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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cat in Grandfather's House, by Carl Henry
+Grabo, et al, Illustrated by M. F. Iserman
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Cat in Grandfather's House
+
+
+Author: Carl Henry Grabo
+
+
+
+Release Date: December 4, 2007  [eBook #23737]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT IN GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Sigal Alon, Sunflower, and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 23737-h.htm or 23737-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/7/3/23737/23737-h/23737-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/7/3/23737/23737-h.zip)
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
+
+      Dialect spellings, contractions and discrepancies have been
+      retained.
+
+
+
+
+
+THE CAT IN GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE
+
+by
+
+CARL GRABO
+
+Illustrated by M. F. Iserman
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: In a strange house anything might happen.]
+
+
+
+Chicago    New York
+Laidlaw Brothers
+
+Copyright, 1929
+by Laidlaw Brothers
+Incorporated
+All rights reserved
+
+Printed in U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+_PUBLISHER'S NOTE_
+
+
+_It is peculiarly fitting in this day of delightful juveniles that an
+author of many books on the technique of writing should turn his pen to
+the writing of this child's book._
+
+_Carl Grabo, with whose name "The Art of the Short Story" is at once
+associated, has written this whimsical and imaginative tale of Hortense
+and the Cat. Antique furniture, literally stuffed with personality,
+hurries about in the dim moonlight in order to help Hortense through a
+thrillingly strange campaign against a sinister Cat and a villainous
+Grater. The book offers rare humor, irresistible alike to grown-ups and
+children._
+
+_It is a book that will stimulate the imagination of the most prosaic
+child--or at least give it exercise! Wonder, the most fertile awakener
+of intelligence, and vision are closely akin to imagination, and both
+are greatly needed in this work-a-day world._
+
+_Each reader, a child at heart be he seven or seventy, will bubble
+with the glee of childhood at all its quaint imaginings. They are so
+real that they seem to be true._
+
+
+
+
+TABLE OF CONTENTS
+
+
+Chapter                                                  Page
+
+   I. "... going to the big house to live"                  9
+
+  II. "And the darker the room grew, the more it
+         seemed alive"                                     20
+
+ III. "They could hear the soft pat-pat of padded
+         feet in the hall"                                 31
+
+  IV. "Highboy, and Lowboy, and Owl, and the Firedogs
+         come out at night"                                48
+
+   V. "Jeremiah's disappeared again"                       60
+
+  VI. "I'll have the charm
+      That saves from harm"                                74
+
+ VII. "... there should be Little People up the
+         mountain yonder"                                  93
+
+VIII. "The sky was lemon colored, and the trees
+         were dark red"                                   109
+
+  IX. "Tell us a story about a hoodoo, Uncle Jonah"       128
+
+   X. "Ride, ride, ride
+      For the world is fair and wide"                     134
+
+ XI. "... take us to the rock on the mountain
+         side where the Little People dance"              145
+
+ XII. "There are queer doings in this house"              169
+
+XIII. "This is what was inside"                           186
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+"_... going to the big house to live._"
+
+
+Hortense's father put the letter back into its envelope and handed it
+across the table to her mother.
+
+"I hadn't expected anything of the kind," he said, "but it makes the
+plan possible provided----"
+
+Hortense knew very well what Papa and Mamma were talking about, for she
+was ten years old and as smart as most girls and boys of that age. But
+she went on eating her breakfast and pretending not to hear. Papa and
+Mamma were going a long way off to Australia, provided Grandmother and
+Grandfather would care for Hortense in their absence. So Mamma had
+written, and this was the answer.
+
+"Would you like to stay with Grandfather and Grandmother while Papa and
+Mamma are away?" her mother asked.
+
+Hortense would like it very much, for she had never been in her
+grandfather's house. Grandfather and Grandmother had always visited her
+at Christmas and other times, and she had imagined wonderful stories of
+the house that she had never seen. All her father would tell of it when
+she asked him was that it was large and old-fashioned. Once only she
+had heard him say to her mother, "It would be a strange house for a
+child."
+
+Strange houses were her delight. In a strange house anything might
+happen. Always in fairy tales and wonder stories, the houses were
+deliriously strange.
+
+So when her mother asked her the question, Hortense answered promptly,
+"Yes, ma'm."
+
+"I'm afraid you'll have no one to play with," Mamma said, "but there
+will be nice books to read and a large yard to enjoy. Besides, the
+house itself is very unusual. If you were an imaginative child it might
+be a little--but then you aren't imaginative."
+
+"Yes, ma'm," said Hortense.
+
+She supposed Mamma was right. If she were really imaginative, no doubt
+she would have seen a fairy long ago. But though she looked in every
+likely spot, never had she seen any except once, and that time she
+wasn't sure.
+
+"My little girl is sensible and not likely to be easily frightened at
+any unusual or strange--," her father began.
+
+"I shouldn't, Henry," Mamma interrupted swiftly.
+
+"No, perhaps not," Papa agreed.
+
+No more was said, but Hortense knew very well that going to
+Grandfather's house would be a grand and delightful adventure and that
+almost anything might happen, provided she were imaginative enough. She
+reread all her fairy tales by way of preparation, and her dreams grew
+so exciting that at times she was sorry to wake up in the morning.
+
+Meanwhile, Papa and Mamma were busy packing and putting things away in
+closets. Finally the day came when Hortense kissed her mamma good-by
+and cried a little, and Papa took her to the station and, after talking
+to the conductor, put her on the train.
+
+The conductor said he would take good care that Hortense got off at the
+right station; then Papa found a seat for her by a window, put her
+trunk check in her purse and her box of lunch and her handbag beside
+her, kissed her good-by, and told her to be a brave girl.
+
+He stood outside her window until the train started; then he waved his
+hand, and Hortense saw him no more. However, she felt sad only for a
+minute or two, for he was going to Australia and was going to bring her
+something very interesting, possibly a kangaroo. She had asked for a
+kangaroo, and Papa had shaken his head doubtfully and said he'd see.
+But Papa always did that to make the surprise greater.
+
+It was an interesting trip, and Hortense wasn't tired a bit. The
+conductor came in several times and asked her many questions about her
+grandfather and her grandmother. He also told her about his own little
+girl who was just Hortense's age and a wonder at fractions.
+
+When it was time for lunch, the porter brought her a little table upon
+which she spread the contents of her box, and she had a pleasant
+luncheon party with an imaginary little boy named Henry. It was all the
+nicer because she had to eat all Henry's sandwiches and cookies,
+whereas, if Henry had been a real little boy, he would have eaten them
+all himself and probably some of hers, too.
+
+After luncheon, the train went more slowly as it climbed into the
+mountains, and all the rest of the way Hortense looked out of the
+window. She had never seen big mountains before. Then, about four
+o'clock in the afternoon, the conductor came and told her to get ready.
+When the train stopped, he helped her off, called, "All aboard" (though
+there was nobody to get on), and the train drew away and disappeared.
+
+Hortense was all alone, and there was nobody resembling her grandfather,
+or her grandfather's old coachman, to meet her. She felt very lonesome
+until a man with a bright metal plate on his cap, which read _Station
+Agent_, came to her and asked her name and where she belonged.
+
+"So you're Mr. Douglas' granddaughter," said he, "and are going to the
+big house to live. Well, well! I guess Uncle Jonah will be along pretty
+soon."
+
+Hortense went with him and looked up the long street of the little
+town. The station agent shaded his eyes with his hand.
+
+"I guess that's Uncle Jonah now," said he, and Hortense saw an
+old-fashioned surrey with a fringed top drawn by two very fat black
+horses. They were very lazy horses, and it seemed a long time before
+they drew up at the station and Uncle Jonah climbed painfully out.
+
+Uncle Jonah was very old and black, and his hair was white and kinky.
+
+"Yo's Miss Hortense, isn't yo'?" he asked. "I come fo' to git yo'. I'se
+kinda' late 'cause Tom an' Jerry, dey jes' sa'ntered along."
+
+The station agent and Uncle Jonah lifted Hortense's steamer trunk into
+the back seat of the surrey, and with Hortense sitting beside Uncle
+Jonah, off they went.
+
+"She'd better look out for ghosts up at the big house, hadn't she,
+Uncle Jonah?" the station agent called after them.
+
+Uncle Jonah grunted.
+
+"Are there ghosts at Grandfather's house?" Hortense asked, feeling a
+delightful shiver up her back.
+
+"'Cose not," said Uncle Jonah uneasily. "Dat's jes' his foolishness."
+
+"I'd like to see a ghost," said Hortense.
+
+Uncle Jonah stared at her.
+
+"Me, I don' mix up wid no ha'nts," said he. "When I hears 'em rampagin'
+'roun' at night, I pulls de kivers up an' shuts mah eyes tight."
+
+"What do they sound like, Uncle Jonah?" Hortense asked breathlessly.
+
+But Uncle Jonah would not answer. Instead he clucked to the horses, and
+not another word could Hortense get from him for a long time. They
+drove through the little town and out into the country toward the
+mountains.
+
+"Is the house right among the mountains?" Hortense asked at last.
+
+"It sho' is," said Uncle Jonah, "De's a mount'in slap in de back yard."
+
+"Goody," said Hortense. "I like mountains."
+
+"Dey's powahful oncomfo'table," grumbled Uncle Jonah.
+
+He stopped the horses on the top of a little hill and pointed with his
+whip.
+
+"De's de house," he said, "dat big one wid de cupalo."
+
+Hortense looked as directed. Below them, at the foot of a steep
+mountain, was a tall house with a cupola. It was three stories high,
+old-fashioned, and had high shuttered windows. The cupola attracted
+Hortense particularly. She thought she would like to sit high inside
+and look through the little windows. One could see ever so far and
+could pretend one were in a lighthouse or on the mast on a ship.
+
+Tom and Jerry walked slowly down the long hill. At its foot was a
+little house surrounded by a low hedge. A boy of about Hortense's age
+was playing in the yard. He stopped and stared at Hortense as she
+passed, and Hortense stared back. Then the boy did a handspring and
+waved his hand.
+
+"What's that boy's name?" Hortense asked.
+
+Uncle Jonah raised his eyes.
+
+"Good fo' nothin'," muttered Uncle Jonah. "Ef I catches him in my
+o'cha'd ag'in, I'll lambaste him good."
+
+"He looks like a nice boy," said Hortense.
+
+"Dey ain't no nice boys," said Uncle Jonah. "Dey all needs a lickin'."
+
+Tom and Jerry turned in at a graveled driveway and trotted through a
+large lawn set with big trees and clumps of shrubbery. They stopped
+before the big house, and Uncle Jonah and Hortense got down. The wide
+door opened, and there stood Grandmother in her white lace cap and
+black silk dress, as always.
+
+Hortense ran up the steps and kissed her. Grandmother was little, with
+white hair and bright eyes. They entered the old-fashioned hallway
+together, and Hortense knew at once that the house would be all that
+she had hoped.
+
+The hall was dark, and old-fashioned furniture sat along the walls. A
+spidery staircase with dark wood bannisters rose steeply from one side
+and wound away out of sight. At the far end of the hall was a great
+friendly grandfather's clock with a broad round face.
+
+"Tick-tock, tick-tock," said the clock in a deep mellow voice. Hortense
+thought he said, "Welcome, welcome," and was sure he winked at her.
+
+"I must make him talk to me," thought Hortense. "He seems a very wise
+old clock. How many interesting things he must know."
+
+A middle-aged woman with a kind face came to meet them.
+
+"Mary, this is my little granddaughter," said Grandmother; and to
+Hortense, "Mary will take care of you and show you your room. When you
+have taken your things off, come downstairs and we will have tea."
+
+Hortense followed Mary up the steep, winding stairs to the second
+floor. Mary opened one of the many doors of the long hallway, and
+Hortense followed her into a large old-fashioned room with a great
+four-poster bed. It was a corner room. Through the windows on one side
+Hortense could look out over the orchard slope that ran down to the
+brook. Beyond the brook rose a shadowy mountain whose side was so steep
+that trees could hardly find a foothold among the rocks. On the other
+side of the room, the windows opened upon the lawn bordered by a hedge.
+Beyond the hedge was the little house in front of which Hortense had
+seen the boy, but he was no longer playing in the yard.
+
+A big man carried up Hortense's trunk and placed it in the corner. He
+had bright blue eyes. Mary introduced him to Hortense.
+
+"This is my husband, Fergus," said she. "We live in the little house
+beyond the orchard. You must come to see us sometime and have tea. My
+husband will tell you stories of the Little People."
+
+"The Little People are fairies, aren't they, who live in Ireland?" said
+Hortense, remembering her fairy tales.
+
+"Not only in Ireland," said Fergus, "but everywhere in woods and
+mountains. Do you see that dark place in the rocks halfway up the
+mountain?"
+
+Hortense looked as directed and thought she saw the place.
+
+"That's the mouth of a cave that goes into the mountain, nobody knows
+how far," said Fergus. "It is certain that the Little People must live
+in there."
+
+His eyes twinkled, but his face was quite serious.
+
+"Really?" Hortense asked.
+
+"I've not seen them," said Fergus, "but my eyes are older than yours. I
+do not doubt that you will see them dancing on moonlight nights."
+
+Meanwhile, Mary had been unpacking the trunk and laying Hortense's
+things away in the drawers of a great bureau.
+
+"Now we will go down and have tea," said Mary. "Let me brush your hair
+a bit."
+
+After this was done, they went downstairs again, passed the big clock
+that winked and said, "Tick-tock, hello," and entered a sunny room
+where Grandmother sat in her easy chair.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+"_And the darker the room grew, the more it seemed alive._"
+
+
+In Grandmother's room there were tall south windows reaching nearly to
+the ceiling. It must have been bright with sunshine in midday, but it
+was nearly evening now and the lower halves of the windows were closed
+with white shutters, which gave the room a very cosy appearance. In the
+white marble fireplace a cheerful fire was burning, and above it on the
+mantel was a large stuffed owl as white as the marble on which he was
+perched. He seemed quite alive and very wise, his great yellow eyes
+shining in the firelight. Hortense glanced at him now and then, and
+always his bright eyes seemed fixed upon her.
+
+"I believe he could talk if he would," thought Hortense. "Sometime when
+we're alone, I'll ask him if he can't."
+
+"Now, if you'll call your grandfather, we'll have tea," said
+Grandmother. "He's in his library in the next room."
+
+Hortense ran to do as she was told. The library was walled with books,
+thousands of them, and near a window Grandfather sat at a big desk,
+busily writing. He looked up when Hortense entered, and laid down his
+pen to take her on his knee.
+
+Grandfather had white hair, and bushy white eyebrows over piercing dark
+eyes. Hortense had always thought him very handsome, particularly when
+he walked, for he was tall and very straight. She thought he must look
+like a Sultan or Indian Rajah, such as is told of in the _Arabian
+Nights_, for his skin was dark, and when he told her stories of his
+youth and his wanderings about the earth, she wondered if he weren't
+really some foreign prince merely pretending to be her grandfather. He
+had been in many strange places in India, Africa, and the South Seas,
+and when he chose, he could tell wonderful stories of his adventures.
+
+While Grandfather held her on his lap, Hortense gazed at a strange
+bronze figure which stood on a stone pedestal beside his desk. It was a
+bronze image such as Hortense had seen pictured in books--some sort of
+an idol, she thought. The figure sat cross-legged like a tailor and in
+one hand held what seemed to be a bronze water lily. Hortense had never
+seen an image or statue that seemed so calm, as though thinking deep
+thoughts which it would never trouble to express.
+
+"What a funny little man," said Hortense.
+
+Grandfather looked gravely at the bronze figure.
+
+"That is an image of Buddha, the Indian god," he said. "Perhaps after
+dinner I'll tell you a story about him."
+
+He lifted Hortense from his knee and, taking her by the hand, went into
+Grandmother's room.
+
+Mary had brought in the tea wagon, which Hortense thought looked like a
+dwarf. Indeed, all the furniture seemed curiously alive, as though it
+could talk if it would. In the corner was a lowboy. With the firelight
+falling on its polished surface and on the bright brass handles to its
+drawers, it seemed to make a fat smiling face, as of a good-humored
+boy.
+
+"What a jolly face," Hortense thought. "He'd be good fun to play with,
+I'm sure."
+
+She ate her toast and cake while Grandfather and Grandmother talked
+together in the twilight. And the darker the room grew, the more it
+seemed alive.
+
+"I believe all these things are talking," said Hortense to herself.
+"Now, if I could only hear! Perhaps if I had an ear trumpet or
+something----"
+
+As she was thinking thus, a great tortoise-shell cat walked calmly in,
+seated himself on the hearth-rug, and stared into the fire. It seemed
+to Hortense that the flredogs fairly leaped out at him, but the cat
+only gazed placidly at them.
+
+"He knows they can't get at him," thought Hortense, "and he's saying
+something to make them mad."
+
+Grandfather and Grandmother were talking in a low tone, and Hortense
+suddenly found herself listening to them with interest.
+
+"Uncle Jonah says it's a 'ha'nt,'" Grandfather was saying with a smile.
+"He and Esmerelda are afraid and want me to fix up the rooms over the
+stable."
+
+"What nonsense!" Grandmother exclaimed sharply.
+
+"But there is something odd about the house, you know," said
+Grandfather.
+
+"I believe that you think it's a ghost yourself, Keith," said
+Grandmother, looking keenly at him.
+
+"I've always wanted to see a ghost," admitted Grandfather, "but I've
+had no luck. Why shouldn't there be ghosts? All simple peoples believe
+in them."
+
+"Remember Hortense," Grandmother said in a low voice.
+
+"To be sure," Grandfather answered, looking quickly at Hortense.
+
+Hortense heard with all her ears, but her eyes were upon the cat. The
+cat sat with a smile on his face and one ear cocked. Once he looked at
+Grandfather and laughed, noiselessly.
+
+"The cat understands every word!" Hortense said to herself with
+conviction. She began to be a little afraid of the cat, for she felt
+that everything in the room disliked him. The lowboy no longer smiled
+but looked rather solemn and foolish. The chairs stood stiffly, as
+though offended at his presence. The white owl glared fiercely with his
+yellow eyes, and the firedogs fairly snapped their teeth.
+
+But the cat did not mind. He lay on the hearthrug and grinned at them
+all. Then he rolled over on his back, waved his paws in the air, and
+whipped his long tail.
+
+"He's laughing at them!" said Hortense to herself. "And he knows all
+about the 'ha'nt,' whatever that is!"
+
+Mary came to remove the tea wagon, which Hortense decided was really
+good at heart but surly and tart of temper because of his deformity.
+The brass teakettle looked to be good-tempered but unreliable.
+
+"There's something catlike about a teakettle," Hortense reflected. "It
+likes to sit in a warm place and purr. And it likes any one who will
+give it what it wants. Its love is cupboard love."
+
+"Dinner isn't until seven," said Grandmother, "so perhaps you'd like to
+go to the kitchen and see Esmerelda, the cook, Uncle Jonah's wife. If
+you are nice to her, it will mean cookies and all sorts of good
+things."
+
+Hortense thought, "If I'm nice to Esmerelda just to get cookies, I'll
+be no better than the cat and the teakettle; so I hope I can like her
+for herself." Nevertheless, it would be nice to have cookies, too.
+
+"Isn't this an awfully big house?" said Hortense to Mary as they went
+down a long dark passage.
+
+"Much too big," said Mary. "I spend my days cleaning rooms that are
+never used. There's the whole third floor of bedrooms, not one of which
+has been slept in for years. Then there are the parlors, and many
+closets full of things that have to be aired, and sunned, and kept from
+moths."
+
+"May I go with you, Mary, when you clean?" Hortense asked. "I'll help
+if I can."
+
+"Sure you may," said Mary kindly. "I'll be glad to have you. You'll be
+company. Some of those dark closets, and the bedrooms with sheeted
+chairs and things give me the creeps. An old house and old unused rooms
+are eerie-like. Sometimes I can almost hear whispers, and sighs, and
+things talking."
+
+"I know," said Hortense. "Everything talks--chairs, and tables, and
+bureaus, and everything. Only I can never hear just what it is they
+say. Do you think they move sometimes at night?"
+
+"I'll never look to see," said Mary piously. "At night I stay in my own
+little house, where everything is quiet and homelike and there are no
+queer things about."
+
+Hortense shivered delightfully. Perhaps she would see and hear the
+queer things, and even see the "ha'nt" of which Grandfather had spoken.
+
+The kitchen was a large comfortable place. A bright fire was burning in
+the range. Shining pans hung on the wall, and Aunt Esmerelda, large,
+fat, and friendly, with a white handkerchief tied over her head, moved
+slowly among them.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda put her hands on her hips and looked down at Hortense.
+
+"Yo's the spittin' image of yo' ma, honey," said Aunt Esmerelda. "Does
+yo' like ginger cookies?"
+
+[Illustration: "Yo's the spittin' image of yo' ma, honey," said Aunt
+Esmerelda.]
+
+Hortense doted on ginger cookies.
+
+"De's de jar," said Aunt Esmerelda, pointing to a big crock on the
+pantry shelf. "Whenevah yo's hongry, jes' yo' he'p yo'se'f."
+
+Hortense sat on a chair in the corner, out of the way, and watched Aunt
+Esmerelda cook.
+
+"What was the thing you and Uncle Jonah heard?" she asked at last
+abruptly.
+
+"Wha's dat?" Aunt Esmerelda said, dropping a saucepan with a clatter.
+"Who tole you 'bout dat?"
+
+"I heard Grandpa talking to Grandma about it," said Hortense.
+
+"It wan't nothin'?" said Esmerelda uneasily. "Don' yo' go 'citin'
+yo'se'f 'bout dat. Jes' foolishness."
+
+"But if there is a 'ha'nt' in the house, I want to see it," Hortense
+persisted.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda stared at her with big eyes.
+
+"Who all said anythin' 'bout dis yere ha'nt? I ain't never heard of no
+ha'nt."
+
+"When you hear it again, please wake me up if I'm asleep," said
+Hortense.
+
+"Heavens, I don' get outa' mah bed w'en I hears nothin'," said Aunt
+Esmerelda. "Not by no means. E'n if yo' hears anythin', jes' yo' shut
+yo' eahs and pull the kivers ovah yo' head. Den dey don' git yo'."
+
+But Hortense felt quite brave by the bright kitchen fire. She sat very
+quietly and watched Aunt Esmerelda at work. The kitchen was filled with
+bright friendly things--shining pans and spoons, a squat, fat milk jug
+with a smiling face, a rolling pin that looked very stupid, an egg
+beater that surely must get as dizzy as a whirling dervish turning
+round and round very fast--probably quite a scatterbrain, Hortense
+thought.
+
+"What is that, Aunt Esmerelda?" Hortense asked, pointing to a bright
+rounded utensil hanging above the kitchen table.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda looked.
+
+"Dat's a grater, chile. I grates cheese an' potatoes an' cabbage an'
+things wid dat."
+
+She took down the grater.
+
+"On dis side it grates things small and on dis side big."
+
+She hung it in its place again.
+
+"It looks wicked to me," said Hortense. "I shouldn't like to meet it
+wandering around the house at night."
+
+"Laws, chile, how yo' talks," Aunt Esmerelda exclaimed startled. "Yo'
+gives me de fidgets. Wheh yo' git ideas like dat?"
+
+"Things look that way," said Hortense. "Some look friendly and some
+unfriendly. There's the cat and the teakettle. They aren't friendly.
+They say all sorts of sly things. Sometime I'm going to hear what they
+are. The grater would run after you and scrape you on his sharp sides
+if he could."
+
+Aunt Esmerelda shook her head uneasily. From time to time she stared at
+Hortense.
+
+"Yo's a curyus chile," she muttered. "I don' know what yo' ma means
+a-bringin' yo' up disaway, scaihin' po' ole Aunt Esmerelda. Lan's
+sakes, if I ain't done forgit de pertatahs! An' dey's all in de
+stoh'room!"
+
+"Where's that?" Hortense asked much interested.
+
+"In de basement," said Aunt Esmerelda, "an' it's powahful dark down
+deh."
+
+"I'll go with you," said Hortense eagerly. "I'd like to see it."
+
+Aunt Esmerelda lighted a candle and, taking a large pan, opened the
+door leading to the basement.
+
+It was a large basement, and the candle was not sufficient to light its
+more remote corners. They passed a huge dark furnace with its arms
+stretching out on all sides like a spider's legs. In front of it was a
+coal bin, large and black.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda opened the door of the storeroom. Within were barrels
+and boxes, and hanging shelves laden with row upon row of preserves in
+jars and regiments of jelly glasses, each with its paper top and its
+white label.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda filled her pan with potatoes from the barrel and led the
+way from the storeroom. Closing the door, she led the way back
+upstairs.
+
+A sudden noise of something falling and of little scurrying feet led
+her to stop abruptly. Hortense drew close to her. Aunt Esmerelda was
+shaking, and by the light of the candle Hortense could see the whites
+of her eyes gleaming as she looked all about her.
+
+They started again for the cellar stairs. When they had reached the
+furnace, a sudden gust of wind blew out the candle. In a far corner of
+the cellar something rattled.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda started to run, and Hortense ran after her. A faint
+light from the kitchen shone on the head of the cellar stairs. Aunt
+Esmerelda hurried up the stairs, panting, with Hortense at her heels.
