Part seventeen: The argument

Another Surprise

“Maybe we should take the raft and head for shore too,” suggested Timothy O’Leary, the good leprechaun-cobbler.

He was getting anxious about retrieving the four pots of gold under the wild rose bush beside the stone fence. He also wanted to check his home and cobbler shop in the passageway under the castle.

“I’m not certain that’s a good idea,” replied Prince.

He was worried about not being able to steer the raft.

“That current is still too strong for a raft. If we stay put until the water recedes, the raft will float out on the pond. Later, we can re-build the bridge using the logs.”

“I don’t want to wait,” argued Timothy. “That boat managed to get back to shore, did it not?”

He was obviously miffed.

“That’s a boat though, not a raft,” said Prince, being firm in his commitment to protect Kelly. “We are safer here than if we get caught in the current and drift out to the river.”

Kelly, his young colleen, who was busy brushing their Irish terrier, Ambrose, decided to let them make the decision.

“I’m worried about my dad, but if that was him in the boat, he is safe. He’ll find a way to rescue us.”

“Gremlins,” said Timothy, ducking into the tent to retrieve his cobbler tools.

Prince and Kelly soon heard him hammering on some metal.

Meanwhile, Tauren, the gnome from the mountain, was not about to take the boat out again. He was relieved to have been able to maneuver it back to shore.

“I almost got washed out to sea,” Tauren said, wiping his brow, as he gathered firewood and built a fire on the shore. “I wonder who is out there, as that light was so bright. Whoever it is, they saw my white flag and they will see the smoke too.”

Just then, he heard a rustling sound in the tall reeds.

“Who’s there!” asked Tauren. “Come out, now!”

Suddenly, much to his surprise, two young children of almost the same height appeared.

“We are hungry.”