the life and adventures of santa clause-第9部分

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The　Queen　herself　came　to　the　dwelling　of　Claus　that　evening　and　placed　her　Seal　on　every　door　and　window；　to　keep　out　the　Awgwas。　　And　under　the　Seal　of　Queen　Zurline　was　placed　the　Seal　of　the　Fairies　and　the　Seal　of　the　Ryls　and　the　Seals　of　the　Knooks；　that　the　charm　might　become　more　powerful。

And　Claus　carried　his　toys　to　the　children　again；　and　made　many　more　of　the　little　ones　happy。

You　may　guess　how　angry　the　King　Awgwa　and　his　fierce　band　were　when　it　was　known　to　them　that　Claus　had　escaped　from　the　Forest　of　Ethop。

They　raged　madly　for　a　whole　week；　and　then　held　another　meeting　among　the　rocks。

〃It　is　useless　to　carry　him　where　the　Knooks　reign；〃　said　the　King；　〃for　he　has　their　protection。　　So　let　us　cast　him　into　a　cave　of　our　own　mountains；　where　he　will　surely　perish。〃

This　was　promptly　agreed　to；　and　the　wicked　band　set　out　that　night　to　seize　Claus。　　But　they　found　his　dwelling　guarded　by　the　Seals　of　the　Immortals　and　were　obliged　to　go　away　baffled　and　disappointed。

〃Never　mind；〃　said　the　King；　〃he　does　not　sleep　always！〃

Next　day；　as　Claus　traveled　to　the　village　across　the　plain；　where　he　intended　to　present　a　toy　squirrel　to　a　lame　boy；　he　was　suddenly　set　upon　by　the　Awgwas；　who　seized　him　and　carried　him　away　to　the　mountains。

There　they　thrust　him　within　a　deep　cavern　and　rolled　many　huge　rocks　against　the　entrance　to　prevent　his　escape。

Deprived　thus　of　light　and　food；　and　with　little　air　to　breathe；　our　Claus　was；　indeed；　in　a　pitiful　plight。　　But　he　spoke　the　mystic　words　of　the　Fairies；　which　always　command　their　friendly　aid；　and　they　came　to　his　rescue　and　transported　him　to　the　Laughing　Valley　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。

Thus　the　Awgwas　discovered　they　might　not　destroy　one　who　had　earned　the　friendship　of　the　immortals；　so　the　evil　band　sought　other　means　of　keeping　Claus　from　bringing　happiness　to　children　and　so　making　them　obedient。

Whenever　Claus　set　out　to　carry　his　toys　to　the　little　ones　an　Awgwa；　who　had　been　set　to　watch　his　movements；　sprang　upon　him　and　snatched　the　toys　from　his　grasp。　　And　the　children　were　no　more　disappointed　than　was　Claus　when　he　was　obliged　to　return　home　disconsolate。　　Still　he　persevered；　and　made　many　toys　for　his　little　friends　and　started　with　them　for　the　villages。　　And　always　the　Awgwas　robbed　him　as　soon　as　he　had　left　the　Valley。

They　threw　the　stolen　playthings　into　one　of　their　lonely　caverns；　and　quite　a　heap　of　toys　accumulated　before　Claus　became　discouraged　and　gave　up　all　attempts　to　leave　the　Valley。　　Then　children　began　coming　to　him；　since　they　found　he　did　not　go　to　them；　but　the　wicked　Awgwas　flew　around　them　and　caused　their　steps　to　stray　and　the　paths　to　become　crooked；　so　never　a　little　one　could　find　a　way　into　the　Laughing　Valley。

Lonely　days　now　fell　upon　Claus；　for　he　was　denied　the　pleasure　of　bringing　happiness　to　the　children　whom　he　had　learned　to　love。　　Yet　he　bore　up　bravely；　for　he　thought　surely　the　time　would　come　when　the　Awgwas　would　abandon　their　evil　designs　to　injure　him。

He　devoted　all　his　hours　to　toy…making；　and　when　one　plaything　had　been　completed　he　stood　it　on　a　shelf　he　had　built　for　that　purpose。　When　the　shelf　became　filled　with　rows　of　toys　he　made　another　one；　and　filled　that　also。　　So　that　in　time　he　had　many　shelves　filled　with　gay　and　beautiful　toys　representing　horses；　dogs；　cats；　elephants；　lambs；　rabbits　and　deer；　as　well　as　pretty　dolls　of　all　sizes　and　balls　and　marbles　of　baked　clay　painted　in　gay　colors。