+At the top Aunt Esmerelda slammed and bolted the door; then she sank
+into a chair and mopped her perspiring face.
+
+"Do you think it was the 'ha'nt'?" Hortense asked much excited.
+
+"Don' speak to me 'bout no ha'nt!" exclaimed Aunt Esmerelda angrily.
+"Yo' sho' scaihs me. Run along and git ready fo' dinnah."
+
+Though Hortense lingered, Aunt Esmerelda would not say another word,
+and finally Hortense went to change her dress.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+"_They could hear the soft pat-pat of padded feet in the hall._"
+
+
+Dinner was served in the large dining room. Friendly clusters of
+candles stood on the round mahogany table and made little pools of
+light on its bright surface. Mary waited on them.
+
+"I wonder what's the matter with Aunt Esmerelda to-night," said Grandpa
+after the soup. "These potatoes aren't done, and the roast is burned."
+
+"I think she was frightened at something in the cellar," said Hortense.
+
+"What's that?" Grandpa questioned, and Hortense told him of the noise
+and the candle going out.
+
+"A rat probably," said Grandpa. "Weren't you frightened?"
+
+"A little," Hortense replied truthfully, "but I think it was because
+Aunt Esmerelda was so afraid."
+
+Grandpa looked at her, smiling under his bushy eyebrows.
+
+"Would you go down to the storeroom and get me an apple if I gave you
+something nice for your own?" he asked.
+
+"Don't, Keith," said Grandma sharply. "You'll frighten the child."
+
+"I don't want her to be afraid in the dark," said Grandpa. "This is a
+big house and much of it is dark."
+
+Hortense was silent, thinking.
+
+"I'll go," she said.
+
+"Good," said Grandpa. "Bring me a plateful of northern spies."
+
+Hortense arose from the table and walked to the door. As she went out,
+she heard Grandmother say, "You'll frighten the child----" The rest she
+didn't hear.
+
+In the kitchen Hortense found Aunt Esmerelda seated in her chair,
+gazing gloomily at the kitchen range.
+
+"May I have a candle, Aunt Esmerelda?" Hortense asked.
+
+"What fo' yo' wants a candle?" Aunt Esmerelda demanded.
+
+"I'm going to the storeroom to get Grandpa some apples," said Hortense.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda stared at her without speaking for some moments.
+
+"All by yo'se'f'?" she demanded at last.
+
+"All by myself," said Hortense.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda shook her head and muttered, but rising, found a candle
+and lighted it.
+
+"Ef yo' say yo' prayahs, mebbe nothin'll git yo'," she said ominously.
+
+It was black as a hat in the basement, and little shivers ran up and
+down Hortense's spine, but she ran quickly to the storeroom and filled
+her plate with apples from the big barrel.
+
+Starting back she heard a noise and stopped, her heart pounding and
+little pin pricks crinkling her scalp; then she hurried to the stairs,
+almost running. But she did not run up the stairs, for she didn't wish
+to have Aunt Esmerelda think her afraid.
+
+She was a glad little girl, nevertheless, when she was safe again in
+the light kitchen.
+
+"Yo' didn' see nothin'?" demanded Aunt Esmerelda.
+
+"I didn't see anything," said Hortense. "I heard something, but it was
+probably only a rat." She spoke bravely, quite like Grandfather.
+
+"'Twan't no rat," muttered Aunt Esmerelda gloomily, shaking her head.
+"It's a ha'nt or a ghos'. Dey's ha'nts and ghos's all 'roun dis place."
+
+Hortense began to feel quite brave after she had arrived safely in the
+cheerful dining room. Grandfather looked at her, shrewdly smiling.
+
+"Did you see or hear anything?" he asked.
+
+"I heard--a noise," replied Hortense.
+
+"And were you afraid?" he asked again.
+
+Hortense looked into his bright, kind eyes.
+
+"A little," she confessed.
+
+Grandfather took her on his knee.
+
+"It isn't being afraid that matters," he said. "It's doing what you set
+out to do whether afraid or not That's what it is to be brave."
+
+"Really?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Yes, really," assured Grandfather. "It is not brave to be without
+fear, but to overcome it. Now we'll go into the library, and I'll tell
+you the promised story and give you something--but what it is, I'll not
+reveal until later."
+
+Grandmother returned to her chair and her knitting, with the white owl
+and the cat for company, and Grandfather and Hortense found a
+comfortable seat in Grandfather's big chair. There was a cheerful fire
+on the hearth, and Grandfather's study lamp cast a bright light upon
+his desk--but the bronze Buddha remained in a shadow, and the rows of
+books along the walls were scarcely visible.
+
+"When I was a young lad in Scotland," said Grandfather when Hortense
+was seated on his knee with her head upon his shoulder, "I had a close
+friend of my own age whose name was Dugald--Dugald Stewart. We grew up
+together, and when we became young men, we set off together to see the
+world and to make our fortunes.
+
+"We visited many strange and wonderful places and had many adventures,
+some of which I shall tell you about, perhaps. Our fortunes were up and
+down, usually down. We sought for pearls in the Indian Ocean and the
+South Seas, and for gold in Australia. We traded with the natives here,
+there, and everywhere, but our fortunes were still to be made, and it
+seemed we might spend our lives without being much better off than we
+were then.
+
+"At last Dugald and I parted company. I was to go on a trading journey
+into the interior of Borneo, which, as you know, is a very large island
+in the East Indies. Dugald set out upon a wild expedition into Burma.
+We had heard a story of a rare and valuable jewel said to be in a
+remote and little-known part of the interior. I had tried to dissuade
+him from so dangerous and uncertain an attempt, but he was brave and
+even reckless. Besides, my own adventure was dangerous also.
+
+"Before we parted, Dugald gave me a little charm which he always wore
+and in which he had great faith. It was supposed to bring luck and to
+shield from danger. Perhaps it did, for I was very lucky thereafter and
+had many wonderful escapes from death. It was not so with Dugald. I
+never saw him again, and I wish now that he had kept the charm. Perhaps
+it would have protected him."
+
+Grandfather paused and glanced at the bronze figure of Buddha beyond
+the circle of the lamplight.
+
+"This image was his last gift to me, brought by his trusted servant
+with the message that in it lay fortune and that I should always keep
+it by me--and I have always done so."
+
+"Did he find the valuable jewel?" Hortense asked breathlessly.
+
+"That I never knew," said Grandfather. "The servant told me a wild
+story of his master's finding it, but when my friend died suddenly, the
+servant could find no trace of it. I think he was honest, too.
+
+"But the jewel isn't the point of my story--rather, the charm."
+
+Grandfather opened a drawer of his desk and drew forth a tiny box of
+sweet smelling wood--sandalwood, Grandfather called it. He bade
+Hortense lift the cover. Inside the box lay a tiny ivory monkey
+attached to a tarnished silver chain.
+
+"It can be worn around the neck," said Grandfather, drawing it forth.
+Placing the chain about Hortense's neck, he fastened the ends in a
+secure little clasp.
+
+"Now you'll have good luck and nothing can harm you," he said smiling
+at her.
+
+"Is it mine?" Hortense asked.
+
+"You may wear it while you are here," said Grandfather, "and sometime
+it will be yours for keeps."
+
+"And I won't be afraid of noises or anything," said Hortense.
+
+"Not a thing can hurt you," said Grandfather. "But you must take good
+care not to lose it. You had better wear it under your dress, perhaps,
+and never take it off. Now, it is long past bedtime."
+
+Hortense thanked her Grandfather and went into the next room to bid her
+Grandmother good night. Lowboy, fat and smiling, grinned at her. The
+cat on the hearthrug turned his head and regarded her with a long stare
+from his yellow eyes. Hortense felt uncomfortable but stared back, and
+at last the cat turned away and pretended to wash himself. Now and then
+he stole a glance at her out of the corner of his eye.
+
+"He doesn't like me any more than I like him," thought Hortense as she
+kissed her Grandmother good night.
+
+"Your candle is on the table in the hall, dear," said Grandmother.
+"Would you like Mary to put you to bed?"
+
+But Hortense felt very brave after her exploit in the storeroom;
+besides which, her monkey charm gave her a sense of security. She
+lighted her candle and set off up the dark winding stairs all alone.
+
+When she reached the second floor, she stopped and looked up the stairs
+leading to the third floor. She could see only a little way and she
+longed to know what it was like up there, but she felt a little timid
+at the thought of all those empty rooms filled with cold, silent
+furniture. What was it Grandfather had said? Always to face the thing
+one feared.
+
+Hortense marched bravely up the stairs to the hall above. It was like
+that on the second floor. Hortense opened one of the many closed doors.
+The light from her candle fell upon chairs and dressers sheeted like
+ghosts, cold and silent. Hortense shut the door quickly and walked past
+all the others without opening them.
+
+At the end of the hall was a door somewhat smaller than the others. It
+seemed mysterious, and after hesitating for a moment, Hortense turned
+the knob slowly.
+
+A flight of steps rose steeply from the threshold. Hortense peered up.
+Above, it was faintly light These must be the attic stairs, Hortense
+thought, and the attic was not completely dark because the cupola
+lighted it faintly. When the moon was bright, it would be possible to
+see quite plainly. Perhaps on such a night or, better, in the daytime,
+Hortense would explore the attic, but she felt she had done enough for
+one night and closed the door gently.
+
+As she turned to walk back down the hall, she stopped suddenly. Far
+away in the dark gleamed two yellow spots. Chills ran up her back, and
+then she told herself, "It's the cat."
+
+Slowly she walked towards the bright spots which never moved as she
+neared them. Then the rays from her candle fell upon the cat crouched
+in the middle of the hall.
+
+"What are you doing, spying on me like this!" said Hortense severely.
+
+The cat said not a word. He merely stared at her with his bright yellow
+eyes for a moment; then he yawned, rose slowly and stretched himself,
+and turning, walked with dignity down the stairs. Hortense followed,
+but not once did the cat look back at her.
+
+On the second floor Hortense stopped and watched the cat. When he was
+lost to sight in the hall below, she went to her room and carefully
+closed the door behind her.
+
+She placed her candle on a stand beside the bed and proceeded to look
+around. The room seemed much bigger now than in the afternoon. The
+ceiling seemed lost in shadow far above, and the corners were all dark.
+There were three stiff chairs, a table, a dresser, and a highboy.
+
+The highboy was tall and slim. The light from the candle made him seem
+very melancholy and sad, ridiculously so, Hortense thought.
+
+"You are funny looking," said Hortense aloud.
+
+The highboy, she thought, regarded her reproachfully.
+
+"Why don't you speak?" said Hortense, "instead of looking so
+woebegone."
+
+"You'll only make fun of me," said Highboy in a tearful voice.
+
+"No, I won't," Hortense replied, "not if you'll try to look and talk a
+bit cheerful."
+
+"That's easy to say," said Highboy, "but you don't have to stay in this
+room day and night with nobody to talk to. It gets on my nerves."
+
+"I'll talk to you," said Hortense, "but you should cultivate a cheerful
+disposition. I like bright people."
+
+"Then you'd better talk with my brother, Lowboy," said Highboy tartly.
+"He's always cheery. Nothing depresses me so much as people who are
+always cheerful. Tiresome, I say."
+
+"You could learn much from your brother," said Hortense severely. "Why
+don't you go down and see him now? I'm sure it would do you good."
+
+Highboy shivered.
+
+"It's so cold and dark in the hall," he said. "I almost never dare go
+except on bright warm nights in summer. Of course I daren't go in the
+daytime."
+
+"No, I suppose not," said Hortense. "However, I'll go with you, you are
+afraid. Grandmother has gone to bed, I think, and there will be a
+little fire left on the hearth."
+
+Highboy brightened a little.
+
+"Do you think we dare?" he said, "Suppose we should meet the cat."
+
+"I'm not afraid of the cat," Hortense declared.
+
+"And then there's the other one," said Highboy. "He's worse still. He's
+round, and bright, and hard, with sharp points all over--a terrible
+fellow."
+
+"Is he the 'ha'nt,' as Aunt Esmerelda calls it?" Hortense asked.
+
+Highboy knew nothing about that. He was only sure that the cat,
+Jeremiah, and his prickly companion were up to all manner of tricks and
+were best let alone.
+
+Hortense, on second thought, did not wholly relish the idea of going
+downstairs with Highboy, but she had made the offer and so she said,
+"Come on, we'll go now, for I mustn't stay up too late."
+
+Highboy stepped out of his wooden house. He looked so funny in his knee
+trousers and broad white collar with its big bow tie, exactly like a
+great overgrown boy, that Hortense laughed out loud.
+
+"If you laugh at me, I won't go," said Highboy in a mournful voice.
+
+"I beg your pardon," said Hortense. "It was rude of me. But you should
+wear long trousers you know! You are too big to wear such things as
+these."
+
+"I know it," said Highboy, "but I can't change. I haven't any others.
+Besides, I've always worn them and I'd not feel the same in anything
+different. One gets awfully attached to old clothes, don't you think?"
+
+"Boys do, I've observed," said Hortense. "Come on."
+
+She took Highboy by the hand, and they walked cautiously down the hall.
+At the top of the stairs Highboy paused and leaned over the bannisters.
+Somebody was walking to and fro in the hall beneath with soft regular
+footfalls like the ticking of a clock.
+
+"It's only Grandfather's Clock," said Highboy in a relieved whisper.
+"He always walks that way at night."
+
+Highboy and Hortense descended the stairs into the hall. Grandfather's
+Clock was walking up and down with regular footfalls, tick-tock,
+tick-tock. He smiled benevolently at them as they passed but did not
+pause in his walk or speak to them.
+
+"A dull life," said Highboy. "Duller than mine. You see, he has nothing
+to be afraid of. To be afraid of something gives you a thrill, you
+know. But everybody's afraid of time, and Grandfather's Clock has all
+the time there is."
+
+When Hortense and Highboy entered, only the embers of the fire were
+left on the hearth in Grandmother's room. White Owl was wide-awake with
+staring eyes, but the Firedogs were evidently napping and Lowboy was
+sound asleep.
+
+"Hello," said Highboy, and at once Lowboy's eyes opened wide and both
+the Firedogs growled.
+
+"Come out and talk," said Highboy.
+
+Lowboy obeyed at once. He was short and fat--not half so tall as his
+brother, but twice as big around--and he was dressed exactly like
+Highboy except that his necktie was red whereas Highboy's tie was
+green.
+
+"I knew she'd bring you," said Lowboy, pointing to Hortense. "I could
+see she was friendly."
+
+"She may only be a meddlesome child," said White Owl. "It never does to
+judge from first impressions."
+
+"I could see that the cat didn't like her," said one of the firedogs,
+shaking himself and coming out upon the hearthrug, "and anybody that
+the cat dislikes is a friend of mine."
+
+"Just so," said the other firedog.
+
+They were just alike.
+
+"I know I can never tell you apart," said Hortense. "What are your
+names?"
+
+"Mine's Coal and his is Ember," said the first firedog, "and you can
+always tell us in this way: If you call me Ember and I don't answer,
+then you'll know I'm Coal. It's very easy! But if you'll look close,
+you'll see that my tail curls a little tighter than his, and I'm
+generally thought to be handsomer."
+
+"You're not," said Ember. "Say that again and I'll fight you."
+
+"Oh, please don't fight!" cried Hortense. "However can you chase the
+cat if you do?"
+
+"That's the first sensible remark any one has made," said White Owl.
+
+"I apologize," said Coal to Ember. "Let's not fight unless there's
+nothing else to do."
+
+"Fighting is an occupation for those who don't think," said White Owl.
+
+Lowboy nudged his brother.
+
+"Talks just like a copy book, doesn't he?" said Lowboy.
+
+"He has to keep up his reputation," said Highboy.
+
+"Ssh," said White Owl, "I hear the cat."
+
+Everybody became as still as a mouse. Coal and Ember crouched, ready to
+spring, and Highboy and Lowboy, rather frightened, took hold of hands
+and pressed against the wall. They could hear the soft pat-pat of
+padded feet in the hall.
+
+Two yellow eyes shone in the doorway, and the Cat entered. He stood in
+the middle of the room with his tail waving to and fro and looked
+suspiciously from side to side.
+
+Both Firedogs growled; the Cat spit; White Owl cried, "Who-oo-o," and
+flew down from his perch. In a twinkling Hortense was running down the
+hall, hand in hand with Highboy and Lowboy, behind Coal and Ember.
+
+Up the stairs ran the Cat with the Firedogs after him, up the stairs to
+the third floor and through the door to the attic.
+
+"I'm sure I shut that door," said Hortense. "Who could have opened it?"
+
+She had no time to think further. Up and up she went to the attic and
+there stopped, panting. The Firedogs were running round and round,
+growling. White Owl turned his great yellow eyes in all directions.
+
+"He isn't here," said Owl. "I can see in every corner, and he isn't
+here. But where could he have gone?"
+
+Nobody had an answer to make, and every one felt that there was
+something mysterious in the Cat's sudden disappearance.
+
+"I think I'd better go back," said Highboy nervously. "It's time I was
+asleep. Suppose we should be found way up here!"
+
+By common consent they all moved downstairs together, going very
+softly. Hortense paused at Grandmother's door. She was speaking.
+
+"I'm sure I heard something," said Grandmother.
+
+"It was only the wind," Grandfather's voice replied.
+
+Hortense and Highboy crept quietly to their room while the others
+disappeared below.
+
+"It's good to be back safe," Highboy whispered, "but I'm so nervous I
+know I shan't sleep."
+
+Hortense, however, undressed quickly and climbed into bed. Soon she was
+fast asleep, and the next thing she knew the sun was shining into her
+windows.
+
+"It must have been a dream," said Hortense to herself, remembering all
+that had happened the evening before.
+
+"Was it a dream, Highboy?" she said suddenly, looking at him.
+
+"You may have dreamed," said Highboy irritably, "but I was so nervous I
+didn't sleep a wink."
+
+Saying no more, Hortense dressed rapidly and went down to breakfast.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+"_Highboy, and Lowboy, and Owl, and the Firedogs come out at night._"
+
+
+When Grandmother asked at breakfast if she had slept well, Hortense
+replied truthfully that she had.
+
+"I don't know what got into Jeremiah last night," said Grandmother. "I
+heard something myself, and Esmerelda declares he ran about the house
+like one possessed. This morning we heard him in the attic."
+
+Hortense, eating her egg and toast, thought she might tell Grandmother
+of last night's surprising events, but of course she wouldn't be
+believed. So on second thought she said nothing.
+
+Slipping away to the kitchen when breakfast was over, she found
+Jeremiah begging for his breakfast and Aunt Esmerelda regarding him
+with hands on hips, shaking her head.
+
+"Yo' sho' is possessed," said Aunt Esmerelda. "Such carrying on I never
+heard. I spec's de evil one was after yo', an' I hopes he catches yo'
+and takes yo' away wid him."
+
+Jeremiah winked his yellow eyes sleepily in reply, but at the sight of
+Hortense he lashed his tail and turned away. Aunt Esmerelda, grumbling,
+gave him a saucer of milk.
+
+"Yo' keep away from dat animal," said Aunt Esmerelda to Hortense. "No
+one knows de wickedness of his heart."
+
+Hortense waited in the kitchen until Mary was free to begin her
+morning's task of dusting and tidying the rooms.
+
+"May I come?" she begged.
+
+"Sure," said Mary kindly. "I'm dusting the big parlor this morning, and
+there are lots of interesting things to see there."
+
+In the big unused parlor she threw open the shutters and parted the
+curtains to let in the sunlight. Hortense was at once absorbed in the
+treasures she found. The room was filled with things which Grandfather
+had brought home from his travels all over the world. There were heavy,
+dark red tables carved with all kinds of flowers and animals, bright
+silk cushions, little ebony tabourets with brass trays upon them,
+curious vases and lacquer boxes from China and Japan. On the mantel was
+a beautiful tree of pink coral in a glass case, and beside it were
+wonderful shells and little elephants carved from ivory. On the walls
+were bits of embroidery framed and covered with glass, picturing
+bright-plumaged birds and tigers standing in snow.
+
+Most fascinating of all were the strange weapons arrayed in a pattern
+upon one wall--spears, guns, bows and arrows, swords and knives,
+boomerangs, war clubs, bolos--weapons which Hortense had seen only in
+pictures in her geography and in books of travel. They all seemed dead
+and harmless enough now, not likely to come down from the wall and
+wander about the house at night. Hortense doubted whether they would
+even speak.
+
+However, one was different, quite wide-awake and, Hortense could see,
+only waiting for a chance to leap down from the wall. It was a long
+knife with a green handle made from some sort of stone. Its shape was
+most curious, like the path of a snake in the dust. Like a snake, too,
+it seemed deadly, and the light that played upon its sinuous length and
+dripped from the point like water, glittered like the eyes of a
+serpent.
+
+"What an awful knife," said Hortense.
+
+"Those spears and knives give me the shivers," said Mary. "I've told
+your Grandfather I'd never touch them."
+
+"Most of them are dead," said Hortense, "but the one with the curly
+blade and the green handle looks as though it could come right down at
+you. I'd like to have that one."
+
+Mary jumped.
+
+"Don't you touch it," she said severely. "You might hurt yourself
+dreadfully."
+
+Hortense said no more, but resolved to ask Grandfather about the knife
+at the first opportunity. Sometime, when she had a chance, she would
+come to the parlor and talk with the knife. It must have lovely,
+shivery things to tell.
+
+There was also a couch which fascinated her, a long, low couch with
+short curved legs and brass clawed feet. Hortense surveyed it for a
+long time.
+
+"It looks like an alligator asleep," she said at last. "I wonder if it
+ever wakes up."
+
+"What does?" Mary asked.
+
+"The couch," said Hortense. "See its short curved legs, just like an
+alligator's? And it's long. Probably its tail is tucked away inside
+somewhere. Alligators have long tails, you know. I saw an alligator
+once that looked just like that."
+
+"I declare," said Mary, "you are an awful child. I won't stay in this
+room a bit longer. I feel creepy."
+
+She gathered up her dust cloths and broom, and Hortense went
+reluctantly with her.
+
+"Do show me the attic, Mary," Hortense pleaded.
+
+"Not to-day," said Mary firmly. "You'd be seeing things in the corners.
+I never saw your like!"
+
+So for the rest of the morning, Mary dusted other rooms in which all
+the furniture seemed dead or asleep and, therefore, quite
+uninteresting.
+
+After luncheon, however, Hortense asked Grandfather to tell her about
+the knife with the crinkly blade.
+
+"That," said Grandfather, "is a Malay kris, such as the pirates in the
+East Indies carry. An old sea captain gave it to me. It once belonged
+to a Malay pirate. When he was captured, my friend secured it and gave
+it to me in return for a service I did for him."
+
+"It looks as though it could tell terrible stories," said Hortense.
+
+"No doubt it would if it could talk," said Grandfather. "It is very old
+and doubtless has been in a hundred fights and killed men."
+
+"You wouldn't let me carry it?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Gracious no," said Grandfather. "It is dangerous. What made you think
+of such a thing?"
+
+What Hortense thought was that it would be a very nice and handy weapon
+to hunt the cat with at night, but she couldn't tell Grandfather that;
+so she said nothing.
+
+"It's a nice afternoon," said Grandfather, "and little girls should be
+out-of-doors. Run out and see the barn and the orchard."
+
+Hortense did as she was told, wandering about the yard, exploring the
+loft of the barn, and the orchard. At last she came back to the house,
+for this interested her more than anything else.
+
+There were many bushes and shrubs planted close to the walls, forming
+fine secret corners in which to hide and look unseen upon the world
+without. Hortense hid a while in each of them, wishing she had some one
+with whom to play hide and seek.
+
+She found one bush which was particularly inviting, for it was beside
+an open window of the basement. She looked in and was surprised to see
+that the window opened not into the basement but into a wooden box or
+chute that sloped steeply, and then dropped out of sight into the gloom
+below.
+
+Hortense peered in as far as she could and as she did so, much to her
+surprise, a head appeared in the darkness where the wooden box dropped
+out of sight.
+
+It was the head of a dirty little boy. As she stared at it, she
+recognized the little boy who had turned handsprings in the yard next
+door as she and Uncle Jonah had driven by yesterday.
+
+"Hello," said Hortense.
+
+"Hello," said the boy. "Help me out. I slipped."
+
+He endeavored to lift himself to the chute whose edge came to his chin,
+but it was too slippery and he could not. Hortense stretched out her
+arm to help him, but the distance was too great.
+
+"However did you get there?" Hortense asked.
+
+"I wanted to see where it went," said the boy, "but once I got in I
+slipped and fell to the bottom."
+
+"Where does it go?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Only to the furnace," said the boy in disgust.
+
+"Oh," said Hortense. "I thought it might go to a secret room or
+something."
+
+"Can't you get a rope?" the boy asked.
+
+Hortense considered.
+
+"I couldn't pull you out if I did. I'll have to get Uncle Jonah."
+
+"He'll lick me," said the boy.
+
+"Oh, I know," said Hortense. "We'll play you're a prisoner in a
+dungeon, and every day I'll bring you things to eat."
+
+But the boy didn't seem to like this idea.
+
+"I want to get out," he said, and disappeared.
+
+"I believe there's some sort of a door at the bottom," he said at last,
+reappearing, "but it opens from the other side. Couldn't you get into
+the cellar and open it?"
