Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/151

136 "True," said the gnome, and just at that moment they met a, who had been sent from the castle a day or two before on a long errand. He, of course, wanted to know where the gnome and the ghost were going; but when he heard their story, he said nothing, but kept on his way.

The Floating Prince and other fairy tales, DJVU pg 151.jpg "OH, TELL IT TO ME!" EXCLAIMED THE GNOME.

When he reached the castle, he found that all the beer had been made, and that the busy workers had just brought out the various pots and jars into the court-yard to cool. The pigwidgeon took a sniff or two at the strange stuff in some of the jars, and then he told about the gnome and the ghost running away. When he mentioned the reason of their sudden departure, the whole assemblage stood and looked at each other in dismay.

"I never thought of that," said a tall giant; "but it's just what will happen. We shall have to taste those mixtures, and I should n't wonder a bit if half of them turned out to be poison. I'm going!"