"It's another faller," said giant Candlemen other "Two fallers in one day ! exciting-an 'Ouch' it calls itself ! "

"I don't care what it calls itself," answered the second Candleman crossly "I call it mighty rude How dare you blow out our king ? " shouted the hot-headed fellow, shaking his fist Elegant Elephant "Here, some of you, light him up ! "

"Blow out your King ? " gasped Kabumpo in amazement Sure enough, he had There at his feet lay the King Candles, stiff and lifeless and with never head to bless himself with While the Elegant Elephant stared long candlestick figure fat little Candleman rushed forward and lit own head the small black wick sticking King's collar

Instantly the ruddy flame face King appeared, his eyes snapping dangerously Jumping feet he advanced toward Pompadore " your Ouch ? " spluttered the King, jerking his thumb at Kabumpo " take him away at once I never was so put out in my life Me, the hand-dipped King whole Illumi Nation, blown out by bumpy creature without any headlight Where's your headlight ? " he demanded fiercely, leaning over the Prince and dropping hot tallow down his neck

Pompa jumped up in hurry and backed toward Kabumpo "Be careful how you talk to him," roared the Elegant Elephant, swaying backwards and forward like big ship "He's Prince the Prince of Pumperdink ! " Kabumpo tossed his trunk threateningly

"A Prince ? " spluttered the King, changing his tone instantly "Well, that's different Prince can fall in on us and welcome but an Ouch ! Why bring this great clumsy Ouch along ? " He rolled his eyes mournfully at Kabumpo

"He's not an Ouch," explained Pompa, who was gradually recovering shock fall " Kabumpo, an Elegant Elephant, and he blew you out by mistake Didn't you, Kabumpo ? "

"Purely an accident-nothing intentional, I assure you," chuckled Kabumpo beginning to enjoy himself "If there's any more trouble I'll blow 'em all out," he reflected comfortably, "for they're nothing but great big candles "

Seeing their King in friendly conversation strangers, the other Candlemen came closer-too close for comfort, They were always leaning over and dropping hot tallow on body heat from their flaming heads was simply suffocating

"Sing the National Air ," said the Candle King carelessly Candlemen, in their queer crackling voices, sang the following song, swaying rhythmically tune:

"Flicker, flicker, Candlemen, Cheer our King and cheer again ! Neat as wax and always bright, Cheer's the King of candle light !

Kindle lightly windle slightly, Here we burn both day and nightly, Here good times to burn Till goes out in turn "

" ," said Pompa, mopping his head silk handkerchief

" ," Kabumpo groaned plaintively, great elephant was nearly stifled

"How so tall and thin ? " asked Pompa after an awkward pause

"How so short and lumpy and unevenly dipped ? " responded King Cheer promptly "If I were in your place," Kabumpo contemptuous glance, "I'd have myself redipped Where are your wicks ? And how walk about without being lighted ? "

"We're not fireworks," puffed Kabumpo indignantly and then shrill scream Ten Candlemen tottered and went out, falling ground with great clatter Then Pompa leaped several feet air scream put out five more

"Stop ! " cried King Cheer angrily "Stand where ! " But Kabumpo and Pompa neither stopped nor stood where they were The Elegant Elephant rushed over Prince and threw his heavy robe over his head And just , for Pompa's golden locks were mass of flames Then the Prince tore off his velvet jacket and clapped it to Kabumpo's tail, which also was blazing merrily

"Great Grump ! " rumbled the Elegant Elephant furiously, when he had extinguished Pompa and Pompa had extinguished him "I'll put you all out ! " He raised his trunk and pointed it straight Candlemen, who cowered far corner

" only trying to light you up," wailed little fellow, holding out his hands pleadingly " that was your wick " He pointed trembling finger at Kabumpo's tail and another at Pompa's head

"Wick ! " snorted Kabumpo in rage while the Prince ran his hand sorrowfully through his once luxuriant pompadour, nothing but short stubble remained-"Wick ! What would we be doing with wicks ? "

"I don't think he meant any harm," put in Pompadore, whose kind heart was touched little Candleman's terror "And it wouldn't any "

"Thought my wick," shrilled Kabumpo, glancing over his shoulder at his poor scorched tail "He's wicked little wretch He's ruined your looks "

" ! " Pompa sighed dismally "No one will want to marry me now It's all coming true, Kabumpo, just as Count It Up said Remember ? 'If thin Prince sets out on fat elephant Proper Princess, yards of fringe will the elephant lose robe and how bald will the Prince be end journey ? ' And we've scarcely begun ! "