+
+"Aunt Esmerelda might see me and ask what I was doing," she answered.
+"Maybe I can get by when she isn't looking. You wait."
+
+"I'll wait all right," said the boy. "Don't you be too long. It's dark
+in here."
+
+"The dark won't hurt you," said Hortense, but to this the boy only
+snorted by way of reply.
+
+Hortense peeped cautiously into the kitchen. Aunt Esmerelda was seated
+in her chair, fast asleep.
+
+"What luck," thought Hortense, and she tiptoed across the kitchen to
+the cellar door. She opened it very carefully, shut it again without
+noise, and crept down the stairs.
+
+The basement was dark, but soon Hortense began to see her way and
+walked to the furnace. At the back of it was the wooden chute that led
+to the window above.
+
+She knocked gently upon it.
+
+"Are you in there?" she asked.
+
+"Yes," said a muffled voice.
+
+Hortense looked for the door of which the boy had spoken and at last
+found a panel which slid in grooves. She pulled at this but succeeded
+in raising it only a couple of inches.
+
+"It's stuck," said Hortense.
+
+"I can help," said the boy, slipping his fingers through the opening.
+
+He and Hortense pulled and tugged and at last succeeded in raising the
+panel about a foot. They couldn't budge it an inch further.
+
+"I guess I can squeeze through," said the boy.
+
+Scraping sounds came from the box, and the noise of heels on the wooden
+sides. The boy's head appeared and then an arm. Hortense seized the arm
+and pulled.
+
+At last a very dusty, grimy boy wriggled through and, rising gasping to
+his feet, dusted his clothes.
+
+"What's your name?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Andy. What's yours?"
+
+Hortense told him. They looked at each other without further words.
+
+"You've got to get through the kitchen without Aunt Esmerelda seeing
+you," said Hortense, and led the way to the cellar stairs.
+
+"You stay here until I see if she's still asleep," Hortense said as she
+crept cautiously to the top.
+
+She opened the door very gently and peered in. Aunt Esmerelda still sat
+in her corner, asleep. Hortense motioned to Andy, who came as quietly
+as he could, which wasn't very quiet for his heels clumped loudly on
+the stairs.
+
+"Hush!" Hortense whispered. "Now go as fast and as quietly as you can
+across the kitchen. Hide behind the barn, and I'll follow you."
+
+Andy ran across the room, but as he went out of the door he struck his
+toe against the sill, making a great clatter.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda awoke with a start.
+
+"Lan's sakes, wha's dat?" she exclaimed.
+
+"May I have some cookies, Aunt Esmerelda?" Hortense asked.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda's eyes were rolling.
+
+"I 'clare I seed somefin' goin' out dat a doh. Dis yere house 'll be de
+def of me. Cookies? 'Cose you can have cookies, honey."
+
+Hortense helped herself freely, remembering that Andy would want some.
+With these in her hands she walked through the yard and around the
+barn, where she found Andy.
+
+"Cookies!" cheered Andy, and falling upon his share which Hortense gave
+him, he ate them one after another as fast as he could, never saying a
+word.
+
+"Didn't you have any luncheon?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Of course," said Andy, "but I squeezed so thin getting out of that box
+that I'm hungry again."
+
+"I suppose," said Hortense, "that when I want a second helping of
+dessert and haven't room for it, all I need do is to squeeze in and out
+of the box and then I can start all over again."
+
+It seemed a delightful plan.
+
+"We might do it now and get some more cookies," said Andy, hopefully.
+
+"Aunt Esmerelda would catch us and tell Uncle Jonah," said Hortense.
+
+She meditated on the delightful possibilities of the box.
+
+"We could play hide and seek, sometime when nobody's about," she said.
+"It's a grand place to hide."
+
+"But we both know of it and there's nobody else to play with," said
+Andy.
+
+This was very true unless Highboy and Lowboy and the Firedogs and Owl
+should be taken into the game. Hortense looked at Andy wondering
+whether to tell him of these friends of hers and of the Cat.
+
+"If we played at night," said Hortense, "we could have lots of people.
+Highboy, and Lowboy, and Owl, and the Firedogs come out at night."
+
+Andy stared at her with round eyes.
+
+"They're the furniture, you know," said Hortense. "You can see some
+things are alive and waiting to come out of themselves. I'm sure
+Alligator Sofa and Malay Kris would play, too, if we asked them."
+
+Andy's eyes were as big as saucers.
+
+"Honest?" he asked doubtfully.
+
+"They came out last night and we chased the cat, Jeremiah, into the
+attic where he disappeared," said Hortense. "We must find out where he
+went."
+
+"Aw, you're fooling," said Andy, but he spoke weakly.
+
+"Cross my heart 'n hope to die," said Hortense. "You come over to-night
+after everybody's asleep, and I'll show you."
+
+"I suppose I could get out of my window all right," said Andy
+doubtfully, "but how could I get into your house?"
+
+"By the cellar window and the wooden chute as you did to-day!" cried
+Hortense. "Then I'd unlock the cellar door, and you could come up."
+
+Andy seemed not to like the prospect.
+
+"It will be dark," he said.
+
+"Oh, if you're afraid of the dark, of course," Hortense sniffed.
+
+"Who said I was afraid?" challenged Andy.
+
+"Well, come if you aren't afraid," said Hortense. "But you mustn't make
+any noise, of course, or they'll catch us."
+
+Andy looked long at her and swallowed hard.
+
+"I'll come," he said bravely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+"_Jeremiah's disappeared again._"
+
+
+After dinner that night, Grandfather took Hortense on his knee and told
+her an exciting story, of pirates and Malay Kris.
+
+"Is it true?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Pretty nearly," said Grandfather. "It might be true."
+
+"If you think things are true, then they are true, aren't they?"
+Hortense demanded.
+
+"Perhaps," said Grandfather, wrinkling his forehead. "Philosophers
+disagree on that point. Now run off to bed."
+
+Hortense kissed her Grandfather and Grandmother good night and went to
+her room.
+
+"I hope you got a good nap to-day," she said to Highboy when she had
+closed the door, "because we are going to play hide and seek to-night,
+and Andy, who lives next door, is coming over."
+
+"I slept all day," said Highboy, "and I'm fit as a fiddle."
+
+"Why do you say fit as a fiddle?" asked Hortense. "Do fiddles have
+fits? Cats have, of course!"
+
+"And dresses," added Highboy, "and things fit into boxes. Your
+grandmother says when she puts things into me, 'This will fit nicely,'
+so I suppose a fiddle fits or has fits the same way."
+
+"It doesn't seem clear to me," said Hortense.
+
+"How many things are clear?" Highboy demanded.
+
+"Lots of things aren't," Hortense admitted. "Of course, a clear day is
+easy."
+
+"And you clear the table," said Highboy.
+
+"And clear the decks for action," said Hortense, "but that's pirates. I
+must ask Malay Kris about that. He's seen it happen lots of times.
+We'll get him to play to-night."
+
+"Who is Malay Kris?" asked Highboy.
+
+"He's the long, snaky knife that hangs in the parlor," said Hortense.
+"Then there's Alligator Sofa, too. We'll get him to play, if he'll wake
+up. He's so slow I suspect he'll always be _It_."
+
+Highboy shivered until he creaked.
+
+"They sound fierce and dangerous to me," he said, "worse than Coal and
+Ember."
+
+"Perhaps we can set him on Jeremiah and the other one," said Hortense.
+"I'm longing to see the bright, round one with prickly sides. I've a
+guess as to who it is."
+
+Highboy shivered again.
+
+"Don't mention them in my hearing--please!" he begged. "You never can
+tell when Jeremiah is snooping about, and he's a telltale."
+
+"Well, we needn't be afraid of Jeremiah," Hortense said. "Malay Kris
+will make the other one run, too, I expect."
+
+She looked out of the window.
+
+"There's no light on the lawn from the library," said she. "Everybody
+must be in bed. Let's go down."
+
+"You hold my hand tight," said Highboy.
+
+Hortense did so, and they stole down the stairs together.
+
+Coal and Ember growled a bit when they entered Grandmother's room but
+stopped when they saw who it was.
+
+"What do we do to-night?" Owl asked. "I feel wakeful."
+
+"Andy's coming over," said Hortense, "and then we're going to ask Malay
+Kris and Alligator Sofa to play with us."
+
+"Andy sounds like a boy," said Owl. "I hate boys. One robbed my nest of
+eggs once, and I swore I'd pull his hair if I ever met him again."
+
+"That was another boy, I'm sure," Hortense replied.
+
+"All boys are bad," Owl grumbled. "Who are Malay Kris and Alligator
+Sofa?"
+
+"I'll show you," said Hortense, "but first I must let Andy in. The
+cellar door's sure to be locked. You all wait here until we come."
+
+She found her way into the dark kitchen and, unlocking the door, stood
+at the head of the stairs. Soon she heard bumps in the wooden box.
+
+"Is that you, Andy?" she called softly.
+
+"Yes," said a muffled voice, and she heard him stumbling in the dark.
+
+Andy found his way to the stairs at last and soon stood beside her.
+Hortense took him by the hand and led him to Grandmother's room.
+
+"This is Andy," she said to the others.
+
+"Let us smell him," said Coal and Ember, "so we'll know him in the
+dark."
+
+They sniffed at his heels, and Owl glared fiercely at him.
+
+"It's not the boy who robbed my nest," said Owl. "It's lucky for his
+hair."
+
+"Now we'll go into the parlor for the others," said Hortense, leading
+the way.
+
+It was so dark in the parlor that Hortense could see nothing; so she
+threw open the shutters, admitting a faint light which shone on Malay
+Kris and made him glitter.
+
+"We want you to come down to play hide and seek," said Hortense.
+
+"I'd rather have a fight," said Malay Kris. "It's a long time since
+I've tasted blood. Many's the man I've slithered through like a gimlet
+in a plank."
+
+"These boastful talkers seldom amount to much," said Owl.
+
+Malay Kris glared at Owl, whose fierce eyes never wavered.
+
+"You have wings," said Malay Kris, "but anything that walks or swims is
+my meat. Show him to me."
+
+"Nonsense," said Hortense sharply. "This is hide and seek and not a
+pirate ship."
+
+"In that case," said Malay Kris, "I'll join you in a friendly game."
+
+Down he leaped as agile as a cat, a trim, slim fellow with bright eyes.
+
+"And now for Alligator," said Hortense. "He's asleep, as usual."
+
+She shook him roughly, and Alligator spoke in a hoarse voice like a
+rusty saw.
+
+"Who's tickling me?"
+
+"His voice needs oiling," said Owl.
+
+"A fat pig is what I need," said Alligator.
+
+"Well we have no fat pigs," said Hortense. "We are going to play hide
+and seek."
+
+"I'll play, of course," said Alligator, "but I'm slow on my feet. Now
+if it were a lake or river, I'd show you a thing or two."
+
+"The point is, who is to be _It_? said Owl.
+
+"Very true," said Lowboy. "He's a mind like a judge--never forgets the
+point."
+
+"She's _It_, of course," said Malay Kris. "She thought of the game."
+
+"Oh, very well," said Hortense.
+
+"It would be more polite to make Andy _It_," said Owl. "Always be
+polite to ladies."
+
+"I'll choose between Andy and me," said Hortense.
+
+    "Eeny, meeny, mona, my
+    Barcelona bona sky,
+    Care well,
+    Broken well,
+    We wo wack.
+
+"I'm _It_. I'll count to a hundred, and the newel post in the hall
+will be goal."
+
+There was a hurrying and scurrying while Hortense hid her face.
+
+"Ready," Hortense called and opened her eyes. She moved cautiously in
+the dark hall and stumbled over something at the second step.
+
+Slap, slap, slap, something went against the newel post.
+
+"One, two, three for me," said a hoarse voice.
+
+"That isn't fair. You slapped with your tail," said Hortense.
+
+"Why isn't it fair?" said Alligator. "I wouldn't stand a chance with
+you running. Now go ahead and find the others while I take a nap."
+
+"Well, there are plenty more," Hortense consoled herself. "I'll look in
+Grandmother's room first."
+
+The first thing she saw was the bright eyes of Owl, who was perched on
+the mantel.
+
+"I see you," said Hortense and started to run back.
+
+But Owl flew over her head and was perched on the newel post when she
+arrived.
+
+"Dear me," said Hortense, "I'll be _It_ all the time at this rate. I
+wonder if Coal and Ember are in the fireplace. She looked, but they
+weren't there.
+
+"I'll try the library," thought Hortense.
+
+She hadn't more than reached the center of the room when Coal and Ember
+dashed past her.
+
+"Why didn't you tell me?" said Hortense reproachfully to the bronze
+image of Buddha seated placidly on his pedestal. The image didn't deign
+to reply.
+
+"I wish I could make him talk," said Hortense aloud.
+
+Somebody snickered in the corner.
+
+"Sounds like Lowboy," said Hortense.
+
+Lowboy started to run for the door but collided with a chair.
+
+"I've scratched myself," said Lowboy.
+
+Hortense did not wait to console him. Instead, she ran to the newel
+post.
+
+"One, two, three for Lowboy!" she called. "Lowboy's _It_. All-y all-y
+out's in free."
+
+Malay Kris crawled out from behind the clock, and the others appeared
+one by one.
+
+"Lowboy's _It_," said Hortense.
+
+Lowboy shut his eyes and began to count. Hortense seized Andy by the
+hand and ran with him up the stairs.
+
+"We'll hide in the attic," she whispered.
+
+Up and up they ran, softly opened the door to the attic, and hid behind
+a trunk in the corner.
+
+"They'll never find us," said Andy.
+
+They lay quiet and heard nothing for a long time.
+
+"Perhaps they've given up," said Andy.
+
+"Ssh!" Hortense whispered.
+
+Something was running very fast up the stairs. It did not stop at the
+top, but raced on to the ladder which reached to the cupola above.
+Hortense peeped out. On the sill of the open window above stood
+Jeremiah with arched back and swollen tail. His yellow eyes shone like
+lamps.
+
+"Of all things!" said Hortense.
+
+Then the Cat disappeared, and they heard the soft thud of his feet
+alighting on the roof.
+
+"We must see what he's up to," said Hortense.
+
+Followed by Andy, she ran to the ladder, scrambled to the top, and
+peered out. The Cat was perched on top of the chimney, looking this way
+and that.
+
+Hortense ducked her head in order not to be seen.
+
+"What do you suppose he's doing there?" she asked.
+
+"Perhaps something is after him," said Andy.
+
+From below came a slow scratching sound. Some heavy creature with claws
+was coming up the attic stairs.
+
+"Is it you, Alligator?" Hortense called.
+
+"Where's that Cat?" said Alligator in a determined voice. "I must have
+him."
+
+"He's on the roof," said Hortense, climbing down. "But what do you want
+him for?"
+
+"For supper," said Alligator in his harsh voice. "He'll be furry, but
+eat him I will."
+
+He started up the ladder.
+
+"I'm old and big for such work as this," said he, "but have him I will.
+Push my tail a bit and give me a lift."
+
+Hortense pushed and Andy, at the top, pulled. Out went Alligator,
+Hortense and Andy holding his tail while he scrambled down the roof.
+
+Jeremiah raised his voice.
+
+"Help! Help!" he cried as Alligator slid slowly down the roof towards
+him. Then, as Alligator put his forelegs against the chimney and began
+to lift his horrible head, Jeremiah shut his eyes and jumped.
+
+Quick as a flash Alligator's huge jaws opened wide, and into them fell
+Jeremiah. Hortense could see Alligator's throat wiggle as Jeremiah went
+down.
+
+Alligator crawled back slowly.
+
+"I must seek my corner and go to sleep," said Alligator, balancing
+himself on the window ledge. "Hear him?"
+
+Hortense and Andy put their ears to Alligator's back. Within they could
+hear Jeremiah running around and around and crying out.
+
+"He's having a fit," said Hortense.
+
+"A snug fit," said Alligator grimly. "He'll get used to it after a
+while."
+
+Hortense and Andy were quite silent as they slowly followed Alligator
+down the stairs.
+
+"It's rather horrible," Hortense whispered to Andy, "although I didn't
+like Jeremiah."
+
+"I think I'll go home," said Andy.
+
+In the hall below they found all the rest.
+
+"Where have you been keeping yourselves?" said Owl irritably. "Ember's
+_It_, and we've waited ever so long."
+
+"Alligator's swallowed Jeremiah," said Hortense.
+
+"Served him right," said Owl, but Coal and Ember backed off as though
+fearing their turn would be next. Lowboy was sober for once.
+
+"I want to go home," whimpered Highboy.
+
+"Why didn't you let me run him through first?" demanded Malay Kris.
+"I'd have skewered him like a roast of beef."
+
+"Too late," said Alligator, making off to the parlor.
+
+"I suppose the party's broken up for to-night," said Owl.
+
+All moved away by common consent. Hortense let Andy out of the back
+door and locked it after him. Taking Highboy, who was still shaking, by
+the hand, she led him up the stairs.
+
+"That Alligator's a dreadful person," said Highboy. "I'm sure I'll not
+sleep at all."
+
+Hortense, however, slept soundly and was late for breakfast. When she
+entered the dining room, Grandmother was saying, "Jeremiah's
+disappeared again. I wonder what can have got into him of late."
+
+Mary, bringing toast, entered with a troubled face.
+
+"Jeremiah's somewhere in the parlor, ma'm," she said. "I heard him
+crying under the sofa, but though I looked I couldn't see him. I called
+to him, but he wouldn't come. It's most surprising."
+
+"We'll find him after breakfast," said Grandfather.
+
+So after breakfast they all went to the parlor. Jeremiah's plaintive
+cries could be clearly heard. Grandfather looked under the sofa and
+poked around with a cane, but still no Jeremiah appeared.
+
+"We'll have to move it out," said Grandfather. "He must be caught
+somewhere."
+
+He moved the sofa out into the room and peered behind it. Jeremiah's
+cries came distinctly, but he was not to be seen.
+
+"Most extraordinary," said Grandfather.
+
+Aunt Esmerelda shook her head, as did Uncle Jonah.
+
+"Dat cat is sho' a hoodoo," said Uncle Jonah.
+
+"Something's moving in the sofa," said Hortense.
+
+All looked, and sure enough there was a slight movement from within.
+
+"But he couldn't get into the sofa!" said Grandmother.
+
+Uncle Jonah and Fergus turned the sofa over on its back.
+
+"There's no hole," said Grandfather, examining the sofa carefully from
+end to end, "but there is something moving inside!"
+
+He opened his pocketknife and carefully slit the covering at one end.
+Uncle Jonah and Aunt Esmerelda retreated to the door and looked on with
+frightened faces.
+
+Grandfather inserted his hand, felt around, and pulled forth Jeremiah,
+a very crestfallen cat.
+
+"How did you get in there?" demanded Grandfather.
+
+Jeremiah mewed and looked much ashamed.
+
+"A most extraordinary thing," said Grandfather, carrying Jeremiah from
+the room.
+
+Hortense followed with the others. As she went, she raised her eyes to
+Malay Kris, hanging in his customary place on the wall.
+
+Malay Kris winked one bright eye at her.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+"_I'll have the charm
+That saves from harm;_"
+
+
+Grandmother was knitting and Hortense sat on a stool at her feet,
+thinking, for she wished to make a request of Grandmother and she was
+doubtful of Grandmother's response.
+
+"May I ask the little boy who lives next door to come in and play?"
+Hortense asked suddenly.
+
+"I didn't know you had seen him," said Grandmother.
+
+"I've seen and talked with him," said Hortense. "His name is Andy."
+
+"You are sure that he is a nice little boy?" Grandmother asked.
+
+"Oh yes!" Hortense cried.
+
+"Very well, then," said Grandmother. "You may ask him to come after
+luncheon."
+
+Hortense did so. After luncheon she and Andy climbed to the attic,
+which Hortense wished to see in the daytime, for at night she had
+learned very little about it.
+
+It was a great square attic with a roof that sloped gradually to the
+floor from the cupola, which was like the lamp high above in a
+lighthouse. Like all proper attics it held old trunks, furniture, and
+all kinds of things. In the drawers of the bureaus and wardrobes were
+old suits and dresses, and in the trunks, other dresses and suits and
+old hangings. Andy and Hortense took them out and dressed in them--and
+played they were a lord and a lady, and pirates, and Indians. Then they
+sat down to eat the four apples which Hortense had thoughtfully brought
+with her.
+
+"Where do you suppose the Cat hid the night I followed him and he
+disappeared?" Hortense asked.
+
+"There are lots of corners to hide in," said Andy, but Hortense was
+sure that the Cat had some particular place; so Andy and she crawled
+all around the attic under the eaves, looking behind every trunk and
+into every corner. Yet they could find no place that seemed especially
+secret.
+
+"There's no secret corner," said Andy, sitting down beside the big
+chimney and leaning his back against it.
+
+But as he spoke he suddenly began to disappear through the floor and
+only by catching the edge of it did he save himself. He and Hortense
+were too surprised to speak for a moment. Then they knelt on the edge
+of the opening and peered down.
+
+"It's a trapdoor," said Andy. "We must find out where it goes."
+
+He pushed the door to one side and revealed a little staircase.
+
+"Are you afraid to go down?" Andy asked.
+
+"Of course not," said Hortense. "You go first."
+
+Andy led the way and Hortense followed. A few steps brought them to a
+small room. It was dark, but the light from the trapdoor enabled them
+to see a little after a while. There was nothing in the room but a
+large chest.
+
+"Shall we open it?" Andy asked.
+
+"Of course," said Hortense.
+
+By pulling and tugging they succeeded at last in lifting the lid.
+
+"It's empty," said Andy much disappointed. "I hoped it might be full of
+gold and jewels."
+
+Hortense had a sudden thought.
+
+"This is where Jeremiah went the time we couldn't find him."
+
+Andy was unconvinced.
+
+"A cat couldn't open a trapdoor," he said.
+
+"Maybe Jeremiah could. He's no ordinary cat. Besides there's another
+one."
+
+"Another cat?" Andy demanded.
+
+"No. Somebody else we haven't seen, but I can guess who it is."
+
+"Who is it?"
+
+"I won't tell yet--not until I'm sure. But we'll see him. Maybe we'll
+surprise him and Jeremiah here some night and take them captive."
+
+"Hello," said Andy as he put his foot on the stairs. "What's this?"
+
+Beside the chimney was a black hole and fastened to the chimney was an
+iron bar like the rung of a ladder. Andy peered down.
+
+"There's another rung," he said. "I wonder where this ladder goes?"
+
+"We'll have to find out," said Hortense. "Dear me, this is a most
+mysterious house."
+
+Andy put one foot on the ladder and began to descend. Soon his head
+disappeared from sight.
+
+"It goes down and down, probably to the basement," he called. "Come
+on."
+
+Hortense obeyed, and down and down they went. It was very dark, but now
+and then a little chink beside the chimney let in a ray of light.
+
+"Maybe it goes to the middle of the earth," said Andy from below. "No,
+here's the bottom at last."
+
+Soon Hortense stood behind him. Gradually, as their eyes became
+accustomed to the dark, they could see a little.
+
+"Here's the way," said Andy at last.
+
+"But here's another passage," said Hortense.
+
+"We'll try mine first," said Andy.
+
+They had walked only a few steps when they came to a wooden panel.
+
+"It's like the one that I crawled through the other day," said Andy.
+"Help me to move it."
+
+It moved slowly, but finally they raised it until they could crawl
+through.
+
+"I believe this is the chute I came down when you found me," said Andy.
+
+He stood up.
+
+"There's the basement window," he said, "and here's the little door I
+crawled through. Now we can get out."
+
+"We must see where the other way goes first," Hortense reminded him.
+
+"I'd forgotten," said Andy.
+
+Back they went to the foot of the ladder and then down the other way
+which grew smaller and smaller and suddenly stopped.
+
+"Let's go back, there's nothing here," said Hortense.
+
+Andy stood still, absorbed in thought.
+
+"It can't end in nothing," said he. "Who would dig a tunnel to
+nowhere?"
+
+He felt the end of the passage with his hands.
+
+"It's wood," he announced. "It must be a door. Yes, here's a little
+latch."
+
+He opened the little door and, lying on his stomach, looked down the
+tunnel beyond. It was neatly fashioned and quite light but curved away
+in the distance so that the end was not visible--only a shining bit of
+the wall.
+
+Hortense spoke the thought of both.
+
+"If we were only small enough to go down it and see where it leads,"
+said she.
+
+But alas, it was far too small for that.
+
+"Probably Jeremiah goes through it," said Hortense. "Where do you
+suppose it goes?"
+
+"Perhaps to the middle of the earth, or to a cave filled with diamonds
+and gold," said Andy.
+
+"Or maybe to the home of the fairies."
+
+"Well, we can't know, so there's no use thinking of it."
+
+"Still, if we watched it sometimes, we might see who goes down it,"
+Hortense suggested hopefully, "and if it were a fairy, we might talk
+with him."
+
+"We might do that," Andy agreed.
+
+"But probably they'd know we were watching and keep hid."
+
+They returned the way they had come, crawled through the wooden box.
+Into the basement, and went to the head of the cellar stairs.
+
+"I'll see if Aunt Esmerelda is asleep," said Hortense. "If she is,
+we'll tiptoe across the kitchen, get some cookies, and eat them in the
+barn."
