84 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

 

CHAPTER VII.

FAIRYLAND.

Beppo left the gnomes’ cavern and hastened
to carry back to King Lippo the news that the
gnomes would come to the rescue of the hunt-
er’s little maid. As soon as he had left the
cavern, hundreds of gnomes issued forth and
came trooping down the hill. Leaping and
running, they hurried along until they reached
the spot where Mona lay.

Silently the gnomes crowded around the
little maid, gazing fondly on her whom they
had long loved. After a while King Rondo
broke the silence thus: —

“ Bestir yourselves, my subjects true,
And do the work ye’ve come to do.”