CHAPTER XX
_What Happened Outside Old Nancy's Cottage_
Molly had struck the last but one of Old Nancy's matches in order toset light to the beacon. And now she and Miss Lydia, and the two menwho had been guarding the beacon, stood on the hilltop gazing out atthe answering light on the neighbouring hill. The fire cast a red glowover them all, and over the silent Grey Pumpkins in their midst. Itcould be seen that the guards wore curious dark red boots; these werepart of Old Nancy's magic protection against the Pumpkin and his spies,as also was the white circle chalked on the ground around the fire.
As they gazed down from the hill one of the guards told Molly thequickest way back to the East Gate of the City. If she followed theHigh Road, which was dimly visible far below, for about a mile shewould come to a lane with a sign-post which said, 'To the OrangeWood.' Go to the bottom of this lane, over a little bridge across theriver, and then along another lane which skirted the wood, and shewould find herself in the village at the edge of the Goblin's Heath.Back over the Heath was the shortest way then. But she would saveseveral miles by going along the High Road at first.
Molly was very pleased to hear of this short cut, as she had notthought of looking up her map yet; and so, being very anxious to reachOld Nancy, Molly and Miss Lydia, who had determined to return with her,said good-bye to the guards and started off down the hillside, followedby the two Pumpkins.
As they went along Molly insisted on Miss Lydia, who looked very tiredand exhausted, having two of the little brown square sweets that OldNancy had given her; and she ate two herself. After a few minutesboth she and Miss Lydia felt much refreshed, and fit for the journeyin front of them. It was strange and delightful to Molly to know thatthere was nothing now to be afraid of; no more dodging and hiding anddistrusting everybody.
When they neared the bottom of the hill, they caught sight of a figureemerging from a wood on the opposite side of the High Road. The personstood gazing up at the blazing beacon, spellbound; then all at oncegave a whoop of joy and did a sort of step-dance in the road.
"Oh!" cried Molly, delighted. "It is--its Glan!"
And Glan it was, sure enough. He raced to meet them as soon as he sawthe little party moving down.
"So it _is_ you, little lady. You've done it, after all!" he shouted,as he came toward them. "Well done, well done!" and he seized Molly'shand and shook it till he nearly shook it off. "But where's yourbrother?" he asked, noting, with puzzled eyes, the two Pumpkins.
Molly told him what had happened to Jack, as they all moved onward tothe High Road; and then she went on to explain where she found theBlack Leaf, and how bravely Miss Lydia had acted.
"Madam, I'm proud to meet you," said Glan, shaking hands with MissLydia. "If I had only known, I could have come to your aid. I was notso far away, finishing searching that wood, which is my boundary; youremember, I mentioned that part of my search-ground joined yours," heturned to Molly, "but, of course, I knew nothing, till I saw that blazein the sky," he waved his hand toward the beacon. "You're not worryingabout your brother, are you, little lady?" he inquired, peeringanxiously at Molly. "Don't do that. Old Nancy will soon put thingsright, I feel sure."
As they went along he told them some of his adventures, and the narrowescapes he had had from being caught by the spies; his 'poor oldFather' had been nearly caught once also.
By the time he had finished they were well on the way back along theHigh Road. It seemed to Molly that the return journey developed intosomething like a triumphal procession. She would rather have gone backquietly without any fuss, but the people who ran out to meet her seemedso deeply thankful and so full of gratitude that she had not the heartto wish them not to cheer. There were many glances of awe directed atthe two Pumpkins as they rolled steadily along side by side. Many ofthe people followed Molly, and Miss Lydia, and Glan, all the way backto the City--a straggling crowd that grew in numbers, collecting peoplefrom every house that was passed on the road. Presently the High Roadwas left behind and they took the short cut through the lane that wentnear the Orange Wood.
Here Molly saw Farmer and Mrs Rose hurrying to join them, and she hadto explain something of what had happened as they walked on beside her.