+
+She opened the door cautiously and peeped in. Sure enough, Aunt
+Esmerelda was asleep in her chair with her apron thrown over her head.
+Hortense motioned to Andy and they crept quietly across the kitchen to
+the door, Hortense pausing a moment 'on the way to fill her pockets
+with cookies.
+
+They ran unseen to the barn and climbed to the haymow where they ate
+the cookies. Hortense was deep in thought all the time.
+
+"To-night," she announced at last, "we'll hide in the little room we
+found. You can come in by the basement window and climb up the ladder.
+I'll go up by way of the attic. Whom shall I bring?"
+
+"Alligator would be too big," said Andy. "Besides, he's likely to
+swallow things, he has such a terrible appetite."
+
+"And Lowboy is so fat he might get stuck going down the chimney."
+
+"Coal and Ember are always likely to growl and give us away."
+
+"That leaves only Owl, Highboy, and Malay Kris," said Andy.
+
+"Owl's eyes shine so--we'd better not have him," Hortense added.
+
+So it was agreed that that night Hortense should bring only Highboy and
+Malay Kris with her.
+
+"You won't be afraid to climb the ladder all alone in the dark?"
+Hortense asked.
+
+"Well," said Andy, "I'll come anyhow."
+
+Hortense clapped her hands.
+
+"That's just what Grandfather says to do," said she. "I wish I were
+brave."
+
+"You are," exclaimed Andy.
+
+"No, I'm not, because I have a charm. See, this little ivory monkey."
+
+She pulled out the charm from the neck of her dress.
+
+"While I wear this, nothing can happen to me. It's lucky."
+
+"I don't believe in charms," said Andy.
+
+Hortense was displeased at his doubt.
+
+"Well, you'll see," said she.
+
+It was nearly sundown; so Andy ran home, and Hortense returned to the
+house to change her dress for supper.
+
+Said she to Highboy, "To-night you and Malay Kris and I are going to
+hide in the secret room in the attic. There Andy will join us, and we
+will watch for Jeremiah and the other."
+
+"I do not wish to see Jeremiah or the other," said Highboy.
+
+"Nevertheless, you must come," said Hortense firmly.
+
+"Alas," mourned Highboy. "Never again will I stand on a good Brussels
+carpet and see the sunshine pour in the south window. Many a sad year
+shall I weep for the last embraces of my brother Lowboy and the dull
+life of home."
+
+Hortense was struck to admiration by these moving words.
+
+"How lovely," said she. "I didn't know you wrote poetry."
+
+"I have a drawer full," said Highboy, perking up a bit.
+
+"Then you must surely come," Hortense urged. "You might be captured, or
+something, and then you could be dreadfully melancholy and write the
+beautifullest poetry!"
+
+"True," said Highboy. "Sorrow is the food of poets."
+
+Consequently, when all was still and Grandfather and Grandmother were
+safely in bed, Highboy went willingly enough with Hortense down the
+dark silent stairs and past Grandmother's sitting room.
+
+"May I not say a farewell to Lowboy?" said Highboy with tears in his
+voice.
+
+"Not at all," said Hortense briskly. "He might want to come, too."
+
+They went softly into the parlor, and Hortense whispered to Malay Kris,
+telling him of the night's expedition.
+
+"Good," said Malay Kris. "If I see the Cat or the other one, I'll
+slither through their bones."
+
+He spoke in a low, fierce voice and jumped down lightly so as not to
+awaken Alligator, who seemed to be asleep, but it was of no use.
+Without opening his eyes, Alligator grunted,
+
+"Where do I come in?"
+
+"Why, you see," said Hortense embarrassed, "you're so big you couldn't
+get into the little room nor climb down the ladder."
+
+"You mean I'm not wanted," said Alligator crossly. "Very well, I'll not
+go where I'm not asked. I'll hunt alone."
+
+"Dear me," said Hortense, "now he'll go and swallow something he
+shouldn't."
+
+"Maybe I will and maybe I won't," said Alligator. "It depends on my
+appetite."
+
+"Swallow me," said Malay Kris, "and I'll show you a thing or two. I'll
+run you as full of holes as a colander."
+
+"You're not to my taste," said Alligator, yawning horribly. "If I cared
+to, I would."
+
+Malay Kris glared at Alligator, but as it was of no use to attack his
+thick hide, which was as tough as iron, he did nothing more and
+Hortense dragged him away.
+
+"Save your wrath," she said.
+
+"I have so much I don't need to save it," said Malay Kris. "The more I
+spend, the more I have."
+
+Nevertheless he came obediently enough, and Hortense and Highboy and
+Malay Kris climbed to the attic, went through the trapdoor, and hid in
+the little room. They left the door open a bit so that they could see
+out, and all crouched on the upper stair waiting for whatever was to
+come.
+
+"What's that?" said Malay Kris. "I heard a sound."
+
+"It's Andy, of course," said Hortense, running down the stairs. "I'd
+almost forgotten him."
+
+Leaning over the hole beside the chimney, she called in a soft voice,
+"Andy, Andy."
+
+"It's me," said Andy, and soon he joined them.
+
+"Why do we wait here?" Malay Kris demanded. "How can you be sure any
+one will come?"
+
+"We can't be sure, of course," Hortense said, "but it's likely because
+it's a secret place. We want to see who it is that goes with Jeremiah.
+Highboy has seen him but doesn't know his name. He's all shiny, and
+prickly, and hard."
+
+"Not too hard for me," Malay Kris boasted. "I'll run him through as
+though he were cheese."
+
+"It won't be so bad, once we see him," Hortense observed. "A thing is
+never so bad as you think it is beforehand."
+
+"Except castor oil," said Andy. "That's worse."
+
+They all sat in silence, waiting for something to happen.
+
+"Unless it comes soon, I'll go out and look for it," Malay Kris growled
+after a time. "I rust with inaction."
+
+"Hush!" said Hortense.
+
+They heard the swift patter of feet on the attic stairs and across the
+floor.
+
+"Only Jeremiah," Hortense whispered disappointedly, peeping out of the
+crack in the door. But immediately after came the clatter of metal and
+a bright round figure ran up the ladder after Jeremiah and disappeared
+through the cupola window.
+
+Hortense clapped her hands softly.
+
+"I knew it!" she exclaimed, full of excitement.
+
+"What did you know?" Andy asked.
+
+"It's the Grater! The one that hangs in Aunt Esmerelda's kitchen."
+
+"Let me see him!" cried Malay Kris.
+
+On the roof above their heads, light footsteps pattered rhythmically.
+
+"I do believe they're dancing!" Hortense said.
+
+They ran to the ladder and scrambled up.
+
+"Careful! We mustn't let them see us," Hortense warned.
+
+Cautiously they peeped over the window ledge. Below them on the roof,
+Jeremiah and Grater were dancing outrageously. The Cat pranced on his
+hind legs, and Grater leaped and spun like a top, so that his sides
+glittered in the moonlight.
+
+[Illustration: Grater danced outrageously, leaping and spinning in the
+moonlight.]
+
+"He's wearing armor," said Malay Kris. "H'm, he won't be so easy as I
+thought. However, I'll have a try."
+
+Hortense laid a hand on his shoulder.
+
+"Not now," she said. "Let's wait."
+
+Grater began to sing in a harsh voice. As Hortense listened to the
+words, she hastily put her hand to her throat to make sure that the
+little monkey charm was safe, for it was certain the words referred to
+it.
+
+    _I'll have the charm
+    That saves from harm;
+    The charm I'll have
+    And make her slave;
+    It's on her neck,
+    And I expect
+    She'll die of fear
+    When I come near.
+    On her I'll grate
+    As sure as fate._
+
+This was certainly a disagreeable prospect, for Grater must prove very
+scratchy indeed.
+
+"I surely must keep away from him," Hortense reflected.
+
+She forgot her fear of Grater in a moment, however, for there was a
+noise as of claws on the attic floor, and the movement of a heavy body.
+
+"It's Alligator!" she said aloud.
+
+"Yes, it's me," Alligator answered. "Don't anybody try to stop me. I
+know that Cat's upon the roof, and I mean to have him. I'll swallow him
+whole."
+
+"The Cat is dancing with Grater," said Hortense, "and Grater is a
+terrible person. You daren't swallow him, for he's all hard and covered
+with sharp points."
+
+"I am myself," Alligator said. "I'll look him over, but it's the Cat I
+want. Warm and soft, he'll be."
+
+Alligator started up the ladder, and Hortense and the others pressed
+aside to let him pass. Softly he slid out of the window upon the roof
+and was half way down it before the Cat saw him.
+
+Jeremiah, with a howl, leaped to the top of the chimney, his back
+arched, his tail as large as a fox's brush.
+
+Grater, who was a nimble fellow for all that he looked so clumsy, after
+one glance at Alligator ran quickly around to the other side of the
+roof, and Alligator, with the slow, relentless movement of a traction
+engine, continued after Jeremiah. Jeremiah remembered his former
+unhappy experience, apparently, for with one despairing meow he
+disappeared down the chimney. They could hear him falling slowly, his
+claws scratching the bricks. As he fell, his cries grew fainter and
+fainter. As for Alligator, he stood with his short forelegs resting on
+the chimney top, the picture of disappointment.
+
+Hortense and the others were so absorbed in this interesting scene that
+they had quite forgotten Grater. His sudden appearance at the window so
+surprised them that all four slid down the ladder in a panic.
+
+"Quick, the trapdoor!" Hortense cried.
+
+"Let me fight him!" Malay Kris begged.
+
+"No, no, not here!" Hortense said and pushed him before her.
+
+Down the ladder they went as fast as they could, which wasn't very
+fast, for the iron rungs were slippery and Hortense had to feel for
+each one with her feet. Highboy was before her and once she stepped on
+his fingers.
+
+"Ouch!" Highboy cried, and stopped to put his fingers in his mouth.
+
+"Do hurry," Hortense begged, for she could hear Grater above her,
+already beginning to descend.
+
+But Highboy was distressingly slow. Grater came nearer and nearer.
+
+"Oh, dear!" Hortense said to herself, "he'll catch me in a moment and
+take my charm."
+
+Then she had an inspiration. Quickly unclasping the charm, she reached
+down to Highboy and said, "Swallow this, quick!"
+
+"Is it can----," Highboy began but could say no more, for she crammed
+it into his mouth.
+
+"I'm sure it's indigestible," Highboy complained, "and it wasn't sweet.
+I don't like it."
+
+"Hurry!" Hortense cried, for at last they were at the bottom where they
+could crawl through the door into the cellar.
+
+Grater was so close that his hand was upon Hortense's foot. She jerked
+herself free and in a flash was up the cellar stairs and in the
+kitchen.
+
+Malay Kris turned indignantly to Hortense.
+
+"Why didn't you let me at him?" he demanded.
+
+There was time for no further words. Grater was upon them, and Malay
+Kris, with a glad cry, hurled himself at his foe. It was a grand fight,
+but short. Malay Kris bore Grater to the floor, locked fast in a deadly
+embrace.
+
+"Let me up!" said Grater in a weak, hoarse voice. "You're hurting me."
+
+But Malay Kris, try as he might, could not do so. He had pinned his foe
+to the floor so securely that he, himself, was stuck fast. Andy,
+Highboy, and Hortense, all lent a hand but could not free him.
+
+"Never mind," said Malay Kris, "I like the feel of this fellow and
+don't mind staying all night."
+
+Whatever would Grandfather say, Hortense wondered.
+
+There was nothing to do but leave Malay Kris to enjoy his victim.
+Hortense, after leading Andy out the door, ran up to her room with
+Highboy, who said he was too excited to sleep and that he would compose
+poetry all night. Hortense slept very well, however, and in the morning
+when she began to dress remembered her charm.
+
+"Give me my charm, Highboy," said she.
+
+"In the top drawer," said Highboy.
+
+Sure enough, there it was, and Hortense fastened it hastily about her
+neck and ran down to breakfast, which wasn't ready.
+
+"Aunt Esmerelda wouldn't cook breakfast this morning, and Mary is
+preparing it," Grandmother explained.
+
+"Aunt Esmerelda is afraid of spooks," said Grandfather, laughing.
+"Indeed, I don't know how to explain it myself. What do you suppose we
+found this morning? That Malay kris of which I told you, that hangs in
+the parlor, was thrust through the grater and buried so deep in the
+kitchen floor that Fergus and I could hardly get it out."
+
+Mary, bringing breakfast, announced,
+
+"Jeremiah's shut up somewhere again. We can hear his cries but can't
+tell where he is."
+
+"Not in the sofa again, I hope," said Grandfather.
+
+"Not there," said Mary. "He sounds as if he were in the chimney."
+
+"Impossible," said Grandfather. "But then, impossible things happen
+every day in this house. We'll have breakfast first, at any rate."
+
+After breakfast Grandfather, Fergus, and Uncle Jonah found the place in
+the chimney where Jeremiah was caught and, knocking in a hole, let him
+out.
+
+Very dirty he was, all covered with soot, and very much ashamed. He
+hurried away with lowered head and tail and didn't reappear until he
+had cleaned his coat.
+
+Even then he would not look at Hortense, try as she would to catch his
+eye.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+"_... there should be Little People up the mountain yonder...._"
+
+
+"If you will come to tea at four o'clock, Fergus will tell you a story
+of the Little People," said Mary to Hortense, adding as Hortense
+hesitated a moment, "Bring Andy with you."
+
+Hortense accepted gladly and ran to inform Andy of the invitation and
+that nut cake with chocolate icing had been especially made for the
+occasion.
+
+At four o'clock Andy and Hortense, in their best bib and tucker and
+with clean smiling faces, knocked at the door of the little cottage
+beyond the orchard where lived Fergus and Mary.
+
+The tea was all that could be asked for in variety and quantity, and it
+was quite evident when Hortense and Andy had finished with it that if
+they ate even a mouthful of supper later, they would be taking a grave
+risk of bad dreams and castor oil.
+
+Fergus lighted his pipe, drew his chair a little closer to the hearth,
+and related the story of _Shamus the Harper_.
+
+                     *      *      *      *      *
+
+    You must know that a very long time ago, when many kings ruled
+    Ireland, there lived a boy named Shamus. He was not, however, the
+    son or grandson of a king, which was in itself a distinction. In
+    fact, his father had a bit of a farm and a few sheep, and it was
+    his intention that Shamus, likewise, should be a farmer and a
+    raiser of sheep.
+
+    Shamus, however, had other ideas. Being a shrewd lad, he saw early
+    that men seldom made a fortune and won the good things of the world
+    through toil and the sweat of their brows. Not at all! And Shamus
+    loved an easy life only less than he loved to play upon the harp
+    and sing songs of the old days, the wars of kings, and the love of
+    beautiful women. He was always playing upon the harp when he should
+    have been working in the fields and watching the sheep, and his
+    father soon realized that the lad was fit for no honest work but
+    was designed by nature only to be a harper and a maker of ballads.
+
+    One day he said to his son, "Take your harp and go to the house of
+    the King. Perhaps he may find a use for you, for sure it is you are
+    of no use to me. When you have won gold and wear fine clothes,
+    perhaps after long years you will return to see me in my old age,
+    and I will think better of you."
+
+    Shamus was glad at these words and, packing a few things in a bag
+    and slinging his harp upon his back, off he went to the house of
+    the King.
+
+    It was a fine house with many servants and poor relations of the
+    King, eating the bread of idleness. There were harpers, also, but
+    as there can never be too many of them in the world, the King said
+    to Shamus, "Play me a ballad of kings and wars, and the love of
+    women, and, if the song be good, you shall stay with me and have
+    little to do but make songs and sing them."
+
+    Shamus did as he was told and sang a song which the King liked
+    well, and accordingly the lad was given a fine coat and all he
+    could eat and nothing to do, and he was content.
+
+    Now, the King had a daughter who was as beautiful as the dawn. No
+    sooner had Shamus set eyes upon her than he fell in love with her
+    and resolved to win her as his wife, if she would have him and the
+    King would consent. He made songs which he sang to her, and the
+    Princess liked them. She grew fond of Shamus, who was a handsome
+    lad.
+
+    The King, however, after the way of kings and fathers, had other
+    ideas and announced throughout the kingdom that the Princess should
+    be the wife of him who was victorious in a quest, which was no
+    other than to win from the King of the Little People the gold cup
+    forever filled with good wine. No matter how much was drunk
+    therefrom, the cup was never empty. The King chose this quest for
+    the reason that he was very fond of good wine and could never get
+    enough.
+
+    Shamus, therefore, like many others, set out to win the gold cup
+    from the King of the Little People. He slung his harp on his
+    shoulder and put a bit of bread and meat in a bag to stay him on
+    his journey, which promised to be long.
+
+    Now, Shamus, having been reared in the country, knew that the
+    Little People liked best to live in the hills and mountains. So to
+    the mountains he went, making songs to lighten the long way. He
+    made a song of running water, and of the wind in the trees, and of
+    moonlight upon a grassy slope, and these he liked better than any
+    songs he had yet composed.
+
+    At last he came to the hills and mountains and set himself to watch
+    for the Little People. Every moonlight night he sat by a green
+    hill, hoping that the Little People would come forth to dance, as
+    is their way, but never did he chance to see them, and he began to
+    despair of finding them. Nevertheless he was not sad, for he had
+    his harp, and the songs which came to him were beautiful, and he
+    cared even more for these than for the love of the Princess. One
+    day, as he sat in the woods playing upon his harp, he chanced to
+    look up, and there drew near a beautiful creature upon a beautiful
+    horse from whose mane hung many silver bells that chimed sweetly in
+    the wind.
+
+    "Play me a song if you are a harper," said she.
+
+    He played her his song of running water, and she liked it well; he
+    played his song of wind in the trees, which she liked yet better;
+    and then he played his song of moonlight on a grassy slope.
+
+    The beautiful creature clapped her hands.
+
+    "Come with me to Elfland," said she, "for I am Queen of that place,
+    and I will give you a coat of even cloth and make you a minstrel at
+    my court. Have you the courage to do so?"
+
+    "It is the one wish of my heart," said Shamus.
+
+    Accordingly, up he mounted behind the Queen of Elfland and away
+    flew her horse, the silver bells chiming in the wind.
+
+    For three days and nights they flew, and Shamus saw the moon turn
+    red and heard the roaring of the sea. At last they came to the
+    Court of Elfland, where, on a golden throne, sat the King of the
+    Little People, most brave and fierce, tugging at his beard.
+
+    "What have we here?" he roared in a big voice. "Then let him play,"
+    commanded he when the Queen of Elfland had spoken her word.
+
+    Shamus played his three songs, and the King of the Little People no
+    longer pulled at his beard but sat as one in a dream.
+
+    "Those are good songs," said he at last. "Give him a coat of the
+    even cloth, and he shall play to me when I desire."
+
+    Accordingly, Shamus was given a fine green coat and became a
+    minstrel at the court of the King of the Little People. So carefree
+    was the life, and the food and wine so good, that the memory of his
+    former life and of the beautiful Princess became as the memory of a
+    dim and half-forgotten sorrow, and Shamus thought no more of
+    returning to the world.
+
+    One day, however, when he was recalling all his old songs to please
+    the King, who, after the way of kings, was always hankering for
+    something new, his fingers found a song of his childhood, one that
+    carried him back to the days in his father's house. Then he also
+    remembered other things, including the Princess and his love for
+    her and the quest upon which he had started. His fingers fumbled
+    with the strings, he could find no voice to sing further, and great
+    tears rolled down his face and splashed on the ground.
+
+    "Stop it!" commanded the King of the Little People, drawing his
+    feet up under him for fear of the damp. "Why is it you weep such
+    wet tears?"
+
+    So Shamus told him the cause of his sorrow while the King plucked
+    at his beard and looked wise. When Shamus had finished, the King
+    said to him:
+
+    "If I should give you the goblet that you seek and back you should
+    go to the world, sorrowful would be your days and nightly would you
+    lament the lost and beautiful years you have spent with me."
+
+    "Nevertheless," said Shamus, "so it is, and I must live my life as
+    it is ordered."
+
+    "So be it," said the King. "I do not value the goblet a whit but I
+    must, of course, lay upon you three tasks which you must perform
+    before it is yours."
+
+    "What are they?" Shamus asked.
+
+    "First," said the King, "get me the magic dog that belongs to the
+    King of the Gnomes and the sound of whose silver bell drives away
+    all thought of sorrow."
+
+    "Good," said Shamus, and away he went to seek the King of the
+    Gnomes.
+
+    After many days and adventures too numerous to relate, he came to
+    the house of the King of the Gnomes, which was inside a mountain
+    and as thickset with jewels as the grass with dew on a fine
+    morning.
+
+    Shamus told his desire and the King of the Gnomes ordered the dog
+    to be brought. It was a tiny creature, and looking at its coat one
+    way its color was gold, and looking at it another way its color was
+    green, and underneath it was a fire red. Around its neck was a
+    silver bell that chimed sweetly as it walked and at the sound of
+    which all sorrow was forgotten.
+
+    "'Tis a fine dog," said Shamus.
+
+    "'Tis that." said the King, "and the sound of the bell is sweet,
+    but one thing it will not do. Have you a wife?" said he.
+
+    "I have not," said Shamus.
+
+    The King looked at him long with envy in his eyes.
+
+    "Some are born lucky in this world," said he. "Know that I have a
+    wife whose tongue is like the roar of a waterfall day and night,
+    save now and then when she takes a nap as she is now doing. Her
+    talk drowns out the sound of the silver bell and drives me nearly
+    mad. Make her cease her clatter, and the dog is yours."
+
+    Just then there was a great noise and out came the Queen, talking
+    thirteen to the dozen. The King clapped his fingers to his ears,
+    and the magic dog put his tail between his legs and crawled under
+    the throne. The King said never a word, but his glance said plain
+    as day, "Isn't it as I said?"
+
+    So Shamus took his harp and began to play his song of running
+    water. At first he could not make himself heard, but after a while,
+    as he played, the Queen's talk came slower and slower, and softer
+    and softer, and by and by she was speechless.
+
+    Then Shamus began to walk slowly away, and the Queen followed. On
+    and on he walked until he came to a stream. In the middle was a
+    stone. Around it foamed the white water. Onto the stone leapt
+    Shamus, still playing. The Queen stood on the bank and wrung her
+    hands, and then with a shriek she threw herself in and was swept
+    away in the white water.
+
+    Shamus leapt back to the bank where stood the King much pleased.
+
+    "The dog is yours," said he, "and a good bargain I've made. The
+    silence," he said, "will be like honey on the tongue. Now and
+    then," he said, "I'll likely come to the stream and drop in a bit
+    of a stone. It roars louder than it did, don't you think?"
+
+    And indeed it did so, for the Queen's voice was going still and has
+    never since stopped.
+
+    Shamus took the little dog under his arm and carried him back to
+    the King of the Little People.
+
+    "So far so good," said the King. "Next, bring me the magic
+    blackbird who sings so sweetly for the King of the Forest."
+
+    Off went Shamus again, this time to the forest, where he found the
+    King sitting under an oak tree.
+
+    "What do you here?" said the King, and Shamus told him.
+
+    "I'll not part with the bird," said the King, "although I'm a bit
+    tired of his song. It's too sweet," said he, "and I prefer the
+    cawing of crows and the croaking of ravens. However, it is much
+    admired by others, and therefore I shall keep him."
+
+    He ordered the bird to be brought and bade it sing, which it did
+    most beautifully.
+
+    "His high notes are a bit hoarse to-day," said the King. "I've
+    heard him do better."
+
+    The bird cast him a murderous glance, and Shamus, who was a singer
+    himself, felt sore at heart that a good song should receive so
+    little praise. However, he kept his thoughts to himself, which he
+    had found a good practice when dealing with kings.
+
+    Also, he stayed to supper with the King and afterwards sang and
+    played, the King every now and then breaking in with a word to say
+    how it should be done.
+
+    "You do not badly for a beginner," said he when Shamus had
+    finished.
+
+    Shamus could have slain him where he stood for those ungracious
+    words, but he bided his time, pretending to be well-pleased.
+
+    When all were asleep that night, Shamus slipped from his bed and
+    went into the woods where he began to play softly his song of the
+    wind in the trees. Louder and louder he played, and sure enough,
+    the blackbird soon came and perched on a tree near by. When he had
+    done, the bird said, "It is a pleasure to hear a song well-played."
+
+    "Sorry was I to hear the words of the King when you sang so sweetly
+    before him," replied Shamus.
+
+    "Little he knows of songs," retorted the bird, "and I'm thinking
+    I'll go where I'll be appreciated."
+
+    "Then come with me," said Shamus. "There are kings and kings, and
+    some are better than others."
+
+    So he told him of the King of the Little People and of the good
+    things that came to those who sang for him.
+
+    "I'll go with you," answered the bird.
+
+    Quietly they slipped away lest the King of the Forest surprise
+    them, and back they went to the King of the Little People.
+
+    "Good again," acknowledged the King, and he commanded the bird to
+    sing.
+
+    "I'm almost minded to let you off the third task," the King
+    exclaimed, "but a vow is a vow and must not be broken. Bring me
+    last the hare that dances by moonlight."
