John Dough and the Cherub Page 11

  The Island Princess

  John settled the baker's hat (which was showing distinct signs ofhaving been frequently crumpled) upon his gingerbread head, picked upthe remains of his candy cane, and followed the guidance of the whiterabbit. Chick came after, tripping lightly along the path. Before theyhad gone very far beneath the bright-hued, mammoth foliage Pittypatgave a sudden whisk and disappeared from sight, having popped into ahole. John Dough, of course, stopped and gazed around with his glasseyes to see what had become of his new friend, and at the same momenta queer creature dropped from an overhead leaf and stood in the pathof the gingerbread man. Another followed, and still another, and thethree strange beings looked at John curiously, as if as much surprisedat the meeting as he could be. Chick pressed close to the side of thegingerbread man and stared with big eyes at the new arrivals.

  Perhaps nowhere else in all the world could be found such unusualcreatures as these Mifkets. Their heads had the appearance of coconuts,and were covered with coarse hair clipped close, and turning upwarduntil it ended in a sharp peak at the very top. Their faces were likeputty, with small, beady eyes that glittered brightly, flat noses, andwide, grinning mouths. The Mifkets bodies were shaped like pears, andtheir legs were short and their arms long. For clothing they wore gayleaves of the forest plants, twisted and woven together in quite aclever way; and taken all together, they were as unlike any creaturesthat inhabit our part of the world as can well be imagined.

  "Ah, these must be the beings called Mifkets," remarked John Dough,speaking aloud in a language he had never used before, but that seemedwell fitted to such creatures.

  "That's easy enough to guess," retorted one of the group, coming nearerto the gingerbread man and impudently thrusting forward its putty-likeface, which it wrinkled and distorted in a disturbing manner. "It'seasy enough to tell we're Mifkets; but what in the name of Jucklethubare you? And what strange child of the human's is this with you?"

  "I'm a gingerbread man," answered John, with dignity; "and this is myfriend Chick."

  "We know what a man is; and we know what a child is; but what'sgingerbread?" demanded another of the Mifkets.

  "_I'm_ gingerbread," said John.

  "We'll take your word for it," growled the third creature. And then itadded: "What are you doing here?"

  "Standing still, just now," said John, gravely.

  To his surprise all three began laughing at this reply, and they seemedso greatly amused that one hit another a merry cuff upon the ear,which he in turn passed on to the third. But the third--the growlingone--turned suddenly upon John Dough and gave him such a soundingcuff upon the side of his head that the blow dazed him for a moment.At this Chick doubled two fat fists and ran at the queer Mifkets sofiercely that they were greatly astonished at the angry buffets theyreceived, and fell back a few steps from the path. Immediately JohnDough recovered his wits and aimed a strong blow with the candy caneat the wild people of the forest. Much to his astonishment it sent allthree of them tumbling to the ground--one overturning the others. Forso great was the energy and strength lent to his gingerbread arm by themagic Elixir that the Mifkets could not stand before it.

  Chick laughed merrily at the howls of their enemies, who quicklyscrambled to their feet and leaped into the leaves of the giant plants,where they were hidden from sight. But the sound of their rapidretreat could be heard until it died away in the distance.

  Then the rabbit stuck its nose from the hole in which it had hidden andsaid:

  "Bravely done, little one. Bravely done, John Dough. Yet I warn youto beware these wicked Mifkets, who will now consider you both theirenemies."

  "I don't care," said Chick; "and I'm not afraid," added John, who wasquite pleased to find himself so powerful.

  "Well, let us continue our journey," suggested Pittypat; "for I wantyou to meet our sweet Princess. But I advise you, whenever you meetwith more of those Mifkets, to try to be friendly with them. There arehundreds of them, you know, and only two of you."

  "That sounds like good advice," acknowledged John.

  Again they started along the path, and presently it led them out ofthe forest to another part of the shore of the island, where a rockyheadland curved into the sea in the shape of a new moon, forming apretty bay, on which floated a small boat at anchor. On the inner edgeof this headland and facing the bay stood a tall plant, whose broadcolored leaves were bent downward to form a dome-shaped room, one leafbeing turned up to make an opening that served as a door.

  "You must whistle at the door, and the Princess will appear," saidPittypat. "I cannot talk with her as I do with you, Mr. Dough; so I'llleave you now, and run home to tell my folks of the new friends I havefound." With these parting words away darted the rabbit, and John andChick shyly approached the novel palace of the Princess.

  "Can you whistle, Chick?" asked the gingerbread man; and the Baby, inreply, made so shrill a sound through the puckered pink lips that Johngave a start of surprise.

  Almost immediately a girl appeared in the doorway of the plant-palace,and both John and Chick bowed low and then stood motionless to stareat the beautiful face that confronted them. For this mock Princess ofthe Mifkets was quite the loveliest and sweetest maiden that any onehas ever looked upon; and so round and innocent were her clear eyes andso gentle and winning her smile, that to see her but once was to loveher dearly. John did not marvel that the wild creatures of the foresthad set this girl apart as too hallowed to become either their slave orcompanion; and he instantly accepted this shipwrecked waif as a realPrincess, and from that moment worshipped loyally at her shrine.

