His fleet little feet padded along the sand, followed by others equally so, and he led them a stiff pace for perhaps a mile down the beach. There lying behind a dune that offered a shelter from the creeping tides they viewed the cause of all his excitement. Scattered on the sand were some dingy old frayed uniforms, caps, and hob-nailed shoes, of which they counted five complete sets in all, while near by piled into a heap were some immense brass musical instruments, some bent and battered in places and all tarnished by the weather. [Illustration] Soon they were making a minute inspection of these objects which for some inexplicable reason had been abandoned by their owners. The uniforms and caps were of worn blue cloth, and the latter had visors and braids of gold around them. The sleeves of the coats likewise were braided with gold. With much interest in their work the Brownies began to separate the instruments that formed a heap. There were two cornets, a saxophone, a trombone, and a tremendous tuba that wound around and around and had a mouth so big that a Brownie could have easily crawled inside. While they were examining the outfit there was much speculation as to whom it belonged, and the only conclusion they could arrive at was that the original possessors had been some itinerant German band. It was not so strange to them that a German band should be in Dragonfel's enchanted country, for they knew that German bands go everywhere. Sometimes they can be found even at the North Pole. The only strange thing about it was that while the uniforms and instruments were there, the owners were missing. "I wonder what's become of the band?" said King Stanislaus, very much puzzled. "Perhaps someone heard them play," suggested the Dude. His Majesty gave a sudden start. "Humph!" he grunted. "What you have just hinted at rather unsettles an idea that suddenly occurred to me." "Maybe you were thinking of the same thing I was," said the Policeman. "That's very possible," said the monarch, "for great minds sometimes think alike. I was thinking that some of us could disguise ourselves as a German band and maybe gain admittance to the palace." "That's just what I was thinking," said the Policeman. "In that way," went on King Stanislaus, "we might be able to get some knowledge of Dragonfel's real strength, and find out just how we stood. The chance might come to us to spirit away Queen Titania and her companions." "Which of us would you choose, Your Majesty?" asked an eager Brownie. All of them crowded around, each with the hope that King Stanislaus would select him for this task which involved so great a risk. He looked them over, and finally, with his mind made up, spoke, in slow, measured tones.