They went through the village, and all the people turned out andcheered them in magnificent style, and Miss Marigold and Timothyhastened to join the crowd. It was a strange crowd, made up of allsorts of people, little and big, old and young, that flocked round thelittle girl and the two Grey Pumpkins that followed close behind her.The people's awe of the Pumpkin was not easily overcome, and they kepta respectful distance in spite of the fact that the little girl held inher hand the Black Leaf.
Out over the Goblin's Heath they all trooped. There were rustlings inthe bushes here, and darting little figures that scampered across theirpath, which made Glan laugh hilariously. From the Goblin's Heath theycould see the beacons blazing on the hills for miles round.
When they entered the Second Green Lane they saw a figure bustlingalong in front of them, that Molly recognized at once. It was MrPapingay on his way to the City. He seemed glad to see Molly again, andinquired immediately about his Black Leaf.
"I haven't shown it yet, but I'm going to," said Molly. "I've kept itcarefully. Think what all these people will say when they see it--whenwe reach the City!"
At which he beamed and seemed content. Glan greeted him heartily,slapping him on the back and calling him 'Uncle'; and they walked ontogether arm in arm, both of them talking unceasingly. Whether eitherof them listened to a word the other said is more than any one can say.
When they reached the High Road again they could hear all the bellsin the City ringing, and people were watching anxiously from the topof the City walls. "Here they are! Here they are!" cried somebody,and then such a cheer went up that the sound of the bells was drownedaltogether for a few moments.
To Molly the return journey had seemed very short, partly because ofthe short cuts they had taken, and partly because they had been able tokeep straight ahead, as there was now no searching or dodging to delaythem. But altogether they had travelled many miles and had been severalhours on the journey, and the night was now far advanced. It was aperfect night, warm and still and clear, for the moon sailed overhead,flooding the land with its beautiful white light.
Many of the citizens had already gone out on to the hill by the WestGate, in readiness to see them pass down to Old Nancy's. Those thatwere left joined in the procession at the rear. On passing Glan's shopthey found that his Father and Aunt Janet had already gone ahead, asthey did not know which way the procession was coming, and they wanted'a front seat,' Glan said.
Outside the West Gate the King was waiting, and he put his hands onMolly's shoulders and thanked her very sincerely in the name of thecountry. Then he walked with her down the hill, and she told him aboutJack.
The hill was packed with people, eager, murmuring, straining to catcha glimpse of Molly and the Pumpkins. As she drew near Old Nancy'scottage, Molly saw that a wide space had been cleared around thecottage by the City guards; and there was Old Nancy standing waiting byher door, the firelight flickering in the room behind her, just as shehad stood when Molly had last seen her.
She held out her hands to Molly when she caught sight of the littlegirl. The King gently urged Molly forward, and so she stepped outalone into the open space, and went toward Old Nancy, the two Pumpkinsfollowing obediently. Then a strange hush fell over the huge crowdgathered on the hill, and every one waited expectantly for what wasabout to happen.
"Here is the Black Leaf," said Molly, handing the Leaf to Old Nancy."And here is the Grey Pumpkin--and Jack."
Old Nancy stooped and kissed Molly on the forehead. "My dear, how can Ithank you," she said. "But tell me how this happened," and she motionedtoward the two Pumpkins.
Molly explained. The people around could not hear what Molly said, butthe whisper ran from one to the other that one of the Pumpkins was thelittle girl's brother who was under a spell.
&
nbsp; "Oh, will you bring Jack back again?" begged Molly anxiously.
Old Nancy looked gravely at each of the Pumpkins in turn. "Which _is_Jack," she muttered to herself. Then she peered closer--stretching outher hand and turning each of the Pumpkins over and round about. Thecrowd gasped when she first touched the Pumpkins; it was difficult toget used to the idea that the Pumpkin was harmless now. "A pin wasstuck in the Pumpkin pincushion," she said to herself. "Let me see now,let me see now.... Ah.... Then _this_ one is the Grey Pumpkin," criedOld Nancy, triumphantly. "For there is a big pin stuck through the topof him now."
