His Majesty's little weazened face turned very grave at the recital. "Still, Florimel, I would not worry," he said. "I will caution all the band to keep a sharp look-out for the rascal. And do you, my son, woo and win, Titania, for my blessing will fall upon you both." [Illustration] To that end Florimel exerted himself, but it was an easy task, since Titania loved him fully as dearly as he her. So when they were seated once at twilight on a stone bench in the palace-garden, very close to each other, he asked the question ever trembling on his lips, and she did not say him nay. Then Florimel took a slender circlet of gold and placed it on her tiny engagement finger. But, while she first looked at it, then pressed it very tenderly to her little red pouting lips, the Red Spirit suddenly darted from behind the bench, where he had been eavesdropping all the while. Before Florimel could reach for an arrow the other flew off in the air and disappeared. "What was that?" Titania cried, in great alarm. Florimel strove to ease her mind, though he was much alarmed himself. He felt that the Red Spirit was going to make trouble. [Illustration] CHAPTER IX THE COMPACT WITH VULCAN [Illustration] Over the sea Dragonfel the enchanter waited with increasing impatience for the Human Octopus to return with whatever information he might glean in his prowling, sneaking manner. When his grotesque emissary did not put in a prompt appearance he grew more surly and ill-humored than ever. He vented his rage upon the poor little mine-sprites by increasing their working-hours and decreasing their allowance of carrot-tops and potato-skins. Whenever he spoke to his followers their knees knocked together with fright. At no time was he gentle, but when he was particularly violent, which was nearly always, he was a very bad person who could be well avoided. So he became even crankier and crosser-grained than ever, till all around him quaked with fear. He wondered why the Human Octopus did not come back, and his inexplicable delay filled him with ungovernable fury. "He's not attending to business," he said, grinding his teeth with rage. "Instead of snooping he's just going around, and having a good time. But wait till he gets back, and I'll show him!" As he spoke these words he happened to be in his throne room, and he went to the open window to look out. It was a wild, terrible night, but the worse the weather was the more Dragonfel liked it. [Illustration] The lightning zig-zagged all over the inky black sky, the thunder roared, the wind howled, and the rain beat down in slanting torrents. "Vulcan must have some little job on hand," Dragonfel pondered, as he returned to his throne. Scarcely had he done so when there came a sudden fierce gust of wind that blew the Red Spirit through the window right to his very feet where he cringed and grovelled and fawned in the most abject manner.