"Great haystacks ! " whistled Kabumpo, his little eyes twinkling "So lost every bit of fringe from my robe and my tail and half the back robe besides nice, say

"We only tried warm welcome," said the King timidly

"Warm welcome ! Well think ," sniffed Kabumpo "How do we get out of here ? "

"Oh, that's very simple," said the King, cheering up "Tommy, go Snuffer "

Before Kabumpo or Pompa realized what mean little Candleman named Tommy Tallow had returned with tall black candle person He stepped side wall, quickly jerked rope and down over Kabumpo dropped great brass snuffer and over the Prince another

"That ought the cross old things out," Pompa heard the King say just before his snuffer reached the floor

" terrible," fumed the poor Prince, thumping sides huge brass dome " have stayed at home and disappeared comfortably My poor old father and my mother ! I wonder where now ? "

Sunk in gloomy reflection, Pompadore leaned against the side snuffer And one cannot blame him for feeling dismal The fall down the deep passage, the shock of losing his hair and now imprisonment under stifling brass dome were enough to extinguish the hopes stoutest hearted adventurer

" never find Proper Princess ! " wailed Pompa, tying and untying his handkerchief But just then creak from without great dome lifted as suddenly as it had fallen-so suddenly that Pompa fell flat back There stood Kabumpo winding up the long rope trunk and grumbling furiously all the while

"Takes more than snuffer me down," wheezed the Elegant Elephant, hurrying over and jerking the Prince feet "Three humps shoulders and off she goes ! What makes it so dark ? "

"The Candlemen have all gone," sighed Pompa, brushing his hand wearily across his forehead "All except that one "

In distant corner sat Tommy Tallow light head only light great chamber reading book with tin leaves and looked up in surprise when the Elegant Elephant and Pompadore approaching Then he started to sputter and ran toward bell rope side chamber

"Stop ! " shouted Kabumpo, "or I'll blow off your head ! " At little Candleman trembled so violently that his flame head almost went out

"Now suppose you show us the way out," snapped the Elegant Elephant, stamping one big foot until the floor trembled

" burn out ! " gasped Tommy faintly "That's what ! "

"Don't say out," whispered Pompa anxiously " away from here," he explained earnestly "Back top ground, "

"Oh ! " whistled Tommy Tallow, his face lighting up "That's easy- , please ! " He almost ran to big door at one side room and tugging it open, waved them through

"Goodbye ! " , slamming the door quickly behind them

Kabumpo Prince found themselves in wide dim hallway It slanted up gradually and there were tall candle guards stationed about hundred yards apart all way

" going to birthday party or wedding ? " asked the first guard, passed him

"Wedding," sniffed Kabumpo "Why ? "

"Well, hardly any candles go out of here unless they're needed for birthday or wedding," explained the guard, shifting his big feet "You're mighty poorly made though What kind of candles call yourselves ? "

"Roman," chuckled Kabumpo with wink "We roam around," he added ponderously

"Do all the candles used above ground come from here ? " asked Pompa curiously

"Certainly," replied the guard "All candles come from Illumi don't like to leave either because they strike the upper air they shrink down to ordinary cake and candlestick size Distressing, isn't it ? "

"I suppose it ," smiled Pompadore "Goodbye ! " The guard touched his flame hat and Kabumpo quickened his pace

" air," rumbled the great elephant, panting along as fast as go "I've seen and felt about all I care and feel Illumi Nation "

"So have I ! " The Prince of Pumperdink touched his scorched locks and sighed deeply "I'm afraid Ozma will never marry me now, and Pumperdink will disappear forever ! "

"Don't be Gooch ! " snapped the Elegant Elephant shortly "Our adventures have only begun "

They passed the rest guards without further conversation, and after about two hours came end long tiled passageway and stepped upon firm ground again

Kabumpo was terribly out of breath, whole way up hill For full minute he stood sniffing the fresh night air Then, turning around, he looked opening through which they had come Not sign passage anywhere !

"That's curious," puffed the Elegant Elephant "But never mind We don't want back anyway

" say not," gasped the Prince wearily "Where are we now, Kabumpo ? "

"Still Gilliken country, , but headed right direction All is going South," said the Elegant Elephant cheerfully

"But we've had nothing to eat since morning," objected Pompadore

"That's so," agreed Kabumpo, scratching his head thoughtfully, "and not house in sight ! "

"But I smell something cooking," insisted the Prince, sniffing hungrily

"So do I," said the Elegant Elephant, lifting his trunk, "and it smells like soup Let's follow our noses, Pompa, my boy "