Come on, Hank! called the girl, and the donkey tried to obey. He managed to bound pretty high but when he tried to bound across the stream he misjudged the distance and fell with a splash into the middle of the water.
Hee-haw! he wailed, struggling toward the far bank. Betsy rushed forward to help him out, but when the mule stood safely beside her she was amazed to find he was not wet at all.
Its dry water, said Polychrome, dipping her hand into the stream and showing how the water fell from it and left it perfectly dry.
In that case, returned Betsy, they can all walk through the water.
She called to Ozga and Shaggy to wade across, assuring them the water was shallow and would not wet them. At once they followed her advice, avoiding the rubber stepping-stones, and made the crossing with ease. This encouraged the entire party to wade through the dry water, and in a few minutes all had assembled on the bank and renewed their journey along the path that led to the Nome Kings dominions.
When Kaliko again looked through his magic spyglass he exclaimed:
Bad luck, Your Majesty! All the invaders have passed the Rubber Country and now are fast approaching the entrance to your caverns.
Ruggedo raved and stormed at the news and his anger was so great that several times, as he strode up and down his jeweled cavern, he paused to kick Kaliko upon his shins, which were so sensitive that the poor nome howled with pain. Finally the King said:
Theres no help for it; we must drop these audacious invaders down the Hollow Tube.
Kaliko gave a jump, at this, and looked at his master wonderingly.
If you do that, Your Majesty, he said, you will make Tititi-Hoochoo very angry.
Never mind that, retorted Ruggedo. Tititi-Hoochoo lives on the other side of the world, so what do I care for his anger?
Kaliko shuddered and uttered a little groan.
Remember his terrible powers, he pleaded, and remember that he warned you, the last time you slid people through the Hollow Tube, that if you did it again he would take vengeance upon you.
The Metal Monarch walked up and down in silence, thinking deeply.
Of two dangers, said he, it is wise to choose the least. What do you suppose these invaders want?
Let the Long-Eared Hearer listen to them, suggested Kaliko.
Call him here at once! commanded Ruggedo eagerly.
So in a few minutes there entered the cavern a nome with enormous ears, who bowed low before the King.
Strangers are
were resting upon some smooth substance over which he slid with the swiftness of the wind. Once Betsys heels flew up and struck a similar substance overhead. They were, indeed, descending the Hollow Tube that led to the other side of the world.
Stop, Hank stop! cried the girl; but Hank only uttered a plaintive Hee-haw! for it was impossible for him to obey.
After several minutes had passed and no harm had befallen them, Betsy gained courage. She could see nothing at all, nor could she hear anything except the rush of air past her ears as they plunged downward along the Tube. Whether she and Hank were alone, or the others were with them, she could not tell. But had some one been able to take a flash-light photograph of the Tube at that time a most curious picture would have resulted. There was Tik-Tok, flat upon his back and sliding headforemost down the incline. And there were the Officers of the Army of Oogaboo, all tangled up in a confused crowd, flapping their arms and trying to shield their faces from the clanking swords, which swung back and forth during the swift journey and pommeled everyone within their reach. Now followed Queen Ann, who had struck the Tube in a sitting position and went flying along with a dash and abandon that thoroughly bewildered the poor lady, who had no idea what had happened to her. Then, a little distance away, but unseen by the others in the inky darkness, slid Betsy and Hank, while behind them were Shaggy and Polychrome and finally Files and the Princess.
When first they tumbled into the Tube all were too dazed to think clearly, but the trip was a long one, because the cavity led straight through the earth to a place just opposite the Nome Kings dominions, and long before the adventurers got to the end they had begun to recover their wits.
This is awful, Hank! cried Betsy in a loud voice, and Queen Ann heard her and called out: Are you safe, Betsy?
Mercy, no! answered the little girl. How could anyone be safe when shes going about sixty miles a minute? Then, after a pause, she added: But where do you spose were going to, Your Majsty?
Dont ask her that, please dont! said Shaggy, who was not too far away to overhear them. And please dont ask me why, either.
Why? said Betsy.
No one can tell where we are going until we get there, replied Shaggy, and then he yelled Ouch! for Polychrome had overtaken him and was now sitting on his head.
The Rainbows Daughter laughed merrily, and so infectious was this joyous laugh that Betsy echoed it and Hank said Hee-haw! in a mild and sympathetic tone of voice.