"My scales ! but some tumble take it easy and fall slower, or I'm likely dizzy very far other side world ? "

"Haven't you ever been Tube before ? " inquired Shaggy

"Never Nor has anyone else country; , not since born "

"How ? " asked Betsy

"That born ? Oh, not very I'm only mere child If I sent journey, celebrated my three thousand and fifty-sixth birthday next Thursday Mother was going me birthday cake with three thousand and fifty-six candles ; but now, , no celebration, for get home "

"Three thousand and fifty-six years ! " cried Betsy "Why, I had no idea anything could live that long ! "

"My respected Ancestor, whom call stupid old humbug if I reformed, is so old that mere baby compared ," said Quox "He dates beginning world, and insists on telling us stories of things that happened fifty thousand , which are of no interest at all to youngsters like me , Grandpa isn't He lives altogether , so 't see any good reason being alive to-day . . people able your way, or shall I turn on more light ? "

"Oh, very nicely, ; only there's nothing but ourselves," answered Betsy

true The dragon's big eyes were like headlights on an automobile and illuminated the Tube far ahead Also he curled his tail upward so electric light end of it enabled them one another quite clearly But the Tube itself was only dark metal, smooth as glass but exactly the same from one ends other Therefore no scenery of interest to beguile the journey

They were now falling so gently trip was proving entirely comfortable, Jinjin had promised it ; but this meant longer journey only way make time pass was to engage in conversation The dragon seemed willing and persistent talker and of interest encouraged him to chatter His voice was little gruff but not unpleasant when one became used

"My only fear," said he presently, "is constant sliding over the surface Tube will dull my claws , this hole isn't straight down, but on steep slant, and so instead of tumbling freely air skate along the Tube Fortunately, file in my tool- kit, and claws get dull sharpened again "

"Why sharp claws ? " asked Betsy

" my natural weapons, and not forget that sent to conquer Ruggedo "

"Oh, you needn't mind ," remarked Queen Ann, in her most haughty manner; "for when we get to Ruggedo I and my invincible Army can conquer him without your assistance "

" ," returned the dragon, cheerfully " save me lot of bother-- succeed But file my claws, just the same "

long sigh, as this, and sheet of flame, several feet in length, shot mouth Betsy shuddered and Hank said "Hee-haw ! " while officers screamed in terror But the dragon notice that he had done anything unusual

" fire inside of you ? " asked Shaggy

" ," answered Quox "What sort of dragon would I be fire went out ? "

"What keeps it going ? " Betsy inquired

"I've no idea I only know it's there," said Quox "The fire keeps me alive and enables me to move; also and speak "

"Ah ! ver-y much like my-self," said Tik-Tok "The on-ly dif-fer-ence I move by clock-work, while you move by fire "

"I don't see particle of likeness , confess," retorted Quox, gruffly " live thing; you're dummy "

"But do things, ad-mit," said Tik-Tok

"Yes, wound up," sneered the dragon "But run down, helpless "

"What would happen , Quox, ran out of gasoline ? " inquired Shaggy, who like this attack upon his friend

"I don't use gasoline "

"Well, suppose you ran out of fire "

"What's the use of supposing that ? " asked Quox "My great-great-great-grandfather has lived world began, and he has never once run out of fire him going But confide that as he gets older he shows more smoke and less fire As for Tik-Tok, he's well enough way, but he's merely copper Metal Monarch knows copper through and through I wouldn't be surprised if Ruggedo melted Tik-Tok in one furnaces and made copper pennies of him "

" case, still keep going," remarked Tik-Tok, calmly

"Pennies do," said Betsy regretfully

" all nonsense," said the Queen, with irritation "Tik-Tok is my great Army--all but the officers--and I believe to conquer Ruggedo with ease What , Polychrome ? "

" let him try," answered the Rainbow's Daughter, with her sweet ringing laugh, that sounded like the tinkling of tiny bells "And if Tik-Tok fails, still the big fire- breathing dragon back on "

"Ah ! " said the dragon, another sheet of flame gushing mouth and nostrils; "it's wise little girl, this Polychrome Anyone would know fairy "

Chapter Fourteen

The Long-Eared Hearer Learns by Listening

During Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch and King Nomes, was trying to amuse himself splendid jeweled cavern hard work for Ruggedo amusement to-day, for all the nomes were behaving well and no one to scold or to punish The King had thrown his sceptre at Kaliko six times, without hitting him once Not that Kaliko had done anything wrong contrary, he had obeyed the King in every way but one: stand still, when commanded , and let the heavy sceptre strike him

hardly blame Kaliko , and even the cruel Ruggedo forgave him; for that if he mashed his Royal Chamberlain never find another so intelligent and obedient Kaliko could nomes work when their King , nomes hated Ruggedo and there were thousands quaint little underground people that easily have rebelled and defied the King had they dared Sometimes, when Ruggedo abused them worse than usual, they grew sullen and threw down their hammers and picks Then, however hard the King scolded or whipped them, not work until Kaliko came and begged them to For Kaliko was one of themselves and was abused King as any nome vast series of caverns

But to-day all the little people were working industriously at their tasks and Ruggedo, having nothing , was greatly bored He sent Long-Eared Hearer and asked him to listen carefully and report going on big world

"It seems," said the Hearer, after listening for awhile, " women in America have clubs "

"Are there spikes ? " asked Ruggedo, yawning

" hear any spikes, Your Majesty," reply

"Then their clubs as good as my sceptre What else hear ? '

"There's war

"Bah ! there's always war What else ? "

For time the Hearer was silent, bending forward and spreading out his big ears to catch the slightest sound Then suddenly :

" an interesting thing, Your Majesty These people are arguing who shall conquer the Metal Monarch, seize his treasure and drive him dominions "

"What people ? " demanded Ruggedo, sitting up straight throne

"The ones you threw down the Hollow Tube "

"Where are they now ? "

" same Tube, and coming back ," said the Hearer

Ruggedo got out throne and began to pace up and down the cavern

"I wonder what to stop them," he mused

"Well," said the Hearer, " turn the Tube upside down, falling the other way, Your Majesty "

Ruggedo glared at him wickedly, for impossible the Tube upside down and he believed the Hearer was slyly poking fun at him Presently he asked:

"How far away are those people now ? "

"About nine thousand three hundred and six miles, seventeen furlongs, eight feet and four inches--as nearly as judge sound voices," replied the Hearer

"Aha ! Then arrive," said Ruggedo, "and get here ready to receive them "

He rushed gong and pounded upon it so fiercely that Kaliko came bounding cavern with one shoe off and one shoe on, for just dressing himself after swim hot bubbling lake Underground Kingdom