PADDY THE PUP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 26 November 1943, Page 3

PADDY THE PUP

(Original) Chapter V—“DANGER IN WITCHES’ WELL” The magic Arabian carpet drifted into a big stone courtyard, and once again Paddy found himself alone. What was this place? In the middle of the yard was a deep dark well. What could Paddy do? He walked to the nearest heavy, bolted door and lifted the latch. Strangely enough, it opened. He walked as if in a trance along passages, and up stone staircases, till at last he reached the flat marble-floored roof. Suddenly a large black cloud drifted across the sky, blotting out Mr Sun’s glory. But, looking up. Paddy saw it to be—hordes of yellow wizened witches floating on broomsticks. This seemed all at once to overwhelm Paddy. His body was slowly becoming numb, and simultaneously everything went black. When he awoke he found himself huddled up beside the well. He fumbled for the locket—it was gone! “Ha! Ha! Ha! cackled a voice behind him. “You will never get it back. Hor! Hor!” And with this the Witch threw his charm into the well. Now Paddy was left with no help from the Genie, and would be forced to stay with the wicked scheming witches. Suddenly an idea struck the pup, and he took a desperate jump into the unknown depths of the well. Slowly—down, down —as if he would never stop! At last, after, it seemed, a never-ending period, he felt himself sink into some cold clammy water. “This is my doom,” he thought. But the liquid was glassy clear, and brightly lighted. At last the pup reached the end of his long descent. It w*as an eerie sight to behold, for the water gushed out of a hole, and murmured along as a stream in a strangely-lighted underground cavern. In places it broke away and each little stream wandered through its own funny-faced cave. Suddenly he saw a cunning bearded dwarf disappearing through a sourcountenanced tunnel. Springing into a boat that was tethered nearby, Paddy gave chase. The passage was dimly lit and only faintly could he see the black figure racing along in front of him. At last they sprang out into the daylight. Drawing their canoes into the bank. Paddy approached the dwarf. “Ahem! Er! Did you happen to see a locket fall into the. ftream when you’ were in the underground cavern?” “Yes,” he replied, slowly. “Here it is. Does it belong to you?” Here he peered closely at Paddy, over his glasses which perched on the tip c f his protruding nose, as if he did not believe the pup. “Yes.” The little man handed it over, somewhat reluctantly, saying as he so: “You may spend the night at my house.” “Thank you, but I’d rather not —.” “Come now. I see you need rest.” And thus he was forced to follow. Farther along the stream, little houses seemed to stand in a never-end-ing row along the grassy banks on both sides. Coming to one which was evidently the dwarf’s, they entered, had tea, and went to bed. It was nearly midnight when Paddy awoke and found, to his surprise, his precious locket had disappeared again. Seeing a figure glide out of the house he decided to give chase. Through the wood Paddy ran, the figure before him. Suddenly Paddy’s victim tripped and fell headlong. The pup overtook him rapidly and saw him to be the dwarf with the locket charm. “Put this dwarf back in his bed that he may do no more harm to-night,” Paddy commanded the Genie. “Now take me to Giantland.” “It shall be, O Master.” Having taken their places they rose and began their journey to the neighbouring land. (To be continued.)