Often；　as　he　glanced　at　this　array　of　childish　treasures；　the　heart　of　good　old　Claus　became　sad；　so　greatly　did　he　long　to　carry　the　toys　to　his　children。　　And　at　last；　because　he　could　bear　it　no　longer；　he　ventured　to　go　to　the　great　Ak；　to　whom　he　told　the　story　of　his　persecution　by　the　Awgwas；　and　begged　the　Master　Woodsman　to　assist　him。



7。　　The　Great　Battle　Between　Good　and　Evil


Ak　listened　gravely　to　the　recital　of　Claus；　stroking　his　beard　the　while　with　the　slow；　graceful　motion　that　betokened　deep　thought。　　He　nodded　approvingly　when　Claus　told　how　the　Knooks　and　Fairies　had　saved　him　from　death；　and　frowned　when　he　heard　how　the　Awgwas　had　stolen　the　children's　toys。　　At　last　he　said：

〃From　the　beginning　I　have　approved　the　work　you　are　doing　among　the　children　of　men；　and　it　annoys　me　that　your　good　deeds　should　be　thwarted　by　the　Awgwas。　　We　immortals　have　no　connection　whatever　with　the　evil　creatures　who　have　attacked　you。　　Always　have　we　avoided　them；　and　they；　in　turn；　have　hitherto　taken　care　not　to　cross　our　pathway。　　But　in　this　matter　I　find　they　have　interfered　with　one　of　our　friends；　and　I　will　ask　them　to　abandon　their　persecutions；　as　you　are　under　our　protection。〃

Claus　thanked　the　Master　Woodsman　most　gratefully　and　returned　to　his　Valley；　while　Ak；　who　never　delayed　carrying　out　his　promises；　at　once　traveled　to　the　mountains　of　the　Awgwas。

There；　standing　on　the　bare　rocks；　he　called　on　the　King　and　his　people　to　appear。

Instantly　the　place　was　filled　with　throngs　of　the　scowling　Awgwas；　and　their　King；　perching　himself　on　a　point　of　rock；　demanded　fiercely：

〃Who　dares　call　on　us？〃

〃It　is　I；　the　Master　Woodsman　of　the　World；〃　responded　Ak。

〃Here　are　no　forests　for　you　to　claim；〃　cried　the　King；　angrily。　〃We　owe　no　allegiance　to　you；　nor　to　any　immortal！〃

〃That　is　true；〃　replied　Ak；　calmly。　　〃Yet　you　have　ventured　to　interfere　with　the　actions　of　Claus；　who　dwells　in　the　Laughing　Valley；　and　is　under　our　protection。〃

Many　of　the　Awgwas　began　muttering　at　this　speech；　and　their　King　turned　threateningly　on　the　Master　Woodsman。

〃You　are　set　to　rule　the　forests；　but　the　plains　and　the　valleys　are　ours！〃　he　shouted。　　〃Keep　to　your　own　dark　woods！　　We　will　do　as　we　please　with　Claus。〃

〃You　shall　not　harm　our　friend　in　any　way！〃　replied　Ak。

〃Shall　we　not？〃　asked　the　King；　impudently。　　〃You　will　see！　　Our　powers　are　vastly　superior　to　those　of　mortals；　and　fully　as　great　as　those　of　immortals。〃

〃It　is　your　conceit　that　misleads　you！〃　said　Ak；　sternly。　　〃You　are　a　transient　race；　passing　from　life　into　nothingness。　　We；　who　live　forever；　pity　but　despise　you。　　On　earth　you　are　scorned　by　all；　and　in　Heaven　you　have　no　place！　　Even　the　mortals；　after　their　earth　life；　enter　another　existence　for　all　time；　and　so　are　your　superiors。　How　then　dare　you；　who　are　neither　mortal　nor　immortal；　refuse　to　obey　my　wish？〃

The　Awgwas　sprang　to　their　feet　with　menacing　gestures；　but　their　King　motioned　them　back。

〃Never　before；〃　he　cried　to　Ak；　while　his　voice　trembled　with　rage；　〃has　an　immortal　declared　himself　the　master　of　the　Awgwas！　　Never　shall　an　immortal　venture　to　interfere　with　our　actions　again！　　For　we　will　avenge　your　scornful　words　by　killing　your　friend　Claus　within　three　days。　　Nor　you；　nor　all　the　immortals　can　save　him　from　our　wrath。　　We　defy　your　powers！　　Begone；　Master　Woodsman　of　the　World！　In　the　country　of　the　Awgwas　you　have　no　place。〃

