The giantess hauled him up to the window-sill and asked him to come in and sit down and tell her what he was doing there and all about himself, for she saw that he was no ordinary creature. And when he had explained to her why he was there and what he had learnt in the Bountiful Country, she told him her own tale.
How the wicked magician had stolen her away from home when she was quite young and had brought her to this castle, and how he kept her shut up, while with his magic spells he did all sorts of evil things.
“I know the people think it is all my doing,” said the poor giantess. “He can turn an old wash-tub and six beans into a chariot drawn by flaming dragons, and when he flies out he wears a great cloak over his tall hat, so that every one takes him for me.
“He makes these poor children help him in his wicked work, and keeps them prisoners just as he does me.
“He does not even give us enough to eat. If we are not soon rescued we shall all die. He grows worse every day.”
Each one made a little pool where it fell.
“Don’t cry,” said the Rainbow Cat, “all will yet be well. My magic is stronger than his. When once I get at him I’ll soon finish him off. Will you take me to him?”
But the giantess was afraid; she said she dare not disturb him. “Besides,” she said, “he would never let you in, he is so suspicious.”
“It’s got to be done somehow,” said the Rainbow Cat, “if you’re to be set free.”
He sat softly strumming on his mandolin and thinking, and suddenly the giantess had an idea.
“He loves music,” she said. “He says it helps his brain to work. If you could pretend to be a wandering musician----”
“The very thing, my dear,” he said. “Have you by any chance got a peacock’s feather to lend me?”
“Thank you very much,” said the Rainbow Cat. “You will see; in an hour’s time you will all be free. Good-bye for the present.”
He was so excited that he jumped clean out of the window--mandolin, bag and all.
You know, even ordinary cats are supposed always to fall on their feet, and of course a fairy cat----!
When he reached the ground he wrapped himself in his cloak, pulled his hat well over his eyes and stuck the peacock’s feather in the front of it.
“Now I look just like a wandering musician,” he said, and he went boldly up to the door of the wizard’s tower and pulled the bell.