was not much harm done, for the multitude was still in prison. The water was nearly gone, beginning to leave the very roots of the long tangles uncovered. At length the queen could bear it no longer.
“Look here, Colin,” she said; “I wish you well.”
And as she spoke she rose and descended the side of the rock towards the water now far below her. She had to be very cautious too, the stones were so slippery, though there was none of Dottlecob’s wax there. About halfway below where the surface of the pool had been, she stopped, and pushed a stone aside. Colin saw what seemed the entrance to a cave inside the rock. The queen went in. A few moments after she came out wringing her hands.
“Oh dear! oh dear! What shall I do?” she cried, “You horrid thick people will grow so. He’s grown to such a size that I can’t get him out.”
“Will you let him go if I get him out?” asked Colin.
“I will, I will. We shall all be starved to death for want of seawater if I don’t,” she answered.
“Swear by the cobbler’s awl and the cobbler’s wax,” said Colin.
“I swear,” said the queen.
“By the cobbler’s awl and the cobbler’s wax,” insisted Colin.
“I swear by the cobbler’s awl and the cobbler’s wax,” returned the queen.
“In the name of your people?”
“In the name of my people,” said the queen, “that none of us here present will ever annoy you or your family hereafter.”
“Then I’ll come down,” said Colin, and jumped into the basin. With the cobbler’s awl he soon cleared a big opening into the rock, for it bored