"We shall all go with you," began the wily story-teller, looking out of the corner of his eye to see how his scheme was taking, "and help you to regain your place in your own land." "I cannot go back, because they would kill me; and besides, if I told them what I have seen today, they would laugh me to scorn." "We shall go and force them to take you back!" exclaimed Tom. "But I do not want to go back," answered the little man. "This is a glorious country. Our sun does not shine so brightly as yours. If my people only knew the truth, they would never think of their country as the greatest and best one. It is a poor gloomy world." "But!" pleaded Madge, "you can return with us when we have fulfilled our mission of proving what you told the king." Pietas agreed, on these terms, and turning on his heels, beckoned them to follow. All started after him, and when they got to the hole that the midget had come out of, he sprang lightly down a small embankment and disappeared through the opening into a cave below. "Come!" said Tom, jumping in after him, "let us hurry." They all followed without hesitation. Uncle Rupert was the last to go down. When they had gone about a quarter of a mile through the underground passage, it became so dark that they lost their way. "I wonder where Pietas is?" shouted Uncle Rupert. "The rascal has deserted us. Come, boys, let us call his name." The children screamed, "Pietas!" three or four times, and then the little fellow appeared with a lantern. "What do you mean by deserting us, Pietas?" asked Uncle Rupert. "I was hoping you would not follow me," answered the dwarf; "and I was wishing that you would get tired and give up the venture. It may mean death to us all." Fear now showed itself in the company, and some wanted to turn back, but others begged Uncle Rupert to go on, and after much talk it was decided to proceed. Tom was chosen leader, Pietas and Uncle Rupert were the guides, and in double column they began their journey. Suddenly as they strode along at a brisk pace, the earth slid from beneath them, and they fell feet first, down, down--they did not know where. Filled with terror, they could only think of what might happen when they struck something. At last, with a great jolt, they landed and went sprawling in all directions. When they scrambled to their feet they were glad to be alive, and for a few moments they stood there panting and wondering. "Well, of all things!" exclaimed Uncle Rupert, "that was a terrible fall! I wonder where we are now? Tell us, Pietas." Pietas said they had fallen three miles. But the force of gravity being not so strong near the center of the earth they did not fall as fast as they would have fallen near the surface. They were near his own kingdom, he said, and a walk of about a hundred yards would bring them to the alligator's tail.