The commissary department was active too, and Brownies came with ample supplies of provisions for the voyage. They brought sacks of hard-tack and ship-biscuit, and when they laid them down and sat on them audacious rats ran helter-skelter out and scampered wildly off in all directions. Nothing was left undone, and when in the judgment of the Sailor it was about four bells the raft had taken marvelous shape and was ready to launch.
With the combined strength of all the band it was rolled down the sloping sand upon round logs until it slid gracefully into the water. Lanterns lit it at the corners, and in the centre on a long stick floated the Brownie flag.
Then all the Brownies clambered on board, and King Stanislaus gave the order to cast off the hawsers. The fairies, weeping yet hopeful of the success of the expedition, watched them from the shore.
But before some Brownies under the instructions of the Sailor could obey the mandate of the king Mignonette and Jassamine in wild disorder, and with their hair flying, came running toward them.
"The dove!" cried Mignonette. "You've forgotten Euphrosyne's dove!"
Jassamine at the same time held up a cage in which the dove was perched on a stick.
"Euphrosyne told Queen Titania she was to send it to her if ever she was in danger from Dragonfel," Mignonette made haste to explain.
"I don't know whether we've got room to take it," said King Stanislaus grudgingly. "Besides I think we're able to manage this little business affair ourselves."
"Remember, sire," reminded the Policeman, "that Noah once sent out a dove."
"Yes, I know," said His Majesty, "but he's hundreds of years behind the times."
Still he did not interpose any objections when the Dude reached forth and grasped the cage, which he set upon the raft.
Then off they floated without further interruption, the Sailor and others poling them out through shallow waters till they could no longer touch bottom. There were no cheers to mark the departure, for the hearts of all were set with a stern purpose.
As they got farther and farther away the fairies still gazed at them, until someone said:
"Don't watch them out of sight. It's unlucky."
The tide was ebb, and the wind continued steady and true, so that they made good progress. Some took their little jackets off to catch each puff of air. The shore-line finally disappeared from sight, and then the lights twinkling in the windows of Queen Titania's palace.