
On nimble feet, from leafy home,
A gentle deed of love to do
For this fair maid, so kind and true.
Lured forth was she from her fond home
By false words of the jealous one.
Whate’er we do must be done soon,
The night is short, and yon’s the moon.”

As the king ceased, the full, round moon
slowly appeared above the tall forest trees, and
moved majestically higher into the sky.

Then said Pippi the Just, the wise counsel-
lor: —

“We tiny elves cannot by ourselves bear
this gentle maid up the steep side of the moun-
tain. The gnomes, so sturdy of limb and sure
of foot, will know how to help us. Who of ye
will hie to King Rondo and acquaint him with
the mishap?”

Almost before the last words were spoken,
Beppo, the swift of foot, was half way up the
steep mountain side, on his errand to King
Rondo.

Bounding over stones and bushes, climbing