These instructions they faithfully carried out; the Prince, meantime,
watching their work with the utmost interest.
When, as he judged, they had gotten to within a few inches of the flat
brown stones which formed the trap-door entrance to the Well, he
ordered them to retire; and calling to those friends who on the
previous occasion had seen it opened, he placed them in charge pending
further orders. He then instructed one of his Officers to parade the
entire Company close to the Well upon its Eastern side. This done,
standing upon some of the freshly thrown out earth, he told them that
in a few minutes they should witness a most engaging sight. In
clear-cut language he followed this statement with a brief narrative of
the finding of the Well; its fascinating history as related to him by
his father; and an outline of his intentions with regard to the
building of the Fairy City. In this project, he added, he expected to
receive their willing co-operation and assistance; an expectation which
his confidence in them led him to believe, would be fully realised!
As might have been expected, the speech was received with vociferous
applause, which applause almost reached a roar, when, at a wave of his
hand, amidst the greatest curiosity and excitement, his trusty officers
within the Well, opened the door, and a great stream of clear, cool,
crystal water shot fountain-like into the air!
If they had dared, they would at once have broken from their ranks and
rushed pell-mell to the side of the Well to see from whence the Water
came; but, too thoroughly trained to break discipline, they waited the
command to dismiss.
Before dismissing them, however, the Prince ordered the cooks and
kitchen assistants to retire and prepare an extra special open air
supper. This, he said, was not only to indicate his pleasure at the
fact that at last they had arrived at the scene of their future
operations, but in token of his admiration of the way in which they had
borne themselves throughout the trials and terrors of their long and
arduous march. They were then released from duty; and whilst the meal
was preparing, occupied the time in a most minute examination of the
Well and its surroundings.
Just as supper was about to be served, and when everyone was in place,
the Prince rose and said: “Before partaking of the dainty viands now
before us, I wish you all, on this historic and maybe sacred occasion,
to rise and drink with me, in the waters of the Magic Well, all success
and enduring prosperity to the greatest enterprise ever initiated in
Austral Fairy Land ‘The Building of the Fairy City!’” Immediately all
stood up, and with cheers that almost reached the sky, quaffed a fairy
flagon of clearest water to the Prince’s Toast.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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