〃It　is　war！〃　declared　Ak；　with　flashing　eyes。

〃It　is　war！〃　returned　the　King；　savagely。　　〃In　three　days　your　friend　will　be　dead。〃

The　Master　turned　away　and　came　to　his　Forest　of　Burzee；　where　he　called　a　meeting　of　the　immortals　and　told　them　of　the　defiance　of　the　Awgwas　and　their　purpose　to　kill　Claus　within　three　days。

The　little　folk　listened　to　him　quietly。

〃What　shall　we　do？〃　asked　Ak。

〃These　creatures　are　of　no　benefit　to　the　world；〃　said　the　Prince　of　the　Knooks；　〃we　must　destroy　them。〃

〃Their　lives　are　devoted　only　to　evil　deeds；〃　said　the　Prince　of　the　Ryls。　　〃We　must　destroy　them。〃

〃They　have　no　conscience；　and　endeavor　to　make　all　mortals　as　bad　as　themselves；〃　said　the　Queen　of　the　Fairies。　　〃We　must　destroy　them。〃

〃They　have　defied　the　great　Ak；　and　threaten　the　life　of　our　adopted　son；〃　said　beautiful　Queen　Zurline。　　〃We　must　destroy　them。〃

The　Master　Woodsman　smiled。

〃You　speak　well；〃　said　he。　　〃These　Awgwas　we　know　to　be　a　powerful　race；　and　they　will　fight　desperately；　yet　the　outcome　is　certain。　For　we　who　live　can　never　die；　even　though　conquered　by　our　enemies；　while　every　Awgwa　who　is　struck　down　is　one　foe　the　less　to　oppose　us。　Prepare；　then；　for　battle；　and　let　us　resolve　to　show　no　mercy　to　the　wicked！〃

Thus　arose　that　terrible　war　between　the　immortals　and　the　spirits　of　evil　which　is　sung　of　in　Fairyland　to　this　very　day。

The　King　Awgwa　and　his　band　determined　to　carry　out　the　threat　to　destroy　Claus。　　They　now　hated　him　for　two　reasons：　he　made　children　happy　and　was　a　friend　of　the　Master　Woodsman。　　But　since　Ak's　visit　they　had　reason　to　fear　the　opposition　of　the　immortals；　and　they　dreaded　defeat。　　So　the　King　sent　swift　messengers　to　all　parts　of　the　world　to　summon　every　evil　creature　to　his　aid。

And　on　the　third　day　after　the　declaration　of　war　a　mighty　army　was　at　the　command　of　the　King　Awgwa。　　There　were　three　hundred　Asiatic　Dragons；　breathing　fire　that　consumed　everything　it　touched。　　These　hated　mankind　and　all　good　spirits。　　And　there　were　the　three…eyed　Giants　of　Tatary；　a　host　in　themselves；　who　liked　nothing　better　than　to　fight。　　And　next　came　the　Black　Demons　from　Patalonia；　with　great　spreading　wings　like　those　of　a　bat；　which　swept　terror　and　misery　through　the　world　as　they　beat　upon　the　air。　　And　joined　to　these　were　the　Goozzle…Goblins；　with　long　talons　as　sharp　as　swords；　with　which　they　clawed　the　flesh　from　their　foes。　　Finally；　every　mountain　Awgwa　in　the　world　had　come　to　participate　in　the　great　battle　with　the　immortals。

The　King　Awgwa　looked　around　upon　this　vast　army　and　his　heart　beat　high　with　wicked　pride；　for　he　believed　he　would　surely　triumph　over　his　gentle　enemies；　who　had　never　before　been　known　to　fight。　　But　the　Master　Woodsman　had　not　been　idle。　　None　of　his　people　was　used　to　warfare；　yet　now　that　they　were　called　upon　to　face　the　hosts　of　evil　they　willingly　prepared　for　the　fray。

Ak　had　commanded　them　to　assemble　in　the　Laughing　Valley；　where　Claus；　ignorant　of　the　terrible　battle　that　was　to　be　waged　on　his　account；　was　quietly　making　his　toys。

Soon　the　entire　Valley；　from　hill　to　hill；　was　filled　with　the　little　immortals。　　The　Master　Woodsman　stood　first；　bearing　a　gleaming　ax　that　shone　like　burnished　silver。