I hung back, afraid lest we be discovered and punished; but he
smiled again and spoke so reassuringly that I fled not, but watched
until the end.
"With his finger he tapped lightly on the front of the palace. None
of the masters heard him at first; so he tapped harder. Presently
one of them appeared, and flew at once before our faces. Had it not
been for the stranger's firm grasp I should have fled.
"The master saw that the stranger was the offender, and buzzed
angrily. Another moment, and the master would surely have returned
to the palace to inform the others; and then the stranger would have
been punished with the Head Out punishment. But instead the angel
very deliberately moved the blooming stick near unto the master; and
behold, it was helpless! Down it fell to the ground, dazed; I could
have picked it up, or killed it, without the slightest danger!
"Another master came out, and another, and another; and for each and
all the flowing blossom was too much! None would come near it
wittingly; and such as the angel approached with it were stricken
almost to death.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269