Thus fully equipped and with the whole band for an escort, the indomitable quintet set forth on their delicate mission.
Dragonfel's palace was a good deal farther away than they had supposed, for the atmosphere was very clear, so that objects at a distance seemed much nearer than they really were.
There was a fair road that led to it from the beach, and this took them over a rickety wooden bridge that spanned one of the numerous tide-water creeks in the vicinity.
But before they reached the bridge they came to a small frame structure over whose arched doors was the sign: NEPTUNE HOOK AND LADDER CO. NO. 1, which caused remarks.
"Evidently Dragonfel has a fire department," said King Stanislaus. "This is a most interesting discovery."
"Why, I could have told you that," said a Brownie. "I saw it some time ago."
"You should have done so," His Majesty reproved. "It may have a very important bearing on what we are about to try to do. But what was that?"
Something dim and shadowy flitted past in the dark, with the whirring sound of a night-bat.
"I saw it," the Policeman spoke up quickly. "There was a gleam of red, and I thought I could distinguish a bow and quiver."
"A bow and quiver!" repeated King Stanislaus, and his face grew suddenly grave. "I hope they were not Prince Florimel's. I am greatly distressed by the fear that some dire mishap has come to him." His Majesty would have felt very much relieved in mind if he could have known that nothing serious had occurred to the prince.
When like the rest of the Brownies Florimel had gone to seek what information he could he had strayed nearer to the palace than perhaps in prudence he should have done.
With the impetuosity of youth he was ready to storm the palace single-handed, but he realized that such a rash, foolhardy attempt would only bring disaster to the whole band.
So he gazed toward the lights that gleamed from the windows, wondering all the while what Titania was doing at the time, and if Dragonfel was very cruel to her.
He was really helpless just then to exert himself in her behalf, and he turned with a sigh to go back.
The rigors of the hardships through which he had passed pressed heavily, and excessive weariness overcame him. He felt a sudden faintness, and sank upon a grassy bank to rest.