+
+    Shamus went off a third time and traveled until he came to a fine
+    grassy slope, and there he awaited the full moon. Sure enough, as
+    he lay hidden, out came the hare and began to dance, leaping and
+    bounding and playing with his shadow.
+
+    Then Shamus began to play, softly at first and then louder and
+    louder. Higher and faster danced the hare to the music and when it
+    was done he sat down, panting, on the grass.
+
+    "It is a good song, and never have I danced so well," exclaimed he.
+
+    "And never," said Shamus, "have I seen such wonderful dancing."
+
+    "Thank you for that," rejoined the hare. "It is not often that I
+    get an audience which can appreciate me, and you know yourself that
+    a bit of praise helps wonderfully to make one do his best."
+
+    "'Tis so," said Shamus. "A word of praise is meat and drink to one
+    who sings--or dances," he added remembering the hare.
+
+    Shamus told the hare of the King of the Little People and the good
+    things at his court.
+
+    "Belike he'd have a bit of a carrot or a patch of good clover,"
+    said the hare wistfully.
+
+    "That he would," Shamus returned heartily. "Come with me and I'll
+    show you."
+
+    "I'll do it," said the hare, and off they went to the King of the
+    Little People.
+
+    "You have done all that I asked," said the King, "and do you still
+    wish to return to the world?"
+
+    "It is my fate to do so," said Shamus.
+
+    "So be it," said the King, "but long will you lament the day. It is
+    easier to go than to return. However, I'm not saying that some day
+    you may not come back to me, for I like you well."
+
+    The King gave Shamus the magic goblet and ordered that he be borne
+    from Elfland, and Shamus returned to the world.
+
+    With the goblet in his pocket and his harp slung over his shoulder,
+    he made his way to the court of the King and the Princess. On the
+    throne sat an old woman, and the faces of those around were strange
+    to him.
+
+    "Who are you?" she asked.
+
+    Shamus told her the story of his wanderings and produced the
+    goblet.
+
+    "Where is the Princess?" he inquired.
+
+    At these words the old Queen upon the throne burst into loud
+    weeping.
+
+    "Long have you been gone, Shamus," said she. "It is seven times
+    seven years since you left me. And now I am old, and you are as you
+    were. It is too late!"
+
+    To Shamus, the time passed in Elfland had been no more than a year,
+    and his heart was sorrowful as he turned away without a word.
+
+    "Belike my father is dead," said he as he bent his steps toward
+    home.
+
+    There he also found new faces and was given the word that his
+    father had been dead this many a year. In sorrow Shamus turned
+    away, making sad songs to comfort his heart.
+
+    Thus he wandered through the world, finding no place where he could
+    rest. His songs were sad and all who heard them wept, but he was
+    not unhappy, for there is a certain pleasure in even a sad song.
+
+    Yet always he longed for Elfland and the ways of the Little People,
+    and the sound of the bell on the magic dog, whose chime brings
+    forgetfulness of all sorrow. Try as he would, he could never find
+    the way, and he knew that it was because his songs were sad and he
+    was no longer young at heart.
+
+    Older he grew with white hair and feeble step, and one day he was
+    weary and sat himself down in a wood to rest. He sat there,
+    thinking of his lost youth and the sad ways of the world, longing
+    to die.
+
+    As he lamented, his fingers plucked his harp and he played again
+    his best songs, those of running water, and the sound of wind in
+    the trees, and of moonlight on a grassy slope.
+
+    His heart grew young within him as he played, and when he rose to
+    his feet, the dimness of age fell away from his eyes. Before him
+    stood the Queen of the Little People, as she had stood long before.
+
+    "Will you come with me, Shamus?" said she.
+
+    "Alas," said he, "I am now too old."
+
+    "Your songs are young," said she, "and you are young again in
+    heart. Come with me, where you may be young forever and play glad
+    songs."
+
+    Shamus mounted up behind on the beautiful horse, away they flew,
+    and that was the last ever seen of him upon earth.
+
+                     *      *      *      *      *
+
+Hortense and Andy sat silent a moment as Fergus looked at them with his
+merry blue eyes.
+
+"I wish there were still Little People," said Hortense with a sigh.
+
+"Perhaps there are," said Fergus. "Who knows?"
+
+"Have you ever seen them?" Andy demanded.
+
+"Not of late," Fergus admitted, "but when I was a young lad in Ireland
+I saw them many a time."
+
+"But not here?" said Hortense.
+
+"It's because I'm old, not because they're not about," said Fergus. "To
+young eyes there should be Little People up the mountain yonder on a
+fine moonlight night."
+
+Andy and Hortense looked at each other as though to say, "We'll find
+out, won't we?" which was indeed what both of them were thinking.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+"_The sky was lemon colored, and the trees were dark red._"
+
+
+Uncle Jonah had declared he would trounce Andy if ever he found him in
+the orchard or the barn, but as Uncle Jonah was very rheumatic and had
+to hobble about his work, it seemed unlikely that he would ever catch
+Andy, who was as fleet as a squirrel. It was a fine game, however, to
+pretend that Uncle Jonah was "after them," and so Andy and Hortense ran
+and hid whenever Uncle Jonah came in sight.
+
+One afternoon they were seated in the grape arbor enjoying the early
+grapes, which were forbidden, when Uncle Jonah suddenly appeared. The
+only way to escape was through the vines and lattice, a tight squeeze,
+and Uncle Jonah nearly had them.
+
+"I seed yo'," Uncle Jonah called, "an' I's gwine tell yo' Gran'pap."
+
+Andy and Hortense ran as if possessed. Into the barn they went and up
+into the haymow where they were usually safe, but as they lay panting
+on the hay, Uncle Jonah entered the barn, grumbling to himself.
+
+Andy and Hortense lay as still as mice. Uncle Jonah was with the
+horses. They could hear the slap of his hand upon their fat backs and
+his, "Steady now, quit yo' foolin'."
+
+"Done et all yo' hay, have yo'? Spec's dis po' niggah to climb dose
+staihs and tho' down some mo'? I ain't gwine do it, no suh."
+
+Nevertheless, soon Andy and Hortense heard Uncle Jonah's step on the
+stairs and they gazed at each other in fright.
+
+"Where shall we hide?" Hortense gasped.
+
+"Slide down the hay chute and into the manger," said Andy quickly. "The
+horses won't bite, and we can get away before Uncle Jonah comes down."
+
+In a moment they were at the chute and, holding to the edge, dropped
+down, Andy first and Hortense on top. Andy scrambled through the hole
+into the manger and Hortense after him, but the hole was small, and
+Hortense plump, and it was only by hard squeezing that she got through
+at all.
+
+Once in the manger, it was only a moment before they were out from
+under the velvety noses of the horses and had slipped past them through
+the stall. They ran out of the barn and to the kitchen where they
+secured an unusually large supply of cookies; then hurried to the nook
+in the shrubbery beside the basement window that led to the furnace, a
+good place to hide.
+
+They ate cooky for cooky until they had eaten ten apiece, when they
+stopped to rest a bit. Hortense was still warm and unbuttoned her
+collar. As she did so, she was conscious of missing something and felt
+again carefully.
+
+"I've lost my charm," she said hurriedly.
+
+"Perhaps it slipped down inside," Andy suggested.
+
+Hortense felt of herself but could not find it.
+
+"I must have lost it going down the hay chute," she said. "I know I had
+it in the haymow. It must have come off when I squeezed through. Dear
+me, if I should lose it!"
+
+"We'll find it when Uncle Jonah goes away from the barn," Andy consoled
+her.
+
+They attacked the remaining cookies.
+
+"I wonder how many cookies I could eat," said Andy dreamily as they
+began their thirteenth.
+
+"I've had most enough," said Hortense taking another bite.
+
+Then she began to feel very strange. Everything about her seemed to
+grow larger and larger, except Andy. The entrance to the basement
+seemed as wide as the barn door; the lilac bush over her head looked as
+big as an oak tree, and the piece of cooky in her hand as big as a
+dinner plate.
+
+"What's happened to us?" Andy asked.
+
+"I believe," said Hortense, "that we've grown small, or everything else
+big. I don't know which."
+
+"How'll we ever grow big again?" Andy asked.
+
+"We won't worry about that now," said Hortense practically. "It'll be
+lots of fun to be small. We can hide so nobody can find us and surprise
+people. I believe I could climb right into one of Highboy's drawers, or
+even into the jar where Grandpa keeps his tobacco."
+
+"Mother'll never be able to find me when she wants me to weed the
+garden," said Andy hopefully.
+
+Hortense's eyes grew wide, and she looked at Andy with a great idea in
+her eyes.
+
+"What is it?" Andy asked.
+
+"Now we can go through the little door and down the shining tunnel!"
+said Hortense.
+
+It was so bright an idea that they wondered they hadn't thought of it
+sooner.
+
+"But we're so small, how'll we ever get to the bottom of the chute?
+It'll be twice as high as we are."
+
+Hortense hadn't thought of this difficulty.
+
+"We can't go through the kitchen either, for we might be seen," said
+she. "Besides, the kitchen steps would be too high for us."
+
+Andy was thinking.
+
+"If we could find a long enough stick, we could carry it with us; then
+we could slide down it. After that it would be easy."
+
+So they hunted for a stick and finally found one that looked as if it
+would do, but it was all they could do to get it into the basement
+opening. Once in, however, it was easily pulled down the chute to the
+edge of the drop below. Andy and Hortense lowered it carefully until
+the end rested on the bottom.
+
+"Hooray," said Andy. "It's long enough."
+
+And climbing onto it, he slid down and was soon out of sight.
+
+"All right," he shouted a moment later, "I'm down."
+
+Hortense then took hold, and with Andy steadying the stick at the
+bottom, she soon slid down and stood behind him.
+
+Hand in hand they ran down the dark passage that led to the little
+door. It seemed a long way, and when they arrived, the little door
+seemed as big as any ordinary door. Andy pulled at the latch and swung
+it open, and there before them was the shining tunnel that curved out
+of sight. They stood a moment looking at it.
+
+"Where do you suppose it goes?" Andy asked.
+
+"It must go to the Little People," said Hortense. "Nobody else could
+use it."
+
+"We'll find out, at any rate," said Andy, and together they ran down
+it.
+
+It curved and curved and grew brighter and brighter as they ran, always
+a little downhill.
+
+"I believe there's no end to it," said Hortense after they had gone
+what seemed a long way.
+
+"There must be," said Andy. "Why I believe this is the end, and it's
+raining."
+
+They came into what seemed to be a large cave whose roof was high above
+them, and from the roof water was dripping as fast and as thick as
+rain. The cave was as bright as moonshine and the drops sparkled as
+they fell. Through the falling drops, far on the other side of the
+cave, they saw a bright opening like the one through which they had
+come.
+
+"We must run across," said Hortense, and hand in hand they dashed
+through the rain and into the little tunnel which was just like the one
+they had left, except that it began to slope up instead of down and
+soon was quite steep. As they paused for breath after climbing a long
+distance, Hortense, who had been thinking hard, said to Andy, "Do you
+know, I believe the cave with the falling water was under the brook,
+and now on this side we are going up the inside of the mountain."
+
+"Perhaps we will come out in the cave where the Little People live,"
+said Andy. "At least Fergus thinks they live there."
+
+They hurried on, hoping that Andy's guess might be right, but when at
+last they reached the end of the passage and unlatched a little door
+exactly like that through which they had entered, they came out neither
+upon the mountain side nor in a cave, but in a strange country such as
+they had never seen before. The sky was lemon colored and the trees
+were dark red.
+
+Before them, in the distance, was a little house with a steep roof and
+a pointed chimney. As they drew closer, they saw two windows in the
+end, set close together like a pair of eyes. Andy and Hortense walked
+slowly towards it, hand in hand. It was in a little garden surrounded
+by a hedge of cat-tails and hollyhocks.
+
+"I never saw a hedge of cat-tails before," said Andy, and indeed it
+looked very odd.
+
+There was a little gate, and through it Andy and Hortense entered the
+garden. Nobody was to be seen nor was there any sound. Andy and
+Hortense, coming closer, peeked through a window. They could see a fire
+on the hearth and a tall clock in the corner, but no person was
+visible.
+
+"Let's go in." said Andy, and Hortense, agreeing, followed him around
+the corner to a little door which was unlatched.
+
+Nobody was in the room, which had three chairs, a table, the clock
+which they had seen through the window, and in the corner a great jar,
+taller than they were, with _Cookies_ printed in large letters on
+the outside.
+
+"Dear me, what a large cooky jar," said Hortense. "I'd like to look
+in."
+
+But Andy could not reach the top to remove the cover, try as he would.
+He stood on a chair to do so and though he could now reach the cover,
+it was too heavy for him to budge.
+
+Hortense, meanwhile, was looking about her to see what she could see,
+and as she did so her eyes fell on something familiar. In a glass case
+on the mantel was the monkey charm which she had lost in the barn.
+Hortense examined it closely to be sure that it was the same. Yes,
+there was the very link in the chain which she had noticed before
+because it was more tarnished than the others--and there was a broken
+link. She must have caught it as she slipped through the hay chute into
+the manger.
+
+Hortense tried to reach the glass case but could not. She stood on a
+chair, but there was no apparent way of removing the glass. Tug as she
+and Andy might, the glass would not move.
+
+"We might break the glass," Andy suggested.
+
+"You cannot break it," said the old Clock suddenly.
+
+"Why, it's exactly like our clock at home!" said Hortense. "I believe
+it's the same one. However could it have gotten here?"
+
+"Time is the same here and everywhere, now and forever," said the
+Clock. "You cannot get away from time."
+
+"Time isn't the same," said Hortense. "There are slow times and times
+when everything goes fast."
+
+"It's only because you think so," said the Clock. "I go precisely the
+same at all times."
+
+"When I'm asleep, where does time go?" Hortense asked. "The night goes
+in no time."
+
+"Of course, in no time things are different," said the Clock. "I was
+speaking of time, not of no time."
+
+Hortense puzzled over this, for it didn't seem right somehow.
+
+"Well, no matter about that," said Hortense. "Tell us whose house this
+is--that's the important thing just now."
+
+"Couldn't you tell whose house it is by looking at it?" asked the
+Clock. "I should think anybody could."
+
+"It looks like something I've seen before," said Hortense, "but I can't
+remember what."
+
+Then suddenly she did remember.
+
+"It's the Cat's house!" said she. "And it has my charm!"
+
+"Just so," said the Clock. "If I were you, I'd go away at once."
+
+It seemed excellent advice, and Andy and Hortense turned to obey, but
+as they did so, in walked Jeremiah, a Jeremiah that seemed as big as a
+lion.
+
+"Well, well," said Jeremiah in a purring voice, "if this isn't Andy and
+Hortense. I didn't think I'd find you here. How small you've grown!"
+
+"I didn't look to find you here," said Hortense severely, "You should
+be at home where you belong."
+
+But Jeremiah only smiled at this and yawned, showing his great sharp
+teeth. Then he stretched and sharpened his claws on the floor. His
+claws tore up great splinters with a noise like that of a sawmill, and
+Andy and Hortense were very much frightened.
+
+"Let us past," Hortense said in a brave voice which trembled a little.
+
+Jeremiah only blinked his great green eyes and smiled a little, very
+unpleasantly.
+
+Hortense and Andy looked at the windows, but these were fastened tight,
+and Jeremiah, besides, was looking at them from his lazy green eyes.
+
+"Don't go just yet," Jeremiah purred in a voice that shook the house.
+"It wouldn't be polite to hurry away. Besides, my friend Grater would
+be disappointed."
+
+Andy and Hortense, being now but ten or twelve inches tall, had even
+less wish to see Grater than formerly. Hortense was aware of a sinking
+feeling in her stomach.
+
+The door flew open and in walked Grater, and very large and rough he
+looked. Where Malay Kris had run him through, he wore a large patch of
+pink court-plaster. His eyes fell upon Andy and Hortense and a wide and
+wicked smile appeared upon his unhandsome countenance.
+
+"Well, well," said Grater in his rough voice, "if here aren't our
+little friends. We must urge them to stay with us. Jeremiah, put these
+nice plump children in the cooky jar for future use."
+
+[Illustration: "Jeremiah, put these nice plump children in the cooky
+jar," said Grater in his rough voice.]
+
+With two steps Grater was across the room, and he removed the cover of
+the jar.
+
+"In with them, Jeremiah," said Grater, and Jeremiah, rising lazily,
+took first Andy and then Hortense by the collar and dropped them into
+the jar. The top came down with a clatter, and Hortense and Andy were
+in the dark.
+
+The jar was empty and the sides were smooth as glass.
+
+"Stand on my back," said Andy, "and see if you can reach the cover."
+
+Though Hortense could just reach it, it was far too heavy for her to
+move.
+
+"It wouldn't be of any use," said Hortense. "They'd catch us again even
+if we did get out."
+
+So they sat quiet for a long time. Hortense felt like crying, but
+managed not to. After a time she became hungry and put her hand in her
+pocket. There was a large piece of cooky which she had put there when
+she began to grow small and had completely forgotten.
+
+"I have a piece of cooky," said she, breaking it in two and giving Andy
+half.
+
+"If we eat any more, we may grow still smaller," said Andy.
+
+"I don't care, I'm hungry," said Hortense. "Besides, if we grow very
+small perhaps the Cat won't see us when he looks into the jar--or we'll
+be too small to eat, at any rate."
+
+It seemed a slim chance, but Hortense took a bite of cooky and waited
+to see what would happen.
+
+"I'm not growing smaller," said she. "I do believe I'm growing bigger!"
+
+She stood up quickly.
+
+"I can reach the top," said she.
+
+Andy stood up, too.
+
+"I'm still growing," said Hortense. "Quick. We must get out before the
+jar is too small for us, or we'll be squeezed in and can't get out."
+
+Together they pushed as hard as they could. The top of the jar fell off
+with a loud crash and Andy and Hortense scrambled over the edge, just
+in time, for they were growing bigger very fast.
+
+The room was empty and dark except for the fire on the hearth.
+
+"Hello," said the Clock, "is it you again? Better run while you have a
+chance!"
+
+Andy and Hortense obeyed without a word, and hand in hand they ran
+through the door, into the garden, and out of the gate.
+
+"We can't go back the way we came," said Hortense, panting, after they
+had run a long distance. "We're too big now."
+
+"There must be another way out," said Andy.
+
+So they ran on and on, through the trees.
+
+"What a funny light it is," said Hortense, stopping at last and looking
+up. "I do believe the moon is blue here."
+
+So it was--a blue moon in a lemon colored sky.
+
+"I've heard of blue moons," said Hortense. "They must be very rare."
+
+"They're rather nice," said Andy, "but I suppose we'd better not
+linger."
+
+"Here's a path," said Hortense.
+
+They ran along the path, which grew darker and darker, until they came
+to a gate on which was a sign printed in large letters. By peering
+close, Andy and Hortense could just make out the words:
+
+    PRIVATE PROPERTY
+    NO TRESPASSING
+
+"We have to go through, whosesoever it is," said Hortense,
+determinedly, and unlatching the gate through they went.
+
+The path grew darker and smaller, walled on each side by rock. Soon
+they had to crawl on their hands and knees.
+
+"I don't believe we can get out this way," Hortense said at last.
+
+"Yes, we can," said Andy, who was in front. "I see light ahead."
+
+Sure enough, out they soon came into yellow moonlight, such as they had
+always known. They were upon a large flat rock. Below them was a steep
+tree-covered slope, and at the bottom lights twinkled.
+
+"It's the side of the mountain," said Hortense, "and that's the house
+way down there. How'll we ever get there?"
+
+"We'll have to go down the mountain side," said Andy. "Do you know," he
+added, "I believe this is the very spot which Fergus pointed out to us?
+Maybe the Little People come here. Shall we hide and see?"
+
+"Let's," agreed Hortense.
+
+They hid in the shadow of a tree by the edge of the rock and waited,
+not making a sound.
+
+The moon rose higher over the mountain until the rock was almost as
+light as day, but still no one appeared.
+
+"Let's go home," said Hortense at last in a sleepy voice.
+
+But Andy, who was listening with alert ears, whispered.
+
+"Hush, I hear something."
+
+Hortense, too, listened and at last heard a faint sweet sound from
+within the mountain. Nearer and nearer it came, to the very mouth of
+the cave. Then appeared a band of Little People in green coats and red
+caps, each with a white feather at the side.
+
+They marched slowly, a band of musicians at the head playing upon tiny
+instruments which made high, sweet music no louder than the shrilling
+of gnats. Following the musicians came the King and Queen with little
+gold crowns on their heads and wearing robes with trains borne by
+pages. Then came eight stout fellows carrying two golden thrones which
+they placed on a little eminence.
+
+The King and Queen seated themselves, and the fairy band, after
+marching once around the rock, formed in a hollow circle. The King
+clapped his hands and rose, whereupon the musicians ceased playing, and
+there was complete silence. The King was taller than the others by half
+a head; his beard was long and tawny, and his presence royal. Said the
+King:
+
+"The moon is high and the night still. It is a fitting time and place
+for our revels. Let the musicians play."
+
+The musicians struck up a slow stately dance, and the King, taking the
+Queen by the hand, advanced to the middle of the circle and with her
+stepped a minuet. When the music ceased, all the Little People clapped
+their hands in applause, and the King and Queen reseated themselves,
+smiling graciously.
+
+"The rabbit-step," commanded the King, and immediately the musicians
+began so lively a tune that Andy and Hortense found it difficult not to
+join in, which would have spoiled everything. At once, all the Little
+People began to skip like rabbits, in the moonlight. Around and around
+they went, dancing like mad, and Hortense and Andy grew dizzy watching
+them.
+
+Again the music changed, and the Little People danced a square dance,
+after which they formed in rings within rings and whirled around faster
+and faster until they seemed only rollicking circles of green in which
+not one face could be distinguished from another.
+
+A shadow as of a cloud fell upon the dancing Little People, and
+Hortense, looking up, saw what seemed to be a dark spot on the moon.
+Larger and larger it grew until she could distinguish it to be a pair
+of horses ridden by figures only too familiar.
+
+"It's Jeremiah and Grater!" she whispered to Andy.
+
+The fairy King had also seen. Suddenly he clapped his hands and the
+music and dancing ceased.
+
+"Away!" the King shouted, and in a twinkling not a fairy was to be
+seen. The shadow grew larger and larger until it wholly obscured the
+moon. Then in a twinkling the horses came to earth and stood panting,
+with drooping heads.
+
+"Why, it's Tom and Jerry!" said Hortense to herself, being careful not
+to make a sound.
+
+Jeremiah and Grater dismounted.
+
+"Well," said Jeremiah lazily, "I was sure we'd never catch them this
+way. You'll have to lie in wait and pounce on them."
+
+"You and your mousing tricks!" said Grater contemptuously.
+
+But Jeremiah only yawned.
+
+"There's a cooky jar at home with something in it," he reminded Grater.
+"Let's go."
+
+With a bound Jeremiah and Grater mounted their weary steeds, and in a
+moment they were out of sight over the tree tops.
+
+"Did you ever!" exclaimed Hortense.
+
+"I think we'd better go home," Andy suggested.
+
+Accordingly, they struck down the steep mountain side and soon were at
+the foot, where ran the brook.
+
+"We'll have to wade," said Andy.
+
+They plunged in and across, and with wet shoes and stockings, ran
+across the pasture, through the orchard to the house.
+
+"It's late. Whatever will they think!" said Hortense.
+
+"I'm going straight to bed without being seen," said Andy.
+
+It seemed the only thing to do, so Hortense stole quietly in and up the
+dark stairs to her room.
+
+"Where have you been?" Highboy demanded when she had shut the door.
+"You've been looked for everywhere."
+
+Hortense was too sleepy to reply, and in the morning no one questioned
+her, for Uncle Jonah had a sorry tale to tell of the horses, who lay in
+their stalls too tired to move, their manes and tails in elflocks, and
+their flanks mud stained.
+
+"Dey's hoodooed," said Uncle Jonah, shaking his head.
+
+To this, Grandfather made no answer but looked puzzled, and Hortense,
+who could have told him how it all happened, didn't know how to begin;
+so said nothing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+"_Tell us a story about a hoodoo, Uncle Jonah,_"--
+
+
+Andy had driven Tom and Jerry in from the upper pasture for Uncle
+Jonah, who was forced to admit that Andy wasn't so bad a boy as he had
+thought. It seemed a good time, therefore, to ask Uncle Jonah about the
+hoodoo.
+
+"What is the hoodoo, Uncle Jonah?" Hortense asked.
+
+"How come yo' 'quire 'bout dat?" Uncle Jonah asked. "Ah dunno nuffin'
+'bout no hoodoo."
+
+"You said Tom and Jerry were hoodooed," said Andy and Hortense
+together.
+
+"Jes' foolish talk," said Uncle Jonah.
+
+"Tell us a story about a hoodoo, Uncle Jonah," Hortense begged.
+
+"Ah don' know nuffin' 'cept about Lijah Jones an' old Aunt Maria," said
+he at last.
+
+"Tell us that," said Andy and Hortense together.
+
+Uncle Jonah put a coal from the fire in the palm of his hand, and while
+Andy and Hortense watched breathlessly to see whether he would burn
+himself, he slowly lighted his corncob pipe. Then he began.
+
+                     *      *      *      *      *
+
+    One mawnin' dis yere Lijah Jones was a-traipsin' along when he met
+    Aunt Maria.
