Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/32

 last, after going through a longer tunnel than usual, they suddenly saw daylight and stepped into the middle of the market-place.

This fine square resolved the mystery of ages, for philosophers have always held that it is impossible to square the circle. Here was a circle squared, for the eye could not tell whether this large space was a circle or a square.

The number of Puzzlers to be seen was quite astonishing. Collected in groups of twos and threes, they eagerly asked or tried to solve riddles. Of these there were many sorts; and it was the occupation of some to sift the riddles just as it is the occupation of others elsewhere to sift thistles.

But the key-spook had twisted himself into a note of interrogation again, and the maker of ghosts asked him if he knew of any place where they could stay, as the town seemed so full. He looked perplexed, then, having stood on his head to collect his ideas, said:

“The very thing,” said the two friends; “lead on, Mr, Spook, we follow.”

Their guide took from his bunch another key, and opened a subterranean door. The passage in which they now found themselves was large enough for them to stand upright in. A short way off they saw a glimmer of light: here was the house of the ground-gnome.

Reaching the end of the passage, the spook tapped at a door, when a voice bade them enter. So doing, they passed into a cheerful room filled with the soft light of innumerable glow-worms.

The ground-gnome was a comfortable fatherly body, and he agreed to accommodate the maker of ghosts and the maker of shadows for a moderate quantity of common-sense. Both he and the spook showed quite an interest in the strangers, and made free—in a kindly way—to ask them their object in coming to Puzzledom.

So they said they were seeking their fortunes, that they had got a good deal of common-sense, but hardly knew what to do next.

Hearing this, the spook got quite excited, tied his limbs in the most astonishing knots, and at length said to the ground gnome: