pt mountain-side. But Nod came to a stand, half crouching,
amazed, and watched, as it seemed to him, the Middens of Tishnar riding
more beautiful than daybreak in the moonlight of her hills. And he heard
a clear voice within him cry: "Have no fear, Nizza-neela, Mulla-mulgar
jugguba Ummanodda, neddipogo, Eengenares; feast and be merry. Tishnar
watches over the brave." And he told Thumb what the voice had said to
him.

And Thumb grew angry, for he was tired out of his courage. "Have it as
you will," he said. "It is easy to fear nothing and to see what is not
here when you meddle with magic, and shine like a fish out of water. But
as for me, I go back to my brother Thimble, and to my friends, the Men
of the Mountains." And he stumped sullenly off, crouching low over his
cudgel.

Then Nod said softly: "Wonderstone, Wonderstone! call back my brother
and open his eyes." Instantly Thumb stopped and stood upright. Thorn and
snow, blain and ache and bruise, were gone. He saw the meadows alight
with starry flowers, the fountains and the fruit. And he smelled the
smoke of nard and soltziphal burning in the cressets of the servants of
Tishnar. Nod laughed silently, and said: "Bring, too, O Wonderstone, my
brother Thimbulla on his litter, and the Prince Ghibba and his kinsfolk
to feast with me."

For there, in the midst between the fountains, was a long low table
spread with flowers and strange fruits and nuts, and lit with clear,
pear-shaped flames floating in the air like that of the Wonderstone, but
of the colours of ivory and emerald and amethyst; with nineteen platters
of silver and nineteen goblets of gold. And presently they heard in the
distance the grasshopper voices of the Hill-mulgars, as they came
stubbling along with Thimble's litter in their midst, carrying their
heavy faggots and bottles and bundles, their pink eyes blinking, their
knees trembling, not knowing whether to be joyful or afraid.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XX

They cast off their burdens into the flowery meadows and besprinkled
themselves with the pools of crystal water beneath the fountains. And
Nod himself bathed Ghibba's eyes in the fountain-pool, so that he, too,
could see, looking close, the wandering flames lighting the platters and
goblets and fruits and nuts and flowers.

[Illustration: THEY FEASTED ON FRUITS THEY NEVER BEFORE HAD TASTED
NOR KNEW TO GROW ON EARTH]

The travellers sat down, all the nineteen