The Marvellous Land of Snergs by E. A. Wyke-Smith & George Morrow

Author:E. A. Wyke-Smith & George Morrow [Wyke-Smith, E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780486174433
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2012-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

“ What beasts! ” exclaimed Sylvia.

“Yes, Sylvia, that’s what they were. And when my gossip, the jailer, told me that the King was frothing at the mouth and had sent for his High Executioner, it seemed to me a choice moment to leave his service if it could be done. My prison was in a tower which had, by great good luck, a drainpipe outside the window, so I washed off all traces of my kingly colour and slipped down. I reached the ground without other mishap than a rasping of my knees and knuckles and fled afar. Better to roam the cold world than to await the vengeance of a tyrant. So here I am, alone with you dear things in the greenwood. And very nice too.”

“ Is the King very ruthless ? ” asked Sylvia anxiously.

“ Ruthless! Oh, my ! However, I’m not going to go into details because that would only frighten you and serve no useful purpose.”

“ We’ve heard that things are pretty bad on this side,” said Gorbo. “And Golithos said the same.”

“ Oh, yes, dear old Golithos. You told me you’d stayed a night with him. I’ve never seen him myself, but I thought of paying him a visit.”

“ Don’t you do it,” said Gorbo. “He’ll bore you stiff—and there’s nothing to eat at his place but the stuff rabbits eat.”

“ Then that settles that,” said Baldry. “Well, where shall we go ? ”

“We’d better try to find Mother Meldrum somehow. She’ll be able to tell us how to get back home.”

“ Dear old Mother Meldrum ! ” exclaimed Baldry. “Yes, let’s go and find her; she lives somewhere in the dark woods, which are somewhere about here. I’ve always wanted to meet that dear old lady, and now I shall! ”

“ Is she nice then ? ” asked Sylvia, rather relieved at his enthusiasm.

“ Well, I wouldn’t go as far as that. She’s a witch, and she’s rather noted for blighting crops and injuring folks generally and she makes a fairly good living by selling curses and nobody of any sense will go near her. But she may have her good points. Let’s go at once ! ”

“ Look here, my dear friend,” said Gorbo, “ this is all very well for you and me, but what about Sylvia and Joe ? You stay here and look after them and I’ll go and see her. There’s no need for all of us to come.”

“ No, Gorbo,” cried Sylvia, “we’re going where you go.”

“ Of course we are,” said Joe. “Besides, it’d be rather fun to meet a real witch.”

“ That’s my way of looking at it,” said Baldry. “Fun is the correct word. Come along, Joe, let’s look for the dark woods. I’ll race you to the top of that tree.”

He ran to an enormous tree a little distance away and Joe ran after him. In another minute the two disappeared among the leaves. Then cries of joy were heard from aloft.

“ It’s lovely up here,” called Joe.

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