A Kidnapped Santa Claus | Page 6

feet dry, received a sewing box filled with colored worsteds
and threads and needles, which made him so provoked that he
thoughtlessly called our dear Santa Claus a fraud.
Had there been many such mistakes the Daemons would have
accomplished their evil purpose and made the children unhappy. But
the little friends of the absent Santa Claus labored faithfully and
intelligently to carry out their master's ideas, and they made fewer
errors than might be expected under such unusual circumstances.
And, although they worked as swiftly as possible, day had begun to
break before the toys and other presents were all distributed; so for the
first time in many years the reindeer trotted into the Laughing Valley,
on their return, in broad daylight, with the brilliant sun peeping over the
edge of the forest to prove they were far behind their accustomed hours.
Having put the deer in the stable, the little folk began to wonder how
they might rescue their master; and they realized they must discover,
first of all, what had happened to him and where he was.
So Wisk the Fairy transported himself to the bower of the Fairy Queen,
which was located deep in the heart of the Forest of Burzee; and once
there, it did not take him long to find out all about the naughty
Daemons and how they had kidnapped the good Santa Claus to prevent
his making children happy. The Fairy Queen also promised her
assistance, and then, fortified by this powerful support, Wisk flew back
to where Nuter and Peter and Kilter awaited him, and the four
counseled together and laid plans to rescue their master from his
enemies.
It is possible that Santa Claus was not as merry as usual during the
night that succeeded his capture. For although he had faith in the
judgment of his little friends he could not avoid a certain amount of
worry, and an anxious look would creep at times into his kind old eyes
as he thought of the disappointment that might await his dear little
children. And the Daemons, who guarded him by turns, one after
another, did not neglect to taunt him with contemptuous words in his
helpless condition.
When Christmas Day dawned the Daemon of Malice was guarding the
prisoner, and his tongue was sharper than that of any of the others.
"The children are waking up, Santa!" he cried. "They are waking up to

find their stockings empty! Ho, ho! How they will quarrel, and wail,
and stamp their feet in anger! Our caves will be full today, old Santa!
Our caves are sure to be full!"
But to this, as to other like taunts, Santa Claus answered nothing. He
was much grieved by his capture, it is true; but his courage did not
forsake him. And, finding that the prisoner would not reply to his jeers,
the Daemon of Malice presently went away, and sent the Daemon of
Repentance to take his place.
This last personage was not so disagreeable as the others. He had gentle
and refined features, and his voice was soft and pleasant in tone.
"My brother Daemons do not trust me overmuch," said he, as he
entered the cavern; "but it is morning, now, and the mischief is done.
You cannot visit the children again for another year."
"That is true," answered Santa Claus, almost cheerfully; "Christmas
Eve is past, and for the first time in centuries I have not visited my
children."
"The little ones will be greatly disappointed," murmured the Daemon of
Repentance, almost regretfully; "but that cannot be helped now. Their
grief is likely to make the children selfish and envious and hateful, and
if they come to the Caves of the Daemons today I shall get a chance to
lead some of them to my Cave of Repentance."
"Do you never repent, yourself?" asked Santa Claus, curiously.
"Oh, yes, indeed," answered the Daemon. "I am even now repenting
that I assisted in your capture. Of course it is too late to remedy the evil
that has been done; but repentance, you know, can come only after an
evil thought or deed, for in the beginning there is nothing to repent of."
"So I understand," said Santa Claus. "Those who avoid evil need never
visit your cave."
"As a rule, that is true," replied the Daemon; "yet you, who have done
no evil, are about to visit my cave at once; for to prove that I sincerely
regret my share in your capture I am going to permit you to escape."
This speech greatly surprised the prisoner, until he reflected that it was
just what might be expected of the Daemon of Repentance. The fellow
at once busied himself untying the knots that bound Santa Claus and
unlocking the chains that fastened