THE ELVES AND GNOMES TO THE RESCUE. 83

Then Beppo stepped into the banquet hall,
and bowing low before the king, made an-
swer : —

“King Lippo is well, your majesty, and
sends greeting. He bade me bring word of a
misfortune that has befallen the hunter’s little
maid.”

Then Beppo, in as few words as possible,
related the tale of Mona’s mishap through the
treachery of the rover’s maid, and begged the
gnome king to send help to the unfortunate
child.

“Return to thy king,” said Rondo as the elf
ended his tale, “and say to him that King
Rondo will make the case his own. What ho
there, knaves!” he cried to his attendant gnomes,
“have the secret underground passages well
lighted up, that the little maid need have no
fear.”

Beppo waited for no second bidding, but,
saluting the king, hastened homeward. Before
he left the cavern, he saw that it was one blaze
of light. Passages led in every direction from
the lofty cavern, and these were ablaze with
the light of torches and glittering ore.