+
+    "Mawnin'," says Lijah, keerless like, "yo' been a hoodooin' any one
+    lately, Aunt Maria?"
+
+    Dis yere Aunt Maria, she got a bad name and Lijah know it. Aunt
+    Maria, she stopped an' looked kinder hard at Lijah.
+
+    "Huh," she says, "Don' yo' fool wid me, niggah."
+
+    Lijah, he step along faster, not sayin' nothin' but feelin' kinda
+    oneasy. He wisht he ain't said dem words.
+
+    Dat evenin' Lijah come back fum town wid some co'n meal an' a side
+    o' bacon. As he come thu the woods by Aunt Maria's cabin, he kinda
+    shivered 'cose it wuz gettin' late an' de owl wuz a-hootin'. Dey
+    wan't no light in Aunt Maria's cabin, but dey wuz a little fiah in
+    de back yah'd, an' Lijah, he seed some one a-stoopin' ovah it.
+    Lijah wuz dat curyus he crep' roun' de co'nah of de cabin an' stuck
+    his head out. Sho'nuf, dey wuz Aunt Maria a-stirrin' a big black
+    pot an' a-croonin' somefin' dat make Lijah tremmle lak a leaf. He
+    don' make out wat she say 'cept, "Hoodoo Lijah Jones."
+
+    Dat was 'nuf, an' Lijah, he crep' away quiet an' hurry home
+    thoughtful-like. He don' believe in no hoodoo, but he wuz oneasy.
+    Dat night he say nuffin' 'bout it to his wife, but he go to bed
+    early.
+
+    Bambye he wake up. Dey wuz a kinda noise goin' on by de ba'n, but
+    Lijah, he ain't got no likin' fo' to get up an' see wat's de
+    mattah. So he tu'n ovah, an' bambye he ain't heah no mo' noise, an'
+    he go to sleep ag'in.
+
+    In de mawnin' w'en he go to milk de cow, sho'nuf dey wuz a hawg
+    a-lyin' on its side, daid. Lijah, he scratch his haid an' tu'n de
+    hawg ovah wid his foot. He don' know what happened to it, but he
+    kinda s'picioned.
+
+    De nex' day w'en he wuz a-goin' down de road, 'long comes Aunt
+    Maria ag'in.
+
+    "Mawnin'," says Aunt Maria.
+
+    "Mawnin'," says Lijah, kinda scaihed-like.
+
+    Dat was all dey said. Aunt Maria, she laugh an' go 'long, an'
+    Lijah, he don' lak de soun'.
+
+    Dat night nuffin' happen, an' Lijah, he feel bettah. But de nex'
+    night Lijah wake up ag'in an' heah somefin', an' sho'nuf in de
+    mawnin' bof his mules wuz dat wo'n out lak dey been a-runnin' in de
+    mud all night, dat he cain't do no wuk wid 'em.
+
+    Lijah, he kinda desprit wid dis, an' so dat night he don' go to bed
+    but sit up an' hide in de ba'n. Sho'nuf, 'bout twelve o'clock 'long
+    comes somefin', an' quicker'n nothin' bof dem mules wuz out'n dey
+    stalls an' away down de road. Lijah, he reckon he seed somefin'
+    a-ridin' em, an' he know mighty well wat it wuz.
+
+    In de mawnin' bof de mules was back ag'in, wo'n out, wid dey eahs
+    droopin', and ag'in Lijah, he cain't do no wuk.
+
+    Dat night he don' set up 'cose 'tain't no use. But he wek' up
+    sudden an' heah somefin' a-sayin', "Go to de ole house by de swamp
+    and mebbe yo' fin' somefin'."
+
+    In de mawnin' he membah wat he heah an' he feel brave an' sco'nful,
+    but dat night he don' feel so brave 'cause he knowed 'bout dat
+    house. Nobody live in it but ha'nts, an' he don' like ha'nts nohow.
+
+    Howsomevah he made up his min' t'go, an' 'bout nightfall he fin'
+    his way to de ole house by de swamp. It mighty lonely deh and
+    Lijah, he tremmle a bit. He strike a match an' look 'roun'. On de
+    table dey wuz a lamp, an' Lijah, he light de lamp an' feel a heap
+    bettah.
+
+    Den he set deh a long time, an' all he heah wuz de hootin' of de
+    owls and de crickets a-chirpin' in de grass. Lijah, he drowse a
+    bit. Bambye he open his eyes an' deh, across de table, wuz a big
+    black cat a-settin' an' lookin' at him.
+
+    Lijah, he don' say nothin' an' de cat say nothin', jes' look outa'
+    his big green eyes. Bambye de lamp, it go down an' den it flame up
+    bright, an' Lijah, he look at de cat an' he think it biggah dan
+    befo'. De cat, it riz up and stretch an' it seem powahful big.
+
+    Lijah, he riz up, too.
+
+    "What fo' yo' goin'?" say de cat.
+
+    "Ah bleeged to go home," say Lijah, an' he out's thu dat doh
+    quicker'n nothin' wid de cat aftah him. Lijah, he run fo' his life.
+    Bambye he catched up wid a rabbit a-lopin' along.
+
+    "Outa' my way, rabbit," sez Lijah, "an' let somebody run wat kin
+    run."
+
+    An' all de time dat cat kep' right aftah him, an' he mos' feel its
+    claws on his back.
+
+    Lijah was nigh wo'n out w'en he come to his house. He opens the doh
+    quick an' slams it shut; den he heahs de cat a-scratchin' on de doh
+    an kinda' sniffin' 'bout, an' Lijah, he lays down on de bed plumb
+    wo'n out.
+
+    In de mawnin' he tell his wife all 'bout it. She sez nothin' fo' a
+    while but jes' set a-figgerin'. Den she sez, "Yo' one fool, niggah.
+    Go an' kill de bes' hawg an' cut him up. Den yo' take one side to
+    Aunt Maria an' be mighty perlite."
+
+    Lijah, he don' like dis nohow, but he done what his wife tole him.
+    He tote dat side of hawg to Aunt Maria, an' she smile wicked when
+    she see him comin'.
+
+    "I brung yo' a side of nice hawg what I jes' kill't," says he
+    perlite.
+
+    "I sho's mighty bleeged," sez Aunt Maria. "I kin use a bit of hawg
+    meat. An' how is yo' gittin' 'long?"
+
+    "Not very good," sez Lijah. "Ah don' seem to have no luck."
+
+    "Mebbe yo' luck will change," says Aunt Maria, smilin'-like.
+
+    An' sho'nuf, Lijah, he don' have no bad luck no mo'. But he wuz
+    allays perlite aftah dat, an' he don' say nothin' disrespectfu'
+    'bout hoodoos an' ha'nts.
+
+                     *      *      *      *      *
+
+Hortense sat thoughtfully.
+
+"We don't know anybody to give anything to because of Tom and Jerry,"
+said she.
+
+Uncle Jonah moved uneasily.
+
+"I reckon we jes' gotta wait an' see whut happens," said he. "I don'
+know nothin' 'bout it, an' I ain't gwine mix up wid it. Yo' tek my
+advice and keep clear uv 'em."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+"_Ride, ride, ride
+For the world is fair and wide._"
+
+
+Andy and Hortense were planning what they should do next, for it was
+certain that they must go back to the Cat's house and secure the monkey
+charm, if they could. Also, they wished very much to see the Little
+People again, dancing on the rock in the moonlight.
+
+"If we hide in the barn, perhaps we can see Grater and Jeremiah ride
+away on Tom and Jerry," said Hortense.
+
+"But what good will that do?" Andy asked.
+
+"Let's take every one along--Alligator, and Malay Kris, and Highboy,
+and Lowboy, and Coal and Ember, and Owl. Perhaps we'll think of
+something. Or maybe Alligator will swallow Grater!"
+
+"It doesn't do any good for Alligator to swallow anything," said Andy.
+"It's always found in the sofa in the morning anyhow."
+
+"Grandfather might know what to do with it," said Hortense. "And
+perhaps it would go away."
+
+Andy had nothing better to propose and so it was agreed to do as
+Hortense suggested. That evening, when all was dark and silent,
+Hortense gathered every one in the parlor and told them the plan.
+
+"It doesn't sound very definite," Owl grumbled.
+
+"Suggest something then," said Hortense sharply.
+
+But Owl only looked wise and said nothing.
+
+Hortense found it quite difficult to hide all her companions in the
+barn. Owl, because his eyes were so bright, was made to go up in the
+loft and look down through a knot hole in the floor; Highboy and
+Lowboy, hand in hand, stood behind a door; Coal and Ember crouched in a
+corner, and Hortense told them that if they growled she would never
+take them out again. Alligator merely lay on the floor and, unless one
+looked close or felt his rough skin, one would never have guessed who
+he was. Malay Kris, who was slim and not easily seen, crouched beside
+the stalls, and Andy and Hortense covered themselves with some old
+empty sacks beside the wall where they could see and not be seen.
+
+They lay hidden a long time, and nothing happened. Now and then some
+one moved or made a little noise, and Hortense said, "Hush!" After that
+they would remain quiet for a time.
+
+The moon rose late, and its light slowly crept across the floor until
+it fell upon Malay Kris, who moved a little way into the shadow again.
+Andy and Hortense, under the old sacks, were uncomfortably warm and
+very stiff from lying so long in one position.
+
+"I don't believe they are going to come at all," said Hortense in a low
+voice to Andy.
+
+"Doesn't look like it," agreed Andy.
+
+Then they lay quiet again.
+
+Suddenly they heard a squeal from behind the barn. It made Hortense
+jump.
+
+"It's only one of the pigs," Andy whispered.
+
+Alligator had heard, too. They saw him raise his head; then slowly
+crawl towards the door.
+
+"Come back!" Hortense commanded in a fierce whisper.
+
+But Alligator paid no heed. He crawled through the doorway and
+disappeared.
+
+"I'll never bring him again," Hortense whispered, much vexed. "He's
+always doing things he shouldn't and getting us into trouble."
+
+She had no sooner said the words than another quick squeal came from
+behind the barn, and then silence.
+
+"He's swallowed the pig," said Andy.
+
+It seemed probable, indeed, that he had done so, but they saw no more
+of Alligator and didn't dare go out to look for him.
+
+Hortense must have taken a brief nap after that, for suddenly she
+became aware of Jeremiah standing in the doorway. He had come so
+quietly that she hadn't heard him at all.
+
+He stood there a moment, his back arched and his tail waving--his great
+green eyes roving about the barn. Then, with a tiny sound, appeared
+Grater. Tom and Jerry, in their stalls, began to tremble. Grater
+laughed unpleasantly and chanted in a rough voice:
+
+    _Ride, ride, ride
+    For the world is fair and wide.
+    The moon shines bright
+    On a magic night,
+    And Tom and Jerry
+    Are able very
+    To ride, ride, ride._
+
+With one bound Grater and Jeremiah were on the backs of the horses, and
+in a twinkling the horses were out of their stalls and running toward
+the door. Quick as they were, Malay Kris was almost as swift. In a
+flash he hurled himself at Grater, grazed him, and stuck deep in the
+wall, where he quivered and grew still.
+
+"Missed!" Malay Kris said bitterly.
+
+Andy and Hortense, with open mouths, watched the horses and riders grow
+smaller and smaller against the moon, and finally disappear.
+
+"Did you ever!" Hortense gasped at last.
+
+Hortense and Andy crawled out from under their sacks and found the rest
+of their band. Highboy and Lowboy, hand in hand, were leaning against
+the wall, fast asleep, and had seen nothing at all. Hortense shook them
+vigorously to awaken them.
+
+"You're a pretty pair," she said.
+
+"Thank you," said Lowboy, "Our beauty is due to contrast. We set each
+other off. He is tall and graceful, and I am short, and round like a
+ball. Some think me handsomer than he."
+
+Hortense turned her back upon him.
+
+"I'm out of patience with you," she said disgustedly.
+
+Lowboy's mouth began to droop at the corners; his eyes closed and round
+tears, like marbles, began to roll down his cheeks. Highboy hastened to
+offer him a handkerchief.
+
+"You musn't cry, you know," said Highboy, "or you'll warp
+yourself--maybe even stain your varnish."
+
+"Then I'll abstain," said Lowboy, and was so pleased with his pun that
+he at once began to laugh.
+
+Hortense, however, was still out of temper, quite unreasonably, because
+she couldn't really think of anything which any one should have done.
+
+"Where were you, Coal and Ember?" she demanded severely.
+
+"In the corner where you put us," Coal and Ember growled with one
+voice.
+
+"Why didn't you do something?"
+
+"Take a bite out of Grater?" Coal suggested sarcastically. "You can't
+bite anything that hasn't a smell!"
+
+"Why can't you?" Hortense inquired sharply.
+
+"Because if it hasn't any smell it hasn't any taste, and how can you
+bite a thing if you can't taste it?"
+
+"You mean, how can you taste it if you don't bite it," said Hortense.
+
+"I mean what I say," said Coal.
+
+"How doggedly he speaks," said Lowboy, who burst into loud laughter.
+Nobody else laughed, and Lowboy explained his joke. "Dog, doggedly,
+see?"
+
+"It's a poor joke," said White Owl, flying down the stairs.
+
+"Make a better one then," said Lowboy.
+
+"I never joke," said Owl. "None of our family ever did."
+
+"So that's what's the matter with them all," said Lowboy. "I always
+wondered--or should I say I _owlways_ wondered?"
+
+"That's really a good joke," said Ember. "I didn't suppose you had it
+in you."
+
+"It isn't in me," said Lowboy. "If it were in me, you couldn't have
+heard it."
+
+"It _was_ in you or it couldn't have come out," said Ember.
+
+Hortense stamped her foot.
+
+"Oh do hush, all of you," she said. "The trouble with you all is that
+you talk and talk and do nothing. Only Malay Kris says little and
+acts."
+
+"And look what happens to him," said Owl.
+
+Malay Kris did, indeed, look uncomfortable, half buried in the wall,
+but he endeavored to be cheerful.
+
+"Some one will rescue me in the morning," he said. "I shouldn't mind at
+all if I'd tasted blood."
+
+"Instead you only struck the air," said Lowboy. "You must be an
+Airedale like Coal and Ember."
+
+Nobody laughed.
+
+"It's no use making jokes for such an unappreciative audience," Lowboy
+grumbled. "Take care, Kris, that you don't get wall-eyed during the
+night."
+
+Still nobody laughed.
+
+"Surely you get that one!" said Lowboy. "It's very simple--wall,
+wall-eyed, you see."
+
+"I appreciate you," said Highboy, "but you know I never laugh."
+
+"You'd grow fat if you did," said Lowboy. "Speaking of fat, let's see
+what's happened to Alligator. Three guesses, what has he done?"
+
+But nobody guessed because they were all quite sure what Alligator had
+done. They went out in a body to look for him. He lay beside the barn
+with his eyes shut and a smug smile on his face. Muffled grunts and
+squeals sounded from his inside.
+
+"What good does it do to eat things when you have to give them up in
+the morning?" Hortense asked.
+
+"What good does it do you to eat supper when you have to eat breakfast
+in the morning?" demanded Alligator.
+
+"It isn't the same thing," said Hortense.
+
+"It's meat and cake and milk at night, and oatmeal and toast in the
+morning," said Lowboy. "Not the same thing at all."
+
+"That isn't what I mean," said Hortense.
+
+"Well, say what you mean then," said Owl sharply.
+
+"You are all very disagreeable to-night," announced Hortense.
+
+"Let's vote for the most disagreeable person," said Lowboy. "I nominate
+Hortense. Are there any questions? If not, the ayes have it and
+Hortense is elected."
+
+Hortense was so angry that she walked away and would hear no more. Nor
+did she even wait to see that Alligator returned to the parlor.
+
+In the morning as she lay in bed, she wondered if he had and, dressing
+herself quickly, ran outdoors to see. As she ran around the barn, she
+came upon Grandfather and Fergus looking at the sofa. Grandfather was
+stroking his chin.
+
+"How could it possibly have got here?" said he. "All the doors and
+windows were locked as usual this morning."
+
+"Well, who would carry it out and leave it in such a place, anyhow?"
+said Fergus.
+
+A slight movement which stirred the seat of the sofa caused them all to
+gaze at it wonderingly. Then a sound came from within.
+
+"The second time!" exclaimed Grandfather. "If it's the cat again, I'll
+know he's the cause of all these odd doings."
+
+"It didn't sound like a cat to me," said Fergus.
+
+Grandfather, without a word, opened his penknife. Fergus and he turned
+the sofa over, and Grandfather slit the under covering where it had
+been sewed up after Jeremiah had been rescued. Through the hole
+appeared the head of a pig. Grandfather and Fergus stood back while the
+pig struggled to free himself. Finally succeeding, it trotted away to
+its pen.
+
+Grandfather and Fergus looked at one another, at first too surprised to
+speak.
+
+"Do you suppose," said Grandfather at last, "that the pig got into the
+sofa and carried it off, or the sofa came out and swallowed the pig?"
+
+"I give up," said Fergus, scratching his head.
+
+Grandfather pondered a while and then looked at Hortense.
+
+"It's a curious thing, Fergus, but all these things began to happen
+when Hortense came. Do you suppose she is responsible?"
+
+He looked so grave that Hortense couldn't tell whether or not he was
+joking. Fergus, too, looked very grave.
+
+"Still," said Fergus, "she's a pretty small girl to carry a sofa from
+the parlor to the barn and put a pig inside and sew him up."
+
+"That's true," said Grandfather, nodding gravely. "We'll have to think
+of some one else. Perhaps it's Uncle Jonah," he added as Uncle Jonah at
+that moment came slowly around the corner of the barn.
+
+Uncle Jonah also seemed to have something on his mind.
+
+"Dem hosses," he began, "is sho' hoodooed."
+
+"Have they been out again?" Grandfather demanded sharply.
+
+"Yas suh, dey looks like it. But dat ain' all. Dat knife--I sho' don'
+like de looks ob dat."
+
+"What knife are you talking about?" said Grandfather.
+
+Without a word, Uncle Jonah led the way into the barn and pointed to
+Malay Kris. With some difficulty, Grandfather and Fergus pulled Kris
+free.
+
+"It's beyond me," Grandfather said bewildered.
+
+Fergus removed his hat and ran his fingers thoughtfully through his
+hair. Uncle Jonah shook his head and went away, muttering to himself.
+
+Grandfather looked at Hortense with his sharp bright eyes, but she did
+not know how to begin an explanation, so complicated had matters
+become.
+
+"Let's go in for breakfast, Hortense," Grandfather suggested.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+"_... take us to the rock on the mountain side where the Little
+People dance._"
+
+
+That afternoon Andy and Hortense sat in the orchard eating apples.
+
+"Do you suppose we'd grow little if we ate thirteen apples?" Hortense
+asked.
+
+Andy, who had eaten six and lost his appetite, was of the opinion that
+they would grow bigger, could they eat so many. "Or maybe we'd burst,"
+he added.
+
+"We mustn't eat any more apples now," said Hortense, also finishing her
+sixth, "and don't eat too much supper."
+
+"Why?" said Andy, unwilling to sacrifice his supper without a good
+reason.
+
+"I've a plan," said Hortense. "We've got to eat thirteen cookies again
+and grow little--but I won't tell you what we'll do then, for it's to
+be a surprise!"
+
+"We'll go through the little door again and find the Cat's house," Andy
+guessed.
+
+"We must take Highboy and Lowboy for company," said she, "but Alligator
+and the others won't do at all. How much is four times thirteen?"
+
+"Fifty-two," said Andy after a moment.
+
+"That's a great many cookies," said Hortense. "I do hope Aunt Esmerelda
+bakes this afternoon so there are sure to be enough. You see, both
+Highboy and Lowboy will have to eat thirteen cookies, too, making
+fifty-two for all of us."
+
+"I wonder how many Alligator would have to eat?" said Andy. "Most
+likely a whole jar full, he's so big."
+
+"He can't ride anyhow," Hortense began, and then clapped her hand to
+her mouth and refused to say another word.
+
+On her way to supper, however, she looked into the cooky jar and found
+it full to the top. She very carefully counted out fifty-two cookies
+and carried them up to her room in her apron.
+
+That night, when all was still and Andy had come by his usual route
+through the basement, Hortense took him and Lowboy to her room.
+
+"What's up to-night?" asked Lowboy. "Oh, I see, upstairs."
+
+"If you make bad jokes, you can't come with us," Hortense warned him.
+
+Lowboy promised to be good, and Hortense brought out the cookies and
+divided them into four piles of thirteen each.
+
+"I know," said Lowboy, "we'll pretend that this is a midnight spread in
+boarding school. Jeremiah and Grater will be teachers who try to catch
+us and----"
+
+"All you have to do is to eat your thirteen cookies," said Hortense,
+"all but a little piece of the last one which you must save and put in
+your pocket."
+
+"After twelve to begin with, I can do that," joked Lowboy.
+
+"If it kills me," said Highboy, "tell them I died a pleasant death."
+
+Then nobody said a word for a while, and all ate their cookies. At the
+tenth, Highboy remarked that thirteen would be all he would want.
+
+"I'll break my top off or lose a handle," said he, "but it's a nice
+game."
+
+"What's happening to me?" asked Lowboy, after taking a bite of his
+thirteenth.
+
+"Don't eat any more," Hortense warned him.
+
+"How could I?" asked Lowboy. "I'm not a storeroom or a wardrobe trunk!
+Besides, your Grandmother has me half filled with her knitting and
+things. I must say I prefer cookies."
+
+"I wish," said Highboy to Hortense, "that you hadn't packed away that
+last dress in my bottom drawer."
+
+"Don't you see that you've grown small?" Hortense asked.
+
+"Too small for the cookies," said Lowboy. "My clothes are so tight that
+I can't squeeze this last piece into my pocket."
+
+"Now we're ready for the next part of the game," said Hortense, getting
+up.
+
+"No running or anything like that," said Lowboy. "I can't do it."
+
+"You'll only have to walk a short way, and after that it will be easy."
+
+But Hortense had forgotten that to people as small as they had become,
+it was a long walk down the hall, and the stairs, and through the
+house.
+
+"We should have eaten the cookies outside, of course," said she. "I
+didn't think."
+
+However, following Hortense as leader, they finally reached the barn.
+Hortense stopped at the door.
+
+"How will we ever get onto their backs?" said she. "Of course, we
+should have climbed on first and then eaten the cookies. I'm managing
+this very badly. Perhaps," she added hopefully, "they'll be lying
+down."
+
+As luck would have it, Tom and Jerry were lying down in their stalls,
+for they were still weary from their adventure of the night before.
+Small as they were, Hortense and Highboy had no great difficulty in
+scrambling up Tom's side and taking a firm hold of his mane, nor did
+Jerry object when Andy and Lowboy mounted him. Tom looked at his riders
+in mild surprise, but made no move to get up.
+
+"What next?" asked Lowboy.
+
+"You'll see," said Hortense, who began to repeat the charm which Grater
+had spoken:
+
+    _Ride, ride, ride
+    For the world is fair and wide.
+    The moon shines bright
+    On a magic night,
+    And Tom and Jerry
+    Are able very
+    To ride, ride, ride._
+
+At the first words Tom turned reproachful eyes upon her.
+
+"I didn't think it of you, Hortense," said he. "Jerry and I are worn
+out with riding, and here you abuse us, too."
+
+"We'll be easy on you," said Hortense. "You have only to take us to the
+rock on the mountain side where the Little People dance. There you may
+rest until we return home. Besides, if we left you here Grater and
+Jeremiah might come and ride again."
+
+"That is true," said Tom, "and another such ride as last night's would
+be the end of me."
+
+"Quick then, to the rock," said Hortense, and in a twinkling Tom and
+Jerry were out of the barn and soaring high in the air over the field
+and the orchard, over the brook and the tree tops beyond. The moon
+shone full and bright upon them, and every one was so thrilled with its
+brightness that he felt like singing. Lowboy did break into a song, but
+Hortense silenced him at once for fear of frightening the Little
+People.
+
+Over the tree tops they came and down towards the rock. Hortense could
+see the Little People dancing, but before Tom and Jerry could alight,
+the Little People had seen them and disappeared into the mountain.
+
+"After them, quick," Hortense cried, slipping from Tom's back, and the
+others followed her as she ran into the entrance to the mountain.
+
+The passage was small and dark and wound this way and that. Soon it
+ended, and Hortense and the others came into the land where the blue
+moon was shining as before. But nowhere was there any sign of the
+Little People.
+
+"What shall we do now?" Hortense asked when they had all stopped, not
+knowing what to do next.
+
+"It's your party," said Lowboy. "You say what we shall do."
+
+"There's a path," said Andy, pointing to a way among the trees.
+
+"I believe," said Highboy, who had been looking around, "that these are
+raspberries on this bush. Um--um--good," and he began to eat as rapidly
+as he could pick them.
+
+With difficulty Lowboy dragged his brother away from the tempting fruit
+and after Andy and Hortense, who had gone down the path. The path
+wandered every which way and seemed to go on forever.
+
+"This isn't the way to the Cat's house at any rate," said Hortense,
+stopping to take breath, for they had gone at a rapid pace.
+
+"What's that?" exclaimed Highboy.
