o fat little arms beat the
drumsticks on the top of his head, or what appeared to be the top of his
head, which was in reality a funny face, which winked and blinked as
the drumsticks traveled over the queer little features.

"Toot! toot!" went the big yellow horn, as his fat little fingers
pressed in the brass stops that made the notes high or low, or soft or
shrill. Over the floor he skipped, after the round, fat drum.

The 'cello and the violin came next. The latter ran his bow across his
stringed waistcoat in perfect time, while the former twanged the strings
that covered his happy face in a jolly fashion. The rest of the band
played on themselves beautifully, and the Gnome, with his baton, proved
a most capable leader. In fact, the music was so delightful that Ned
finally could restrain himself no longer, and, jumping up, began dancing
around to the tune of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!"

"Heigh-ho! hey diddle-do!
Down in the mountain deep,
Fiddle and drum, tiddle-dy-um,
Are doing the Leopard Leap!"

Just then the music stopped, or, rather, the Musical Instruments paused
to take breath, and Ned sat down again, wondering what next would
happen. In a few minutes the round, fat drum commenced to beat "Left,
right! left, right!" and the Gnomeland Band fell into line and marched
slowly down the long cavern until it was out of sight.

THE MAGIC CAKE

Ned and the Gnome landed safely on a big soft bunker of moss.

[Illustration]

THE MAGIC CAKE

AS the last drum beat died away in the distance, the Gnome turned to Ned
and said: "Come, let us hasten, for I am rather hungry, and you no doubt
are in need of nourishment also."

Ned obeyed willingly, for he had tasted nothing since breakfast and was
now as hungry as a healthy youngster should be.

At the farther end of the cavern was an inclined plane, very much like
the chutes at Coney Island.

Carefully seating Ned at his side the Gnome said: "Now hold tight, and
hold your breath and hold your tongue--in fact, hold everything you've
got--for we are going to take a swift shoot to the bottom of the
mountain and you'll find out what the word swift means if you never have
before!"

At this they began to move, and in another moment they were traveling as
fast as a bullet from a gun.

The wind, whistling by, cut Ned's cheeks like little sharp needles; his
hair stood out behind like feathers on a speeding arro