Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet by Cameron Eleanor

Author:Cameron, Eleanor [Cameron, Eleanor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

12 - Escape from the Mushroom People

Why, they’re made of gold!” cried Horatio, going up to the Basidiumites and devouring with his eager, excited gaze the beautiful instruments which the Mushroom People carried. And something in his voice, something greedy and wild, sent a start of troubled uneasiness over David.

The Mushroom People were frightened. At sight of the huge stranger, who must have seemed a giant to them, they crowded back in alarm. Mr. Theo, even with his dark, tall hat on, which he wore so jauntily, they did not seem to mind, as he looked so much like themselves.

Once more Ta held up his arm.

“Do not be afraid, my people,” he cried. “Our saviors from the Great Protector have returned, and they have promised to help us search for our Wise Men. This large person came with them.” Here Ta paused for a second and settled a peculiar glance on Horatio Q. Peabody which it was impossible to read. “Our guests promise us that he is friendly and means no harm. We are to trust him. As for my companion here,” and now Ta turned to Mr. Theo and drew him forward, whereupon Mr. Theo removed his top hat and smiled at the Basidiumites, “he is one of our long lost kinsmen. Welcome him warmly, for he is one of us. He has come home – he is here to stay!”

“Yie!” shouted all the little Basidiumites. “Yie-aye-yiy!” And putting their flutes to their lips, they turned back toward the village, playing all the way, while some of them hummed in a high, wavering key so that it was as if a hundred sea-winds were all sighing and crying together.

“Their flutes,” demanded Horatio, oblivious of this lovely sound, “they are of gold, aren’t they?”

“We have much of that shining substance in our high places,” replied Ta indifferently, “and in various colors, as you perhaps noticed. The greenish flutes are high in tone, the yellowish are middle-toned, and the reddish ones are deep-toned. Do you make music on the Great Protector?”

But Horatio did not answer. He was staring straight ahead and seemed to be thinking deeply. So they arrived in the little city, a place of many small igloo-shaped houses, of which Ta’s palace was the largest. Now other Basidiumites came out to greet the boys. When they exclaimed in fright at the sight of Horatio, Ta once more told how the stranger meant no harm, and would leave when the boys went away again in the creature of silver.

Meanwhile Horatio was beside himself with the effort to get everything down in his notebook. Closely he examined the tiny figurines placed on the walls of the houses; and the necklaces, like airy, silken wires, intricately woven, about the pale green necks of the Mushroom People. On the fingers of the women were many rings, and there were bracelets on their arms.

“All gold!” Horatio shouted over to Chuck and David. “And their cooking pots, and their dishes – gold! gold! Gold!”

At this Ta put back his head and shouted with laughter.

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