With a roar of pain and rage the wicked Jingles swung his crooked stick at Gran’pa’s head. Gran’pa warded off the blow with his own polished cane and, using it as a sword, he jabbed old Jingles in the stomach. The Magician swung his large crooked stick again, and Gran’pa again poked him in the stomach, and then, as the wicked creature backed away, Gran’pa gave him a smart tap on the head, sending his tall hat spinning down the steps. The Princess had recovered and was watching the duel with fascination. Gran’ma was struggling between Janey and Mrs. Tiptoe. “Let me go!” she cried. “Let me get to him! I’ll tweak his nose! He shan’t hurt Gran’pa! Let me go!” But Janey and Mrs. Tiptoe held her and tried to watch at the same time. “Why don’t the people help?” Gran’ma cried. “Let me go, I tell you! I’ll show him, the wicked old thing!” Gran’pa had just swung his cane at the Magician’s head again hoping to finish him with one more blow, but the Magician stepped to one side and struck Gran’pa on the head, sending him to his knees. Gran’pa, however much the blow hurt, never uttered a groan, and as he struggled dizzily to his feet he tried to ward off the blows that old Jingles showered upon him. Part of the blows Gran’pa received on his left arm, the others slid harmlessly off his cane. Gran’pa backed away from the Magician and his face was worried, for the blow upon his head had made Gran’pa weak in the knees. But although he dodged and gave ground Gran’pa waited for an opening and at last, as the Magician missed a swing at Gran’pa’s head, Gran’pa drew his cane back over his shoulder and brought it down with all his might upon old Jingles’ crown. The blow was of such force it would have broken the Magician’s head if the cane had not split in two, and as it was the wicked man staggered from the blow. Gran’pa, with but the handle of his cane in his hand, jumped forward to strike again, but he missed his footing and went rolling down the stone steps. When Gran’pa fell in front of the Magician, the Princess, Janey and Mrs. Tiptoe started running. “Run for your lives!” cried the Princess. “He will change all of us into animals! Run!” [Illustration: Catching his long nose in her hands she gave it a tweak. (page 145)] The Magician staggered after Gran’pa who had rolled clear to the bottom of the long flight of steps. The Magician in his anger did not see Johnny or the Chief of Detectives, who still sat in a daze part of the way down the steps, so as he passed them, Johnny stuck his foot out and tripped up the Magician. Down the long flight of steps the Magician fell, his long arms and legs hitting the steps and his crooked stick flying high in the air as he turned over and over. Johnny, though still dazed, got to his feet and started down the steps, hoping he could get the Magician’s crooked stick.