+
+All listened intently. There seemed, indeed, to be something moving
+among the bushes. Almost as soon as it started, the slight noise
+stopped, and they went on.
+
+The path suddenly came to an end in an open place. Hortense and the
+others paused to look around, and as if by magic, innumerable Little
+People appeared on all sides--archers in green coats, armed with bows
+and arrows; pike-men in helmets and breastplates, and swordsmen with
+great two handled swords slung across their backs.
+
+The captain of the fairy army, a fierce little man with a pointed
+mustache, stepped forward.
+
+"Yield!" he commanded in a sharp voice. "You are prisoners! Bind them
+and take them to the King."
+
+His men did as they were bid, and in a twinkling Hortense and Andy and
+Highboy and Lowboy found themselves with bound hands, marching forward,
+surrounded by the armed Little People.
+
+"We are bound to have a trying time," said Lowboy, joking as usual.
+"The King will try us."
+
+Hortense and Andy were too depressed to enjoy jokes, and Highboy, with
+tears streaming down his cheeks, was composing a poem bidding a sad
+farewell to home and friends. Hortense could hear him trying rhymes to
+find one which would fit--"home, moan, bone, lone."
+
+"Those don't rhyme," said Hortense irritably. "It must end with _m_,
+not _n_."
+
+"But so few good words end in _m_," Highboy protested. "There's _roam_
+of course. That might do. For instance,
+
+    If once again I see my home
+    Never more at night I'll roam.
+
+Not bad is it?"
+
+Hortense thought it very bad indeed but didn't say so, for Highboy was
+finding pleasure in his rhymes and she hadn't the heart to depress him.
+She held tight to Andy's hand and walked on without speaking.
+
+They were marched into a little glade, brightly lighted with glowworms
+and fireflies imprisoned in crystal lamps. The Queen sat upon her
+throne, but the King walked up and down in front of his and tugged at
+his tawny beard, and he looked very fierce.
+
+"Here are the prisoners, your Majesty," said the captain of the guard,
+saluting.
+
+"Ha," said the King. "Good, we'll try and condemn them at once."
+
+"Please, your Majesty," said Hortense timidly, "we've done nothing
+wrong."
+
+"I'll be the judge of that," said the King. "Prisoners are always
+guilty. However, you'll have a fair trial; I'll be the judge myself.
+What have you to say for yourselves?"
+
+"We were seeking your assistance against Grater," said Hortense. "That
+is why we came to you."
+
+The King shuddered, and all the Little People standing near by turned
+pale.
+
+"He is never to be mentioned in my presence," said the King. "The
+penalty is ten years' imprisonment. Besides, how can you know so much
+about--him--unless you are his servants? It stands to reason that you
+are not telling the truth."
+
+"Oh dear!" said Hortense. "How unfair you are!"
+
+"It's a first principle of law that what a prisoner says is untrue,"
+said the King. "I always go on that principle, and that is why I am
+always right."
+
+"And you'd rather be right than be King, of course," said Lowboy.
+
+"Silence!" roared the King. "Who dares speak so to me?"
+
+The guard thrust Lowboy forward so that the King could see him better.
+
+"A low fellow," said the King.
+
+"But always in high spirits," said Lowboy.
+
+"I am the only one here who is allowed to make jokes," said the King.
+
+"It must be great to be a king," said Lowboy.
+
+"It is," said the King. "Take this fellow and set him to weeding the
+royal strawberry beds for ten years. And you," he said, turning to
+Highboy, "stole my raspberries. Since you like them so well, you may
+pick them for ten years. Away with them! As for you two," pointing to
+Andy and Hortense--
+
+Here the Queen interrupted.
+
+"They look like a nice little boy and girl," said she. "Keep them until
+morning and then look further into the matter. Perhaps they are
+speaking the truth. I'm sure they are." And she smiled upon them.
+
+The King walked up and down for a moment, without speaking.
+
+"Very well. Be it as you wish," he agreed at last. "It is the Queen's
+privilege to command clemency."
+
+"She should have some privilege if she has to laugh at the royal
+jokes," said Lowboy.
+
+"Fifteen years!" roared the King. "I told you to put that fellow to
+work."
+
+The guards hurried Lowboy and Highboy away, and Andy and Hortense were
+left alone.
+
+"These two may be imprisoned in the pine tree," said the King, "until
+morning. Then I'll decide what further to do with them."
+
+Six of the little soldiers took Andy and Hortense by the arm and led
+them to the foot of a big pine tree. Taking a key from his pocket, the
+officer in command unlocked a little door in the trunk of the tree,
+Hortense and Andy entered their prison, and he closed and locked the
+door after them. It was very dark, but as their eyes became accustomed
+to it, Andy and Hortense could see a little.
+
+The hollow trunk made a round room, which was carpeted with pine
+needles for a bed. There was nothing else whatsoever. Above them the
+room reached high into the trunk, and at the very top they could see a
+little patch of light.
+
+"It's probably a knot hole," said Andy, "and if we could climb so high,
+we might crawl through and get outside."
+
+"We couldn't get down without being seen even then," reasoned Hortense.
+
+"There's a chance," said Andy. "Anyway, they might not see us and just
+decide we had already escaped. It's worth trying."
+
+"Very carefully they searched the trunk of the tree, seeking something
+that would help them climb.
+
+"Here's something that looks like a crack in the trunk," said Andy. "If
+I could get a foothold in that, I believe I could climb to the top.
+Give me a hand here."
+
+Hortense did as she was bid, and Andy began to climb.
+
+"It gets easier," he said in a moment. "Can you find a foothold and
+follow me?"
+
+Try as she would, Hortense couldn't manage a start.
+
+"I'll come back," said Andy, descending until he could give Hortense a
+hand. With Andy's aid Hortense succeeded in climbing a few feet and
+after that was able to make her own way.
+
+Up and up they climbed, coming at last to the hole at the top which was
+just big enough to crawl through. Outside was a great limb, and on this
+they rested.
+
+"The Little People will hardly see us here, we're so high up," said
+Andy.
+
+"But we can't get down," said Hortense, "so it does us little good."
+
+Andy made no reply, for he was looking about him.
+
+"These trees grow very close together," said he. "I believe I'll see
+where this branch goes."
+
+Off he went, and Hortense waited. At last he came back, saying, "We can
+get to the next tree, and from that to another. When we are far enough
+away from the sentry, we'll try to climb down."
+
+With Andy leading the way, they went out to the end of the branch which
+just touched the branch of the next tree. Onto this they were able to
+climb, and they made their way slowly to the trunk; then out on a
+branch on the other side, and so to the next tree. In this way they
+progressed from tree to tree, but each was as big as the last and it
+was impossible for such little people as they to climb down.
+
+"We might eat a bite of cooky and grow big," said Hortense.
+
+"Then we couldn't get out of the tunnel," said Andy, "and we'd have to
+stay here forever."
+
+They seemed to be in a bad fix, indeed.
+
+"If we could only fly," said Hortense, "how nice it would be."
+
+"That's an idea," said Andy.
+
+Looking about him a moment, he began to climb to the branch above.
+
+"Come here," he called, and Hortense followed.
+
+At the base of the branch there was a hole in the tree, and, looking
+through this, they saw a snug nest lined with twigs and moss.
+
+"It's the nest of some big bird," said Andy. "We'll wait here and ask
+him to take us down."
+
+It seemed the only thing to do and, making themselves as comfortable as
+they could, they set themselves to wait.
+
+The blue moon rose higher and higher, and they became quite stiff.
+
+"It may be a last year's nest," said Hortense.
+
+"Or an owl's, and he won't come home until morning," said Andy.
+
+They had almost fallen asleep when something big and white sailed down
+and alighted on the branch--a great owl like the one on Grandmother's
+mantel, with fierce, bright eyes.
+
+"Who, who are you?" said the Owl. "And what are you doing at my door?"
+
+"Please, sir," said Hortense, "we want to get down to the ground and
+cannot."
+
+"Fly down," said the Owl.
+
+"We can't fly," said Hortense.
+
+"How absurd," said the Owl. "You shouldn't climb trees then."
+
+"We had to, to get away from the Little People," helped Andy.
+
+"So that's it," said the Owl. "They are a nuisance, I'll admit,
+spoiling all the hunting with their songs and dancing. I'm inclined to
+help you. What will you give me if I carry you down?"
+
+Andy and Hortense searched their pockets and turned out a piece of
+string, a top, five jacks, a pocketknife, and two not very clean
+handkerchiefs.
+
+"Those are of no use to me," said the Owl.
+
+"We have nothing else except some pieces of cooky," bargained Hortense.
+
+"Very well," the Owl grumbled, "I'll take them--though it's not
+enough."
+
+Hortense gave him her cooky--all but a tiny piece which she saved to
+eat when she wanted to grow big again. The Owl swallowed it in one
+gulp.
+
+"Very good cooky," he commented, "though I should prefer a little more
+molasses. Get on my back."
+
+Hortense obeyed, and the Owl spread his great wings. Out and out he
+soared and then came gently to earth, and Hortense slipped off his
+back.
+
+"Thanks very much," said she.
+
+"Don't mention it," said the Owl and, spreading his wings, soared away
+into the tree.
+
+A moment later Andy was beside her.
+
+[Illustration: Owl spread his great wings and carried Andy to earth.]
+
+"If you cross the strawberry field and the raspberry patch," the Owl
+suggested, "you'll come to a path that goes by the house. If you can
+get by that unseen, perhaps you can escape."
+
+"What house?" Hortense asked.
+
+The Owl ruffled out his feathers fiercely.
+
+"The house where that miserable Cat lives with the bright thing," said
+he.
+
+The Owl flew away and Andy and Hortense started to run across the
+strawberry field, stopping now and then to eat the ripe, sweet berries.
+In the middle of the field they noticed something black. Its presence
+frightened them, and they feared to go close to it. However, it did not
+move for some moments, and cautiously they drew nearer. It was Lowboy,
+fast asleep.
+
+Hortense shook him and he opened his eyes.
+
+"Get up and come home," said Hortense. But Lowboy would not move.
+
+"I've eaten so many strawberries that I can't budge," said he.
+
+"Then we'll have to leave you," Hortense replied.
+
+"There are worse fates than fifteen years of such strawberries," said
+Lowboy. "Perhaps, though, I'll get away sometime and find the road
+home."
+
+"Where's Highboy?" Hortense demanded.
+
+"Over there in the raspberry patch," said Lowboy, "but I fear he's in
+as bad shape as I am."
+
+And so it proved, for when they came upon Highboy in the middle of the
+patch he was seated on the ground, lazily picking berries from the
+stems about his head.
+
+"Get up and come with us," Hortense commanded.
+
+Highboy shook his head.
+
+"I must serve my sentence," said he. "After that, if I'm not turned
+into a raspberry tart, I'll try to find my way home. The only thing is
+that I find it hard to write poetry when I've eaten so much. Poetry
+should be written on an empty stomach. I can't think of a rhyme for
+raspberry."
+
+"I don't believe there is one," said Hortense. "What difference does it
+make, anyhow?"
+
+"Ah," said Highboy, "you're not a poet and don't know what it is to
+want a rhyme."
+
+So Andy and Hortense sadly left him and by and by came to the other
+side of the raspberry patch and to the path of which the Owl had
+spoken.
+
+"I suppose we must try to reach home this way," said Hortense, "for we
+daren't go by the Little People again."
+
+"One way is about as bad as another," Andy agreed.
+
+"If we meet Jeremiah and Grater, we'll eat our cooky quick," Hortense
+said. "Then they won't be so formidable."
+
+"And then we'd never get through the tunnel," finished Andy.
+
+However, they kept on along the path which they had traveled before and
+after a while came to the little gate beyond which lay the Cat's house.
+There was no light except the gleam of the fire upon the windowpane.
+
+Andy and Hortense hesitated.
+
+"Let's look in," said Andy. "Perhaps no one's at home."
+
+"And then I might find my charm," Hortense added eagerly.
+
+They peeped through the window and saw nothing but a low fire on the
+hearth and the dim, kindly face of the big clock.
+
+"Let's risk it," said Hortense and lifting the latch, walked in.
+
+"Hello," said the Clock genially. "You here again? It's a dangerous
+place for little folks."
+
+"We shan't stay," said Hortense. "I want to get my charm if I can."
+
+But the charm was not in its place under the glass upon the mantel.
+
+"Oh dear," said Hortense.
+
+"Jeremiah took the charm away," said the Clock. "Perhaps he'll bring it
+back in time."
+
+"You have all the time there is," Hortense said. "We haven't and can't
+wait so long."
+
+Still, there was nothing to do, not then at least, and bidding the
+Clock good-by, she and Andy hurried away. The blue moon was setting,
+and soon, they knew, it would be day. They hastened their steps and had
+nearly reached the tunnel when Andy suddenly pulled Hortense into the
+bushes beside the path.
+
+Down the path came the sound of footsteps and past them hurried
+Jeremiah and Grater.
+
+"Let's hurry," said Andy, "before they come back."
+
+They ran down the tunnel as fast as they could and soon came to the
+large cave under the brook where the water dripped without ceasing.
+
+"Safe so far," said Andy, "but the last part is uphill and harder."
+
+They crossed the cave and ran on, looking back now and then as they
+paused to catch their breath.
+
+"We're lucky," said Andy when they had passed the little door safely
+and shut it behind them.
+
+They slipped through the wooden chute into the cellar and seated
+themselves on the stairs to eat their bites of cooky.
+
+"Oh," said Hortense suddenly, "what do you suppose will become of Tom
+and Jerry? I'd forgotten them completely."
+
+"We'll have to wait and see," said Andy. "I'm sleepy and must get to
+bed."
+
+So, too, was Hortense, and she did not awaken in the morning until ten
+o'clock when the sun was shining high. Her only thought was of Tom and
+Jerry and what might have become of them, until she tried to open a
+drawer in the highboy to find a dress when she also remembered that
+Highboy and Lowboy were imprisoned.
+
+The drawer wouldn't open; it was stuck fast. So, too, were the other
+drawers. Nor when she spoke to Highboy did he answer; he was not there.
+Only a dead thing of wood stood where Highboy had been.
+
+"Dear me," thought Hortense, "I suppose it is the same with Lowboy. How
+then, will Grandmother get at her knitting?"
+
+She hastily dressed in the clothes she had worn the day before.
+Breakfast was over, and Hortense begged Aunt Esmerelda for a bite in
+the kitchen. Aunt Esmerelda was muttering to herself.
+
+"Dis yere house is sho' hoodooed. Mah cookies is gone, an' I done made
+a crock full yistahday. An' yo' gran'ma's chist of drawahs, dey don'
+open. An' de hosses is plumb gone. It ain't no place fo' me."
+
+Hortense kept a discreet silence and hurriedly finished her breakfast.
+Then she ran to her Grandmother.
+
+"I shall have to get Fergus to pry open the drawer of the lowboy," said
+Grandmother. "It won't open at all." Then noticing Hortense's soiled
+dress for the first time, she added,
+
+"Dear me, child, you should have on a clean dress."
+
+"The drawer in the highboy wouldn't open, Grandma," said Hortense.
+
+"And your Grandfather is looking for the horses. They have
+disappeared," said Grandmother. "I'm sure I don't know what is the
+matter with everything."
+
+Hortense ran out to the barn to find her Grandfather. Fergus, Uncle
+Jonah, and Grandfather were standing before the barn discussing the
+loss of Tom and Jerry. Hortense stood quietly by, listening to what
+they said, but all the time her eyes were on the mountain side, seeking
+the rock where last evening she had left Tom and Jerry. She found it at
+last and watching it closely, saw something move.
+
+"I think Tom and Jerry are way up on the mountain side by that big
+rock," said she pointing.
+
+Grandfather and Uncle Jonah could see nothing, but Fergus, whose eyes
+were good, said finally, "I see something moving there, to be sure, but
+how Tom and Jerry could reach such a place, I can't see. However, I'll
+go look."
+
+Uncle Jonah shook his head and went away muttering; Hortense, holding
+her Grandfather's hand, went with him to his library. Grandfather took
+her on his knee and for a while said nothing--just sat with wrinkled
+brows, thinking. Then he raised his eyes to the bronze Buddha and
+spoke, half to himself.
+
+"I believe if we could make the image talk we'd learn what's at the
+bottom of all these mysterious happenings. He looks as if he could
+talk, doesn't he? Perhaps if we burned incense before him he might
+speak."
+
+"What is incense?" Hortense asked.
+
+"This," said Grandfather, opening a drawer and showing her a
+sweet-smelling powder. "If we burned this before him and he were
+pleased with us, he might be made to talk. So the Hindoos believe. But
+I'm afraid he'd pay no attention to unbelievers."
+
+Grandfather was joking, of course, but nevertheless Hortense pondered
+his words and made note of the drawer in which her Grandfather kept the
+little packet of incense.
+
+Late that afternoon Fergus arrived home with Tom and Jerry, having had
+an awfully hard time getting them safely down the mountain side. It was
+so late that Fergus had no time to see to the drawers which refused to
+open in the lowboy and the highboy. For this Hortense was glad; she
+feared that it would hurt Highboy and Lowboy to have the drawers forced
+open and, besides, she meant that night to do her best to rescue them
+from the Little People. To that end she ran to the hedge which divided
+her yard from Andy's and, calling to Andy, told him her purpose.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+"_There are queer doings in this house._"
+
+
+"I think," said Hortense, "that every one should go with us to-night,
+Coal, Ember, Malay Kris, Owl, and even Alligator. For you see, not only
+do we have to free Highboy and Lowboy from the Little People, but we
+have to bring them safely home."
+
+Andy thought for a moment.
+
+"It will take a great many cookies," said he, "and it will probably be
+difficult to make Malay Kris, Owl, and Coal and Ember eat thirteen
+cookies each. Alligator, of course, will eat anything."
+
+Hortense nodded.
+
+"I've thought of that. I don't think Coal and Ember need be smaller
+than they are to get through the tunnel; nor Owl either. Malay Kris,
+I'm sure, will do as we ask him. That will make only four of us again,
+and fifty-two cookies as before. I do hope there are that many. Aunt
+Esmerelda says she's going to stop baking cookies, they go so fast."
+
+Happily, the cooky jar was full again, and Hortense and Andy filled
+their pockets with the fifty-two cookies.
+
+When it was dark and still, Hortense explained the plan to her
+companions. Alligator did not like the idea of becoming smaller, but
+the thought of the cookies, nevertheless, decided him. He ate them one
+after another as fast as Hortense could toss them into his mouth and at
+the thirteenth he became no larger than a little baby alligator. Malay
+Kris likewise ate his bravely and became small accordingly.
+
+"Luckily, I'll be even sharper than before," said he.
+
+Owl glared upon these proceedings with contempt.
+
+"This is all foolishness," said he.
+
+"But you'll come, won't you?" Hortense asked anxiously. "You can help
+us a great deal because you can see in the dark. Besides," she added,
+"we want your advice."
+
+"Much heed you'll take of it," Owl grumbled. He was pleased,
+nevertheless, and swelled out his feathers complacently.
+
+"Then let us start at once," said Hortense, leading the way.
+
+She and Andy had decided that the tunnel way was best, for they could
+not easily climb the mountain and to ride on Tom and Jerry was to
+invite capture by the Little People, whom they must avoid.
+
+They hurried as fast as they could and met no one. Their only
+difficulty was in getting Alligator through the cave under the brook,
+for he liked the feel of the water dripping on his hide. However, now
+that he was small he was easier to manage than before, and Coal and
+Ember dragged him away despite his protests.
+
+When at last they came out from the tunnel, the blue moon was shining
+as before upon the roof of the Cat's house. The house itself was dark,
+but for a flicker of firelight on a windowpane.
+
+"Look in and see if any one is there," Hortense whispered to Owl.
+
+Obediently he flew and peered in at the window, returning to say that
+all he could see was the clock. So Hortense ventured in, finding the
+house empty as Owl had said, save for Grandfather's Clock.
+
+"They're all out, tick tock," said the Clock. "But it is dangerous to
+remain, for Grater is very angry and desperate to-night."
+
+Hortense looked in the glass case for her charm but could not find it.
+
+"You had best get it back somehow," said the Clock. "It gives Jeremiah
+and Grater power."
+
+"But how can I?" said Hortense anxiously.
+
+"Who can say?" said the Clock. "But in time anything may happen."
+
+"Do you know what will happen?" Hortense asked exasperatedly. "If you
+are Time, everything will happen in you, and so you must know what
+everything is and will be."
+
+"I know, but I do not say," the Clock replied. "That is how I keep my
+reputation for wisdom."
+
+Hortense hurried back to the others, and they proceeded beyond the
+house and through the woods until they neared the raspberry patch.
+
+"You go ahead," said Hortense to Owl, "and spy out the land. Perhaps
+some of the Little People are about."
+
+Owl flew off as directed and returned shortly to say, "Two of the guard
+are seated on the edge of the strawberry field. I could not hear what
+they said, but perhaps if you creep quietly through the bushes you can
+overhear."
+
+Andy and Hortense, telling the others to wait, did as suggested.
+Creeping cautiously through the bushes, they could hear the little
+soldiers talking together before they could see them. Unfortunately,
+Andy stepped on a dry stem which broke with a snap. The soldiers ceased
+talking at once and Andy and Hortense lay still, scarcely daring to
+breathe.
+
+"What was that?" asked one of the soldiers at last in a low voice.
+
+"It must have been a bird," said the other. "I saw a great owl only a
+moment ago."
+
+Then they resumed their talk.
+
+"Well, it makes our work easier to have them gone," said one. "The
+short fat fellow was always eating the strawberries instead of putting
+them in his basket, and the tall one wouldn't work when he had a rhyme
+to find."
+
+"And now," said the other, "they are to wear fine clothes and have
+nothing to do. It must have been the Queen who interceded for them."
+
+"I don't call it nothing to do to make jokes all day or to write a poem
+when ordered," said the first.
+
+"True," his companion replied. "I should rather pick berries. Meanwhile
+I'm going to take a nap. The Captain won't be back for hours."
+
+"Me, too," the other agreed. "We'll lay our breastplates and helmets to
+hand and slip them on when we hear him coming."
+
+Thereupon silence ensued, and Hortense and Andy lay still. It was
+evident, Hortense was thinking, that Highboy and Lowboy had been
+ordered back to court, and to help them escape would be difficult, for
+how dared she and Andy go near it, escaped prisoners as they were?
+
+After a time Hortense nudged Andy and they crept forward together
+until, by parting the bushes, they could see the little soldiers fast
+asleep, their swords and armor beside them. Cautiously, Hortense
+reached out and drew a breastplate towards her and followed it by
+seizing a helmet and a sword. Andy, at a nod, did likewise, and with
+their captured arms they made their way slowly back through the bushes
+to a safe distance.
+
+"We must put them on and disguise ourselves so that we can go to the
+court," said Hortense, slipping on the breastplate and helmet and
+buckling the sword-belt about her. "If we pull the visors of our
+helmets down, no one will recognize us."
+
+"But what of the others?" Andy inquired, adjusting his armor.
+
+Hortense clapped her hands.
+
+"I know," said she, "we'll pretend we've captured them, and take them
+to the King."
+
+"It will be all the harder for us to escape later," warned Andy.
+
+"We must risk that," Hortense replied. "Besides, the Queen may aid us
+if we tell her everything. She is much kinder and wiser than the King."
+
+So it was decided to lay the plan before the others, which they did.
+
+"I'm content," said Owl, "for no one can keep me captive if I wish to
+escape."
+
+"And I," said Malay Kris, "am afraid of nothing."
+
+"I'll swallow any one who interferes with me," said Alligator.
+
+"They'll not hurt us," said Coal and Ember growling.
+
+"Then, if we're all agreed, let's go to the King's court," said
+Hortense, and with her and Andy leading the way, off they went.
+
+The court was assembled in a glade in the woods, all the Little People
+grouped about their King and Queen. When Andy and Hortense appeared
+with their odd captives, way was made for them, every one staring in
+surprise. Even the King was dumb with astonishment.
+
+"What have we here, a traveling circus?" said he at last.
+
+"Prisoners we captured near the Royal Raspberry Patch," said Andy in as
+martial a tone as he could muster.
+
+"Where could they come from and what are they doing here?" the King
+demanded. "Speak," he commanded them.
+
+Owl took it upon himself to answer.
+
+"We were hunting the great Cat and Grater, who are our enemies."
+
+"So the boy and girl said who escaped the other night, no one knows
+how. For all we know, you may be servants of the terrible Grater of
+whom my most valiant soldiers are afraid, and of the great Cat with the
+claws."
+
+"Show us either of them and we'll prove our quality," Malay Kris
+boasted. "I have once before run Grater through and pinned him to the
+floor."
+
+The King pulled at his beard.
+
+"It is true that I have heard he now wears a piece of pink
+court-plaster."
+
+"Give me arms and put me into your service," said Malay Kris, "and I
+will prove my mettle."
+
+"You are indeed a likely looking soldier," said the King, regarding him
+with favor. "I'm inclined to try you. Give him," said he to the Captain
+of the Guard, "armor and a sword, and we'll see what he can do. As for
+these others, we'll put them in cages for the present and decide later
+what to do with them."
+
+At these words Owl flew into the top of a tree and hooted.
+
+"I do not like cages," said he. "I prefer a tree top."
