They were all huddled together in a body, and a sorry, crestfallen lot they were. Never before had such great misfortune overtaken them.
At times the Student Brownie would discourse on Liberty, Justice, or Good Fellowship, and find appreciative listeners, and he lifted up their hearts by assuring them that history repeats itself, and that they would yet enjoy the freedom of the comets and wandering stars.
While others of Dragonfel's followers guarded the Brownies so that they could not escape, and brandished sharp-pointed spikes, battle-axes, bludgeons, and other formidable-looking weapons significantly, Grouthead ran in hot haste to inform his master.
Soon the wicked enchanter made his appearance, and his rubicund face showed high elation.
"What do you want me to do?" asked King Stanislaus meekly.
"Here, stop your talking, and get busy!" cried Snoutpimple, thrusting in the king's hand a pick.
"I haven't any choice," said His Majesty, "so I'll have to take my pick!"
The airy persiflage was lost upon Dragonfel, who frowned on him severely.
"I'm a king in my own right," continued the monarch, pointing to his crown, "and never used a pick except to bury a dead dog, but I'll not make a scene in the presence of my subjects, so here goes for the jewels." His cheerfulness told on others.
"If it was digging shedder-crabs or scallops," remarked the Sailor, "I'd soon fill a basket."
"I've broken stones before," said the Irishman, "but this is the first chance I ever had to get a whack at diamonds."
"Vell," said the German Brownie, "if I see somedings in dot blace shining like blitzen I bulls him oudt alretty yed und say noddings!" They were then hustled off to their new tasks.
With the mine-sprites and Brownies the king started to dig away, and he tried not to shirk, but to do his stint with the rest of them. The sight of royalty reduced to hard labor affected all his subjects greatly, though they had little opportunity for sympathy so severely did their taskmasters press them.
The heaps of precious stones piled up higher and higher, and their eyes fairly blinked at the sight of them.
"I never saw so many jewels before in all my life," declared His Majesty, wincing as he felt a sudden crick in his back. "Whenever I look at them I feel just as though I were going to break out with carbuncles."