Chapter Six
look over the gnome's shoulder with a grin.
"Fine!" answered Ruggedo, forgetting to scowl. "I'm up to the sixth rock and expect to finish to-night."
"Who do you think will read it?" asked the rabbit, putting back both ears and stroking his whiskers. Then he gave a great spring, just escaped the chisel Ruggedo had flung at his head, and pattered away into the darkness. For several minutes the gnome danced up and down with fury. Then, as there was no one to pinch or shake, he started to work harder than ever on the sixth rock of his history. There were six of the great stones set in a row on one side of the cavern and the carving on them had taken the old gnome King the best part of two years. The letters were crooked and roughly chiseled, but quite readable. On the first rock he had carved:
History of Ruggedo in Six Rocks
Ruggedo the Rough—King of the Gnomes
One time Metal Monarch, at other times a Limoneag, a goose, a nut, and now a common gnome by order of
Ozma of O.
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