s hands
to keep them from freezing. "I'd like to feel warm again."

"Well, then follow me!" cried the Gnome, and turning to a big rock he
tapped upon it twice with the toe of his little red boot. In a moment a
door opened, showing a pair of rocky steps leading down into the
mountain.

"Be careful," admonished the Gnome, as he and Ned descended the rough
flight. "Don't slip, for you might fall a long way."

Ned assured him he had no desire to fall, but that his feet were so numb
he wasn't at all sure but what he might slip, no matter how hard he
tried to be careful.

Although it was not exactly dark, at the same time the light was not
sufficient for Ned to make out anything distinctly, and as the stairway
was narrow and the walls dim he kept his eyes closely upon the ground.

Soon they came to a level corridor and he perceived a dim light in the
distance. "Where are we going?" he asked. But at this point an iron door
arrested their progress, and without pausing to answer, the Gnome took
from his pocket a key. Inserting it in the lock, the door slowly swung
open, and Ned heard the faint beating of a drum.

"Sit down," said the Gnome, drawing forward a wooden stool, much too
small for Ned, but probably just the right size for a Gnome; "sit down
and wait a moment while I go in search of the Gnomeland Band. I want you
to hear them play, and I hear them practising now."

Ned glanced curiously around the strange place. It suddenly occurred to
him that he was a long, long way from home. Here he was, deep down in
the mountain, in a rocky cavern, sitting on a little Gnome stool,
waiting for his friend to return. But what if he did not come back?

Ned's hair suddenly stood on end at the thought. Going over to the big
iron door, he tried to turn the great knob, but his fingers either were
not strong enough or he did not know the secret of the lock. Returning
to his seat, he made up his mind to wait a while before allowing his
fears to get the better of him. This is what every brave boy would do
under the circumstances, he said to himself, resolving not to be a
coward.

Presently he was relieved to hear music, as the Gnome, at the head of
the Gnomeland Band, came into view; and the funniest band that Ned had
ever seen. Why, each instrument was playing itself and dancing the
Mountain Tango at the same time!

The big drum went "Bum, bum, bum, diddle dum," and pranced around on a
pair of short, fat legs in red stockings. Tw