Prince Lazybones and Other Stories

ones estate in the brightness of noon, the dewy dawn, or dusky eve, or later when the m

t of a student or professor and that of a miner, for on his bushy head was a miner's cap with a lantern, and on his back was a student's gown, while his thin legs

f, making at the same time a deep bow and a military salute, but with no raising of the cap from which the little lantern gleamed with a brig

us go; I lead

nded Leo, rising from

if accustomed to it, and paused before a

lar?" asked Leo, who kn

s bother me. Be so good as to open and close them for me. By

Leo, following, and

nd it was wonderful how much ligh

ng over the stones, and Leo found himself quite breathless when th

meet some on

if you are afraid of a scullion or house-maid you are not t

ace, fell over the empty bins and wine-vaults. From a heap of w

he had not cared to explore it. He now followed the elf through it, but not without misgivings, for as he groped along he stepped on a round o

e when he saw Leo's agit

e is another proof that there are no ghosts about. Do you think any one would be so careless of his knowledge-box as to leave it to be kicked

, who every once in a while gave a tap on t

have a sensible purpose; but they like nothing better than to frighten people, and so they make these noises at all hours, and get u

which he did not feel, and asked his guid

dea how much I am interested in you; this expedition has been planned entirely for your benefit. Trust me, then, and give yourself entirely up to my control. Ask as many questions as you wish, provided they are useful ones. Just say, without ceremony, 'Knops, why is this? or, Knops, what

fragrant and spicy, and a beam as of moonlight began to illuminate the passage, which broadened until they stood at its termina

erns in their caps, and tools in their hands. Some were hammering at great bowlders, others with picks were working in passages similar to the one Leo had left, and others seemed to be turning lathes, sharpening knives, cutting and polishing heaps of brillian

shing fire which reflected from all sides of the brilliant quartz of the ca

"but not the most important. Now that you ha

ing roses, and on slender spears were lilies of pearls and daisies of diamonds, and blending with these were vines of honeysuckle and strawberries, gleaming with sapphires and

ain, and they began to traverse the galleries of the rock cavern. He was surprised tha

your examination of their work, and the other is that they may not be interrupted; for of course your presen

repeated Leo,

nd it is only by keeping them thus constantly employed that

authority among

arch for precious stones, and how best to prepare them for man's finding. Nothing is more amusing than the wonder and surprise men ex

you do

ld ever be found. We can penetrate where man has never been; we can construct what man has in vain tried to do. Come with me to our diamond

ittle lane lighted by what looke

et men have nearly addled their brains over it, while we made it boil our kettles. It's the simplest and cheapest fuel one can ha