uffing
the stray jewels into their bulging pockets. The trail of jewels led
them across the hall to the little door opening on the stairway, and up
this stairway they scrambled as fast as they could go.

At the top of the stair, in the turret, they found another round room
lit by three narrow, barred windows, and in the centre of this turret
chamber, likewise laden with gold and jewels, they found another ebony
table. With shrieks of delight, the King and the Chancellor and the
Chamberlain ran to this second treasure, and plunged their hands in the
glittering golden mass.

Suddenly, a great bell rang in the castle, a great brazen bell whose
deep clang beat about them in throbbing, singing waves.

"What's that?" said the three rogues in one breath, and rushed together
to the door.

It was locked! An instant later there was a heavy explosion which threw
them all to the floor, tossing the treasure over them; and then, wonder
of wonders, the castle turret, with the three rogues imprisoned in it,
detached itself from the rest of the castle, and flew off into the air.
From the barred windows, the King, the Chamberlain, and the Chancellor
saw league upon league of the forest rushing by beneath them. Suddenly
the flying room began to descend swiftly, and landed lightly as a bird
in the middle of a castle courtyard. Strange-looking fellows with human
bodies and heads of horses came rushing toward the enchanted turret, and
seized its prisoners. In a few moments they were brought before the King
to whom the treasure belonged.

Now this King was a brother of the dwarf whom the hunter had rescued
from the pit. He had a little gold crown on his head, and sat on a
little golden throne with cushions of crimson velvet.

"With what are these three charged?" said the Dwarf-King.

"With having tried to rob the treasure castle, Your Majesty," replied
one of the horse-headed servitors in a firm, stable tone.

"Then send for the Lord Chief Justice at once," said the Dwarf-King.

The three culprits were left standing uneasily in a kind of cage. They
would have tried to speak, but every time they opened their mouths, one
of the guards gave them a dig in the ribs.

For a space of five minutes there was quiet in the crowded throne-room,
a quiet broken now and then by a veiled cough or the noise of shuffling
feet. Presently, from far away, came the clear, sweet call of silver
trumpets.

"He's coming! He's coming!" murmured many voices