A great cheer went up from the crowd, though those at the back did notknow what they were cheering about.
Old Nancy touched the Grey Pumpkin three times with the Black Leaf. ThePumpkin trembled, rocked, then was still.
"The Grey Pumpkin is now completely in my power," said Old Nancy."But before we punish him let us make sure that he has remedied allthe mischief he has done. Most of you who have suffered through himprobably found that you were suddenly released from the spells whichhad held you--as soon as the Black Leaf was plucked. Is that correct?"
Murmurs of assent came from the crowd. Old Nancy asked any who werestill suffering from spells put on them by the Pumpkin to step forward;and waited; but no one stepped forward. Molly looked across at MissLydia and smiled.
"Then there is only this one last case to restore." Old Nancy pointedto one of the Grey Pumpkins. "This spell was different from the others,because it was worked upon a person from the Impossible World." Shehesitated, looking down at the Pumpkin which was supposed to containJack.
Molly saw some one signalling wildly to her from the crowd. It was MrPapingay.
"Don't forget," he called to Molly in a loud aside. "Now's the time!"
Molly remembered her promise, and opening her little satchel rummagedabout inside, then took out Mr Papingay's painted black leaf, andunfolded it.
"What is that?" asked Old Nancy.
"It is a black leaf which Mr Papingay painted, and which I promised toshow everybody, and he wants me to do it now," said Molly, holding itout.
A flicker of a smile showed at the corners of Old Nancy's mouth, butshe sternly repressed it. She took the painted leaf and gazed at itfor a moment, then muttered something in an undertone and made a signacross the leaf with her left hand, holding the real Black Leaf and thepainted leaf together in her right.
"Have you any of the matches left that I gave you?" she asked Molly.
"One," Molly replied.
"That's just right." Old Nancy held the painted leaf high in the air."I want you all to see this leaf which has been made and painted byMr Papingay, and is an exact copy of the Black Leaf. It is a cleverpiece of work--and useful--as you shall see. Mr Papingay, have I yourpermission to do anything I like with this?"
"Certainly, ma'am--anything you like," beamed Mr Papingay, swellingwith pride at his own and the leaf's importance.
Old Nancy handed the painted leaf back to Molly. "Place it under thatGrey Pumpkin," she said, pointing to Jack's Pumpkin.
When Molly had done this, she was told to strike her one remainingmatch and set light to the painted leaf. This she did, and stood backas it caught alight, and little tongues of fire and grey puffs ofsmoke curled round the Pumpkin. Higher the smoke curled, and thickerit became, until the Pumpkin was entirely hidden from view in thecentre of a great column of grey smoke. Every one watched--fascinated.Suddenly there was a terrific bang--then the smoke began to thin anddrift apart. As it cleared away a figure could be seen standing in thecentre of it.
It was Jack, dazed and rubbing his eyes.
"Jack! Jack!" cried Molly, rushing toward him. "Oh, I am so glad! Areyou quite all right, Jack? Are you hurt?" She drew him out of the smoke.
"Hullo!" he said, gazing round. "Oh, I say, what's happened?"
He was soon told.
"And do you mean to say that I've been stowed away in an old pumpkin,and been rolling about all over the country?--well, I must have lookedan ass!" said Jack. "But I don't remember anything--only feel as ifI've been shut up somewhere and been to sleep." He found his handseized by one friend after another, and himself congratulated andquestioned by the crowd that gathered round him.
"And so it was your leaf that did the trick, Mr Papingay, was it?" saidJack, grasping that gentleman's hand and pumping it up and down. "Well,I'm blessed--you are a marvellous man!"
Which was just what Mr Papingay, his face wreathed in smiles, wasthinking about himself.