  Chick, standing solidly with brown feet spread wide apart, chubby fistsclutching the last of the forest fruits, and tangled locks flowingcarelessly around the laughing face, was a strong contrast to thelittle lady who advanced from the door with dainty steps to welcome thestrangers. The Princess wore a gown of woven leaves plucked from theisland plants, but so slight and graceful was her form that any sort ofdress would be sure to seem fit and becoming if the maid wore it.

  "Hello!" said Chick. "We've come to see you."

  "I'm glad of that," answered the girl, in a soft voice, as she cameclose and kissed the Cherub's rosy mouth. "It has been dreadfullylonesome in this place without any one to play with or to keep mecompany. But may I inquire who you are?"

  "This is John Dough," answered the Cherub, briefly; "and I'm Chick."

  "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance," said the girl. "They call methe Princess; but that is in mockery, I am sure."

  "But are you not treated as a Princess?" asked John.

  "Yes; and that is why I am so lonely," the girl replied, sadly. "Thenaughty Mifkets have made my poor father and mother their slaves, andmock me by shutting me in this tree-house and calling it a palace andme a Princess. But really I am as much a slave as either of my dearparents."

  "Can't you go out if you want to?" asked Chick.

  "Oh, yes; but the island is small, and there is no one to play withexcept Pittypat, who is a white rabbit, and Para Bruin, who is abouncing brown bear."

  "What strange companions!" said John. "I've met Pittypat, and like thewhite rabbit very much; but a bouncing brown bear must be a dreadfulcreature."

  "Not at all, I assure you," returned the girl, earnestly. "Just waituntil you meet him, and you'll see that he couldn't hurt any one if hewould, and wouldn't if he could."

  "That's all right," said Chick.

  "But do the Mifkets ill-treat you in any way?" asked John.

  "Oh, no; until now they have done me no real injury whatever," thePrincess answered, "but their tempers are so hateful that I am inconstant fear of them. You must meet the Mifkets, of course, sinceyou cannot leave this island; and you must obey them as we all do. Butperhaps Mr. Dough, being made of gingerbread, will be treated with morerespect than human beings are."

  "Or with less," said John, with a shudder. "Nevertheless, we will meetthe Mifkets boldly, and I am not going to make myself unhappy
by beingafraid of them."

  "Nor I," said Chick. "They're only beasts."

  "Then, if you will please follow me, I will lead you to the king'svillage," said the girl; "and there you may see my father and mother."

  "Very well," agreed John. "But I must tell you that we have alreadyencountered three of these creatures, and defeated them easily."

  "I pounded 'em like sixty," added the Cherub, with a nod and a laugh.

  THE KING OF THE MIFKETS]

  The Princess led them by a path deep into the forest, passingunderneath the broad leaves of the plants, which were so thick thatthey almost shut out the daylight and made the way gloomy and fearsome.But before long a big clearing was reached, in the center of which wasa rocky mound with a broad, flat stone at the very top. All aroundwere houses made by bending down the huge leaves of the plants andfastening them to the ground with wooden pegs, thus forming circularrooms. None of these houses seemed quite so handsome as the palaceof the Princess; but they were big and of many colors, and when ourfriends stepped into the clearing a swarm of the Mifket people crowdedout of the doorways to surround the strangers and gaze upon themcuriously.

  Upon the flat stone in the center of the clearing reclined an agedMifket, who was lazily sunning himself, and who seemed to pay noattention to the chattering of his fellows. Yet it was toward thisstone that the Princess, after a half-frightened look at its occupant,led her new friends; and all the Mifkets, big and little, followed themand formed a circle around them and the aged one.

  "This is the King," whispered the girl. "Be careful not to anger him."

  Then she knelt humbly before the flat stone that served as a throne,and John Dough knelt beside her. But Chick stood upright and laughed atthe sight of the lazy Mifket King reclining before them.

  The short, coarse hair that covered the head of the King was white,proving him to be very old; and his raiment was woven of pure whiteleaves, distinguishing him from all the others of his band. But he wasnot especially dignified in appearance.

  Hearing the murmur around him the King slowly rolled his fat body overand sat up, rubbing his eyes to clear them of the cobwebs of sleep.Then he looked upon John and Chick and gave a grunt. Immediately alittle man rushed out of a dwelling just back of the throne and hurriedto the King with a gourd filled with water. This the aged Mifket drankgreedily, and while he was thus occupied the Princess grasped the handof the little man and pressed it affectionately.

  "This is my father," she whispered to John Dough and Chick.

  The little man seemed fussy and nervous, but perhaps this was causedby the fear in which he constantly lived. There was little hair uponhis head, but he wore chin whiskers that were bright red in color andluxuriant in growth, and harmonized nicely with his light blue eyes.He wore a faded and ragged suit of blue clothes, to which he haddoubtless clung ever since the days when he had been shipwrecked andcast upon this island.

