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74 MOONFOLK.
It was the King of Liliput ;
and before the Chimney-
Elf or Sindbad could interfere to stop it, the magic carpet
had carried him and Rhoda far above their reach, and
the next moment set them down in Liliput.
The king
immediately jumped off the carpet, and standing at the
edge, said to Rhoda :
" I shall not ask you stay and see me, my dear, for
what with Gulliver, and what with Sindbad, I have had
quite enough of your race, and never desire to see another.
I shall let
you go safely, although you see the war-balloons
are already gathering. But before you go you must
promise that you will not return to Sindbad. Of course,
he would take the carpet and follow me at once ;
and
although we are quite a match for him,
if it comes to
war, we are a quiet people and prefer peace. So, unless
you promise that you will
not give the carpet back to
him, I shall have to keep you a prisoner here."
As he spoke, he made a sign with his hand, and
from the hundreds of little red balloons floating just
over their heads, Rhoda saw thousands of fine cords descending,
each cord finished with a little anchor, swinging
down toward her.
" They'll catch in your hair, your eyes, your ears,
your flesh, and hold you so tight that you will never get
away, if once they take hold," said the king; and Rhoda,
frightened, cried out :
" I won't go back to Sindbad "
!
" That's right," replied the king.
" Go, then, whersever
else you like."