himself come back to rule the country!"

Then all the dwarfs, even from the farthest forges, came running up and
gathered about the archway of the forge where Teddy stood, and when they
saw that it was indeed King Fireheart they shouted and leaped and threw
their caps up into the air.

When they had grown quieter Teddy bade them take him to the Ice-Queen,
so all the dwarfs led him out, and up the mountain, on and on, until
they came to a great castle built of ice, but ruddy with the cold light
of the aurora borealis that shone behind it.

They went into the hall, past the rows of white spearsmen, and when the
spearsmen would have stopped them the dwarfs told them that they were
carrying the magic chain that binds all but one's self to the Queen, and
so they let the little men pass on, but all the while Teddy kept the
ruby ring hidden under his cloak.

At last they came to the great chamber, where the Queen sat on a
magnificent throne of ice, and when she saw the crowd she started to her
feet. "Have you brought it? Have you brought it?" she cried eagerly.
"Have you brought me the magic chain?"

"Yes," shouted the dwarfs all together, "we have brought it."

Then they stood still, and Teddy went on up the steps along.

"Where is it?" asked the Queen, and she stretched out her hands.

"It is here," said Teddy. Very slowly he drew it out from under his