  John Dough was about to express in polite words his pleasure in meetingthe father of the Princess, when the King, having finished drinking,suddenly flung the gourd at the little man's head. He ducked to escapeit and the gourd struck the forehead of a big Mifket just behind andmade a sound like the crack of a whip. At once the big Mifket--who wasremarkable for having black hair upon his head instead of the dingybrown that was common to all the Mifkets--uttered a roar of rage andaimed a blow at the bald head of the luckless slave. But the little manducked this blow also, and then scampered away to the royal dwelling asfast as his thin legs could carry him.

  "Let him go," said the King, speaking sleepily in the Mifket language.Then he turned to the black one and asked: "Who are these creatures,Ooboo? and how came they here?"

  "I don't know," answered Black Ooboo, sulkily; "the girl brought them."

  THE MIFKETS HOWLED WITH DELIGHT]

  "Perhaps I can explain," said John Dough, speaking in their language."My friend Chick and I arrived here but a short time ago in aflying-machine, which unfortunately broke down and prevented us fromgetting away again."

  The Mifkets looked at the gingerbread man in astonishment. Not becausethey had any idea what a flying-machine might be, but to hear their ownlanguage spoken by so queer a personage, filled them with amazement.

  "Are you one of those miserable creatures called humans?" asked theKing, blinking his eyes at the gingerbread man.

  "I cannot, in truth, claim to be precisely human," replied John, "butit is certain that I possess a degree of human wisdom. It comes fromthe Elixir, you know."

  "What are you made of?" demanded the King, who was certainly puzzled byJohn's words.

  Now, the gingerbread man realized that if he told the Mifkets he wasgood to eat he would soon be destroyed; so he answered:

  "I am made of a kind of material known only to civilized men. In fact,I am very different from all the rest of the world."

  The King didn't understand, and when he didn't understand it made himvery tired.

  "Oh, well," said he, lying back in the sun, "just make yourself athome here, and see that you don't bother me by getting in my way."

  That might have ended the interview had not Black Ooboo, scowling andangry, stepped forward and said:

  "If the stranger is to live with us he must fight for the right to livein peace. It is our custom, your Majesty."

  "So it is," returned the King, waking up again. "The stranger mustfight."

  At this decision all the Mifkets howled with delight, and Chick and thePrincess began to be uneasy about their friend. But John said, calmly:

  "I have never fought with any one, your Majesty; but I'll do the best Ican. With whom must I fight?"

  "Why, with Black Ooboo, I suppose," said the King; "and if you canmanage to give him a sound thrashing I'll be your friend for life."

  Ooboo scowled first at the King and then at John, and all the otherMifkets scowled with him, for the black one was seemingly a greatfavorite among them.

  "Whatever material you may be made of, bold stranger," he said, "Ipromise to crush you into bits and trample you into the dust."

  Then the crowd having pressed backward, the black Mifket sprang uponthe gingerbread man, with long, hairy arms outstretched as if to clutchhim. But John was quicker than his foe. He grasped Ooboo about thewaist, lifted him high in the air--big and heavy though he was--andflung him far over the throne whereon the King squatted. The blackone crashed into the leaves of a forest plant and then tumbled to theground, where he lay still for a moment to recover from his surpriseand the shock of defeat.

  The rabble of Mifkets didn't applaud the fall of their champion, butthey looked upon the gingerbread man with wonder. And the King was sopleased that he laughed aloud.

  "Well done, stranger," said he. "Ooboo needed to be taken down a peg,and you did it very neatly. Now get away, all of you, and leave me tosleep." He proceeded to curl himself up once more upon the flat stone,and the Mifkets obeyed his command and stole away to their dwellings.John advanced to where Chick and the Princess stood, and the Cherubpatted him on the hand and said:

  "I'd no idea you could do it, John. Wasn't it lovely, Princess, to seehim toss that black beast like a foot-ball?"

  "I'm glad your friend won the fight," answered the girl; "but BlackOoboo is a dangerous enemy, and even the King is afraid of him. Nowcome with me, please. I want you to meet my dear mother, who isunfortunately degraded to the position of the King's cook."

  They entered with the Princess into the royal dwelling, where a womanquickly seized the girl in a warm embrace and kissed her tenderly.When Chick managed to get a full view of the woman she was seen to benearly as round as an apple in form, with an apple's rosy cheeks, andwith cute corkscrew curls of an iron-gray color running from her earsdown to her neck. When her daughter entered she had been busily engagedcooking a vegetable stew for the King's dinner, nor dared she pauselong in her work for fear of the King's anger.

  Chick was dreadfully sorry for these poor shipwrecked people, thuscompelled to be slaves to the fierce Mifket
s, and hoped they might findsome way to escape. The little man with the red whiskers presentlycrept in and joined them, and they had a long talk together and triedto think of a plan to leave the island, but without success. Yet Johnencouraged them to believe a way would soon be found, and they all hadgreat confidence in his ability to save the entire party; for he hadproved himself both wise and powerful.

  While they were still talking the King rolled his fat body intothe dwelling and demanded his dinner, at the same time orderingthe Princess to get back to her own palace and to stay there. Buthe favored John Dough by sending several of the Mifkets to build adwelling for the gingerbread man and the Incubator Baby just besidethat of the little Princess, which pleased them all very much.