+
+And though the King tried soft words and made promises, the Owl refused
+to budge, looking down upon them all with great round eyes.
+
+Coal and Ember growled and showed their teeth, and Alligator opened
+wide his great jaws and lashed about with his tail; but the little
+soldiers threw themselves valiantly upon them and bore them away as the
+King ordered.
+
+"You two," said the King to Andy and Hortense, "have proved yourselves
+brave and are deserving of reward. We attach you to our person. You may
+stand guard in the palace."
+
+The Queen, who had been looking hard at Hortense, spoke.
+
+"May I not have them?" said she.
+
+"Certainly, my love," the King replied graciously. "All that is mine is
+yours. Besides, you may need stout protection from our enemy. Already
+it has taken from us our Court Jester and Court Poet." The King walked
+nervously up and down. "Our magic power is of no avail," said he,
+"against such evil."
+
+Andy and Hortense, in obedience to the Queen's wish, took their place
+at the door of her apartment, and soon she called them to her.
+
+"I see," said she to Hortense, "that you are the little girl who was
+here before, and this, I suppose, is the little boy. Now tell me all
+about it."
+
+Hortense was much surprised but did as she was told, for she felt the
+Queen to be her friend.
+
+"Alas," said the Queen, "Grater has already made prisoners of Highboy
+and Lowboy. I had persuaded the King to make them his Court Jester and
+Poet but before they could even be brought here, they were waylaid and
+borne away."
+
+"In that case," said Hortense, "we must go to their rescue. Will you
+grant us permission?"
+
+"Gladly," said the Queen, "although I cannot free the others without
+appealing to the King, and it is best for the present not to tell him
+who you are. I shall contrive to see Malay Kris and send him after you.
+Wait near by."
+
+Accordingly, Andy and Hortense slipped out of the palace unseen and
+waited where they were joined shortly by Malay Kris, who was so eager
+for a fight that Andy and Hortense had to beg him to be cautious.
+
+They quietly crept close to the Cat's house, and Owl, who had joined
+them, peeped in at the window.
+
+"All quiet," said he.
+
+The four entered.
+
+"Highboy and Lowboy are in the cooky jar," said the Clock, not waiting
+to be asked. "Make haste!"
+
+It was not easy to free them. The jar was far taller than Andy and
+Hortense, and as smooth and slippery as ice. Andy and Malay Kris
+finally made a rope by tying together table covers and sheets and,
+throwing the end of this over the edge of the jar, at last succeeded in
+pulling Highboy and Lowboy to the top. From this they dropped safely to
+the floor.
+
+"Now we must hurry," said Hortense, and away they went.
+
+But they were not in time, for barely had they reached the gate when
+they were seen by Jeremiah and Grater. Thereupon ensued a fierce
+battle. Jeremiah seemed as big as a lion. He lashed his bushy tail,
+arched his back, and spat; his great eyes glowed, and his claws were
+long and sharp as knives. Andy and Hortense were glad for their
+breastplates, for these the Cat's sharp claws could not pierce.
+
+Highboy and Lowboy, however, had no armor.
+
+"Oh, my nice coat of varnish!" Highboy moaned as Jeremiah's claws
+reached him.
+
+"I shall no longer be a polished person," said Lowboy.
+
+Hortense and Andy kept in front of the two in so far as they could, but
+with Jeremiah in front and Grater at one side they were hard-pressed.
+
+"Get into the bushes," Andy ordered, and they retreated slowly into the
+raspberry patch.
+
+Here Jeremiah was at a disadvantage, for the thorns tore his coat, and
+he could not use his claws freely. Thorns meant nothing to Grater,
+however, in his bright suit of mail. Malay Kris, undaunted, struck him
+a great blow and bore him to the ground.
+
+"Tie his hands," cried Malay Kris.
+
+Hortense and Andy, using their shoe laces for the purpose, bound Grater
+fast. Jeremiah, thereupon, yowled dismally and retreated towards the
+house.
+
+"Let's hurry as fast as we can," Hortense ordered.
+
+Malay Kris brought up the rear, prodding Grater to make him go faster;
+Owl flew ahead to spy out the way; and Andy and Hortense followed,
+running.
+
+They reached the entrance of the tunnel and hurried in, expecting every
+moment to see Jeremiah reappear, and now, without the protection of the
+raspberry bushes, they feared his great claws. Safely they crossed the
+dripping cave and were halfway through the tunnel on the other side
+when they perceived Jeremiah hot after them.
+
+"Grater!" shrieked Lowboy.
+
+Grater had seized the moment while their backs were turned to free
+himself of the cords which bound him and was running rapidly up the
+tunnel.
+
+"He'll close the door on us!" Malay Kris shouted, and set off in
+pursuit.
+
+With dismay Hortense and Andy perceived that they must meet Jeremiah's
+attack, for Highboy and Lowboy were of no use in a fight. Here it was
+that Owl proved himself most unexpectedly useful. While Andy and
+Hortense backed slowly through the tunnel facing Jeremiah's claws, Owl
+tweaked his tail and pulled bits of fur from his back. Jeremiah's claws
+were useless against such a foe who flew away whenever Jeremiah turned
+on him.
+
+So the retreat was effected in good order and without serious hurt to
+any one, while from the rear came the clash of arms and the shouts of
+Kris and Grater in fierce conflict. Kris, having eaten the thirteen
+cookies and reduced his size, found Grater a far more formidable foe
+than before. But though small, Kris was as fast as lightning and darted
+here and there, evading Grater's blows and putting in quick stabs.
+Although Grater came more and more to resemble a sieve, he still stood
+his ground with his back to the door, and until he was forced aside,
+escape was impossible.
+
+Lowboy then displayed a courage and intelligence which his fondness for
+poor jokes led nobody to expect. Throwing himself at Grater's knees and
+holding them tight, he threw their enemy to the ground with a crash.
+Malay Kris quickly disarmed and bound him and the way was clear.
+
+Jeremiah, seeing that the battle was won, turned tail and fled, Owl
+hooting derisively after him. Every one sat down to get his breath.
+Except for a few scratches no one suffered any mishap.
+
+"We've finished them this time," Malay Kris said complacently. "We must
+put this fellow where he can do no more harm."
+
+Grater glared at them.
+
+"I'll get even with you!" he promised.
+
+"You'll be old and rusted to pieces by the time you escape," Kris
+retorted and wedged him tight against the door so that it could not be
+opened nor could Grater stir a hand or foot.
+
+"You'll have a nice rest here," said Malay Kris. "It is quiet and
+nobody will disturb you."
+
+Thus they left Grater, grinding his teeth in rage, and made their way
+into the cellar.
+
+While they were eating their bits of cooky to make them large again,
+Hortense said,
+
+"How can we prevent Jeremiah from setting Grater free?"
+
+"We must block the way on this side, too," said Andy, immediately
+rolling a barrel before the sliding door in the air chute of the
+furnace. Upon this he piled a heavy box.
+
+"If Jeremiah can move those, he is a smart cat," said Andy.
+
+"Jeremiah is a smart cat," Hortense said, "but it's the best we can
+do."
+
+In the kitchen they parted company, and as soon as Hortense was in bed
+she fell fast asleep and did not wake until the sun was high the next
+day.
+
+After breakfast Fergus came to pry open the drawers in the lowboy that
+had refused to budge the day before.
+
+"There's nothing the matter with them," said Fergus as they slid open
+at a touch. "They are just as usual."
+
+"Why, so they are," said Grandmother and opened the upper drawer. "What
+in the world is this?"
+
+The drawer was filled tight full of strawberries packed in neat
+boxes--and on top lay thirteen cookies!
+
+Grandmother looked on these with astonishment.
+
+"Wild strawberries!" said she tasting one. "And at this time of the
+year, too. They are delicious."
+
+Grandfather and Fergus looked astonished, and Fergus scratched his
+head.
+
+"Well," said Grandfather, "let's look at the highboy in Hortense's
+room. There's no telling what we'll find there."
+
+They went to Hortense's room and again Fergus pulled open the drawers
+without difficulty. Boxes and boxes of raspberries lay on top of
+Hortense's things--and again there were thirteen cookies!
+
+Grandfather and Grandmother raised their hands in amazement. They found
+no words to express their wonder. Later, when Mary came to Grandmother
+and reported that the sofa in the parlor had disappeared, Grandmother
+simply said, "The firedogs are gone from the hearth, too. There are
+queer doings in this house."
+
+Hortense spent the afternoon in the library with Grandfather, her chin
+on her hand, thinking. From time to time she glanced at the image of
+Buddha. She thought she might tell Grandfather about all the strange
+things that had happened to her, but before doing so she resolved to
+try a plan which his words had put into her head.
+
+Now and then Grandfather looked at her curiously, but he asked no
+questions, and Hortense could not guess his thoughts.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+"_This is what was inside,_"--
+
+
+The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense
+had expected to find it. She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
+
+It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was
+about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place. There
+should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the
+image. In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to
+speak.
+
+She raised the window shades and threw the shutters open. Moonlight
+filled the room dimly and fell upon the bronze image, sitting as
+expressionless as ever, immovable. Hortense's heart failed her.
+Nothing, she felt, would ever bring words to the closed lips or a
+flutter to the heavy eyelids. However, there was nothing to do but try.
+
+She poured a little of the incense on an ash tray and touched a match
+to it. The wisp of smoke, pallid in the moonlight, curled slowly
+upwards and was lost to sight. A strong sweet odor filled the room.
+
+[Illustration: Hortense burned incense to the image and sat motionless
+in Grandfather's chair to wait.]
+
+Hortense moved the tray to the edge of the desk directly in front of
+the image and sat down in her Grandfather's chair to wait, her eyes
+fixed upon the calm round face before her. It looked like the face of a
+woman she thought, not that of a man.
+
+She could see not the slightest change in the image after ever so long
+a time, though her eyes never left it. The incense was slowly consumed,
+and Hortense arose and added more. Still she watched, endlessly it
+seemed, until finally her eyes closed and she must have slept for a
+little, for when she opened them again the moonlight was far brighter
+than before and the image stood out in the fanciful shadows.
+
+Yes, surely, the hand that now lay open had been raised and closed
+before. And the eyes looked at her instead of over her! Her heart beat
+quicker.
+
+"You have moved," she said without thinking.
+
+There was a slight stir of the bronze lips; then a soft measured voice
+said, "I wait, what is it you ask?"
+
+"I should like," Hortense said, "to get back my charm."
+
+"Jeremiah has it," said the Image, "and Jeremiah is getting to be a
+nuisance. I shall have to cut his claws."
+
+How the Image could cut Jeremiah's claws, Hortense didn't see.
+
+"That is to say," the Image went on, "he needs to be taken down."
+
+Down to what, Hortense wondered. She sat a long while waiting for the
+Image to say more, but apparently it had gone back to sleep.
+
+"Dear me, how slow it is!" Hortense said to herself. "I suppose it's
+like Grandfather's Clock and has all the time in the world."
+
+She sat very silent and once or twice almost fell asleep.
+
+The moonlight continued its slow and silent way across the floor until
+at last it rested full upon the Image.
+
+"If you will take a paper knife," said the Image as though it had
+ceased speaking but a moment before, "and trace the flower pattern on
+my back, beginning in the center, you will find something."
+
+Hortense, wondering, did as she was told. On the back of the Image, as
+it had said, was the pattern of a flower. Hortense followed the curves
+of its petals with the point of the knife. Then to her surprise the
+flower swung inward on an invisible hinge and there before her was an
+opening just large enough for her hand. Her fingers closed on something
+round and hard like a marble, which in the moonlight shone with little
+bright flashes and crinkles of gold and blue and rose. Hortense knew it
+was some precious stone.
+
+As she sat with it in her hand, she heard the soft patter of feet along
+the hall, and in a moment two great green eyes shone in the doorway.
+Hortense sat very still with the jewel sparkling in her hand. Jeremiah
+came forward a step or two, and then suddenly he spat so loudly that
+Hortense jumped.
+
+With a howl Jeremiah turned and ran like one possessed. Hortense could
+hear his claws scratching on the stairs as he raced up and up, out of
+hearing. On the threshold of the door before her lay a small white
+object. Hortense stooped and picked it up. It was the monkey charm! She
+fastened it about her neck and turned to thank the Image. But the Image
+said never a word--just sat as motionless, staring into the distance,
+as though it had never spoken.
+
+Hortense went to bed with the jewel tightly clutched in her hand and
+fell fast asleep. In the morning she went down to breakfast in high
+spirits, hardly believing that what had happened was real. In her hand
+still was the wonderful jewel which shone and sparkled as though lit
+with a thousand colored fires. She kept it hidden in her lap while she
+ate, and when she had finished, she followed her Grandfather into the
+library.
+
+"Some one has been burning incense," said Grandfather, looking at her.
+
+Hortense nodded and played with the monkey charm about her neck.
+
+"I did it," she said.
+
+Thereupon she climbed on Grandfather's knee and told him the whole
+story from the beginning. Grandfather said never a word, but from time
+to time he looked at Hortense as though he couldn't believe what she
+said. When she spoke of the flower on the back of the image, he turned
+it around and traced the pattern with the point of the paper knife as
+Hortense had done. The little door opened as before. Grandfather looked
+in.
+
+"This is what was inside," Hortense said and opened her hand in which
+was the jewel.
+
+Grandfather took it and examined it gravely.
+
+"Do you remember the story I told you about my friend who sought a rare
+jewel and who, when he died, sent me this image? This must be the jewel
+he found. It has lain here all these years. It is very strange that you
+should have found it as you did--your story is very strange. But for
+the jewel, and the disappearance of the sofa and the firedogs, I could
+scarcely believe it."
+
+"If you'll come, I'll show you the little door and the tunnel,"
+Hortense said.
+
+"It would be too small for me to approach," Grandfather said, "and I am
+much too old to eat thirteen cookies."
+
+"But," Hortense urged, "I want you to go with me to see the Little
+People. I must get Alligator and Coal and Ember back."
+
+Grandfather shook his head.
+
+"If you visit the Little People again, I fear it will have to be with
+your own friends. But wait a while. We've had enough surprising
+experiences for a time."
+
+"It's really Jeremiah who is the cause of everything," Hortense said.
+
+As she spoke Jeremiah walked in slowly, a very dejected cat.
+
+"Come here, sir," Grandfather said sternly.
+
+Jeremiah meowed plaintively and jumped on Grandfather's knee.
+
+"I hear you've been up to tricks," Grandfather said.
+
+Jeremiah hung his head and meowed again.
+
+"I see you are sorry and will not do it again," Grandfather said. "If
+you do----" Grandfather opened his hand and showed the jewel.
+
+In a flash Jeremiah was off Grandfather's knee and running down the
+hall. Grandfather laughed and held up his hand on which was a long red
+scratch.
+
+"Oh!" Hortense cried, "the Image said he would cut Jeremiah's claws."
+
+"That was a figure of speech, evidently," Grandfather said. "Whenever
+Jeremiah is bad, we'll show him the jewel. I'll keep it for you. It
+must be very valuable. Some day it will be yours."
+
+But Hortense thought less of the jewel than of the monkey charm about
+her neck. Besides, there were Alligator and Coal and Ember, still
+captive among the Little People. She wished Grandfather hadn't asked
+her to keep away from the Little People for a while, though Alligator
+and Coal and Ember were decidedly able to care for themselves, and
+Grater was securely bound and unable to do further harm.
+
+"But, of course," said Hortense, "I can talk to Owl, and Malay Kris,
+and to Highboy, and Lowboy, and we can lay our plans for the rescue."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_Rescue From the Mountain Side_[1]
+
+
+Hortense sat quietly in the corner of the kitchen on a stool watching
+Aunt Esmerelda at her work. Aunt Esmerelda was unhappy, and the more
+she tried to do her work the more she complained, and every once in a
+while she took a long look at Hortense, as if accusing her of her
+trouble. The trouble was that Aunt Esmerelda was trying to make cole
+slaw and she couldn't find her grater to shred the cabbage. So she was
+trying to cut it up with the large butcher knife.
+
+"I 'clare," Aunt Esmerelda grumbled half to herself, but just loud
+enough so she knew Hortense would hear, "this yere house is sho' nuff
+voodood. First of all this ornery cat gets himself into some mighty
+peculiar fixes, inside the sofa and chimney and such likes, then the
+grater begins to get all full of knife holes and now I cain't even find
+it at all." Hortense squirmed uneasily and wished somebody could help
+Aunt Esmerelda get a new grater. But she couldn't tell the cook where
+the grater was, or how it got there, or poor old Aunt Esmerelda might
+leave and never come back, frightened as she was of spooks and similar
+things. But she didn't want a new grater, either, for fear it might
+also help the cat free the old grater, for then there would be three of
+them to contend with. So she said nothing but just kicked her feet a
+bit and stared at the floor.
+
+Just then Mary came in, and she and Aunt Esmerelda began to talk.
+
+Mary said, "You know, the firedogs are missing and Grandmother is very
+unhappy about it, because she can't have a fire-place fire on these
+chilly evenings. And when I went in the parlor to dust today, the sofa
+is gone, too. None of these things ever happened before Hortense came.
+I can imagine she might have taken the firedogs, though I can't imagine
+why. But she is too little to move that big divan."
+
+By now Hortense felt very uneasy, knowing that both the cook and the
+maid were suspicious of her activities. She was wishing desperately
+that she wouldn't have to look at them, when luckily Grandfather came
+into the kitchen on his way to the barn and asked her if she would like
+to go look at the horses with him. So she gladly left the kitchen.
+
+On their way to the barn she finally said, "Grandfather, is Grandmother
+awfully unhappy about the firedogs?" At this her Grandfather appeared
+surprised, but finally admitted to her that Grandmother surely did miss
+her fireplace fire in the evenings when she had tea.
+
+"Well," said Hortense, "I've been trying to think of a plan to rescue
+the firedogs and the alligator sofa, but I need your help."
+
+Grandfather took a long look at her, and Hortense was a little
+frightened that maybe she shouldn't have asked him at all. Finally he
+said, "I don't know how much help I could be. These magic things only
+happen to you because you are young and believe they can happen. But I
+am old, and need my sleep at night. However, maybe I could get Fergus
+to help you."
+
+At the barn they found Fergus grooming Tom and Jerry. Uncle Jonas was
+there too, so until he left nothing more could be said about it, for he
+would have been frightened even worse than Mary or Aunt Esmerelda if he
+knew what was going on around the farm since Hortense's arrival. After
+an hour or so Grandfather sent Uncle Jonas to town for some harness
+straps and he and Hortense were free to talk to Fergus.
+
+"Well, Hortense," began Grandfather, "why don't you tell Fergus about
+your adventures?"
+
+Fergus looked strangely at the girl, but said nothing. Hortense hardly
+knew where to start, but finally began at the first and told him the
+whole story, just as she had Grandfather. When she finished Grandfather
+said, "Hortense says she has a plan for rescuing the firedogs and
+alligator sofa from the little people, but she needs some help. I
+wondered if you could help her, Fergus?"
+
+Fergus thought this over for some time. Then he began to talk slowly,
+as if thinking aloud, and as if no one were hearing him at all. "It
+would be nice," he began, "if I didn't have to be grooming these horses
+so much. But if I were to go up there on the mountain side what could I
+tell Mary? I couldn't tell her the real story, because she'd never
+believe it. She might even get Aunt Esmerelda and Uncle Jonas all
+excited and there's no telling what would happen then. On the other
+hand I wouldn't want to tell her something that isn't true, either. But
+I sure would like to get this household back to normal again."
+
+"Let me make a suggestion," offered Grandfather. "Why not tell her that
+I think somebody is bothering the horses at night and I want you to
+stay in the barn and guard them. If she is frightened to stay at your
+house alone all night I'm sure Grandmother would come stay with her for
+one night."
+
+"That is so," said Fergus. "It is true that someone _has_ been
+bothering the horses. Now I want to know what Hortense's plan is before
+I finally decide whether to risk my neck for those firedogs and that
+sofa."
+
+"Well," Hortense began, "I thought if Andy and I were to go back to the
+little people by making ourselves small, then after we have had time to
+free the firedogs and alligator sofa, we'll wait there and you come get
+us by saying the magic words to Tom and Jerry. Then we can all ride the
+horses home."
+
+"That sounds sensible," answered Fergus, "but how do you think you can
+free alligator sofa and Coal and Ember? And also what if Jeremiah
+should trap you in the tunnel?"
+
+"Maybe I could keep the cat locked in the basement," suggested
+Grandfather. "That way I can help, too."
+
+Hortense was much relieved to see that Grandfather and Fergus were
+willing to help her, and she surely felt much more secure with Jeremiah
+safely out of the way. As for getting Coal and Ember and alligator
+sofa, she thought the queen of the little people would help her if she
+explained how much it was troubling her Grandmother, and in fact
+upsetting the entire household.
+
+So it was agreed. Just to be safe, Hortense planned to take Malay Kris
+along, since he had proved himself such a good fighter in other close
+scrapes. Now if only there would be the fifty-two cookies needed,
+thirteen apiece for Fergus, Malay Kris, Andy and herself.
+
+When Hortense went back to the kitchen Aunt Esmerelda was dozing in the
+corner, her apron thrown up over her head. Hortense quietly sneaked
+over to the cookie jar and peeked in. The jar was full to the brim, so
+Hortense began busily putting cookies into her apron and dress pockets,
+counting carefully. Just as she was about done counting them out she
+felt a strange tickling on her leg. This so startled her that she
+knocked the lid to the cookie jar to the floor with a crash, and she
+saw Jeremiah disappear around the corner. The sudden noise woke Aunt
+Esmerelda, and the old cook opened her eyes wide when she saw Hortense
+with cookies bulging from every pocket.
+
+"So tha's where all my cookies done go!" exclaimed the cook. "That yere
+girl is done takin' 'em by the dozen. Whoffo you wants all those
+cookies, girl? Doan you-all know you might git sick a-eatin' so much?"
+
+Hortense had to do some very fast thinking, now, for she knew she
+didn't dare scare poor old Aunt Esmerelda by telling her the cookies
+were magic. So she said, "Please, Aunt Esmerelda, don't be angry. Your
+cookies are just so good I could eat them all day without getting sick.
+I was getting few more than usual just now because I was going to share
+them with some friends of mine. I really wouldn't try to eat these all
+by myself."
+
+"Hermpf," snorted Aunt Esmerelda. "I suppose yo' friends include dat
+good for nuttin' Andy, whose all da time botherin' Uncle Jonas hawses.
+But dats all right, chile; ef you likes my cookies, you jus hep yoself
+to dem. Dat's what day is fo."
+
+That evening, after supper when they were all having a cup of tea in
+the parlor Grandmother took a long look at Hortense, but said nothing.
+Grandfather took a few puffs on his pipe and Jeremiah walked in.
+
+"That cat has just been in too much mischief lately," declared
+Grandfather. "I believe I'll try locking him the basement tonight and
+see if he will stay out of trouble." At this Jeremiah arched his back
+and started for the door, but Grandfather jumped up quickly and caught
+him.
+
+"Don't blame the cat," Grandmother admonished. "After all you know very
+well there have been strange goings on which the cat certainly couldn't
+account for--like the disappearance of the sofa."
+
+"Nevertheless, he's been in his share of trouble, what with jumping
+down the chimney and all," retorted Grandfather. "We'll try it for a
+night or two this way, anyway." So against the plaintive cries of the
+cat, the cellar door was locked securely after he was put downstairs.
+
+Later, when everyone had retired, Hortense could hear Grandfather and
+Grandmother talking in their bedroom, but try as she could she couldn't
+catch a word they were saying, and she wondered if he might have told
+Grandmother about the plan to go to the little people again. However,
+after some time the conversation ceased and when all was quiet Hortense
+quietly slipped downstairs and told Malay Kris of the plan. He jumped
+down from the wall quickly.
+
+"There's nothing I'd like better than a battle," he said. "Now that
+Grater is out of the way maybe I can get a taste of that cat. He'd be a
+nice juicy bite I fancy."
+
+The two of them slipped out to the barn where they met Fergus and Andy.
+
+"Now," said Hortense, dividing up the cookies, "Andy and Kris and I
+will go on the back to the attic and eat our cookies, then go through
+the tunnel to the place of the little people on the mountain side. The
+moon is just beginning to rise, so when it is directly overhead, Fergus
+can eat his cookies and fly to meet us with Tom and Jerry. That should
+give us time enough to rescue Coal and Ember and alligator sofa."
+
+On arriving at the attic and dropping down into the secret room, they
+sat down and ate their cookies, then climbed on down the ladder to the
+secret passage to the tunnel. When they came to the door and opened it,
+imagine their surprise to find Grater untied and standing directly in
+their path. Before they could retreat, they heard soft padded feet and
+on turning around found Jeremiah staring intently at them, his eyes a
+brilliant green.
+
+"Well, well, well," purred the cat. "This time it looks like our turn,"
+and quick as a flash Jeremiah caught Hortense with one paw and Andy
+with the other, while Grater jumped on Malay Kris and they tied all
+three of them with the cords which had been holding Grater.
+
+"You forgot," said Jeremiah, "that the trap door from the chute outside
+was open, so I got here ahead of you and untied Grater. Then we just
+decided to wait for you, figuring you'd be along."
+
+Meanwhile Grater began to run his prickly sides on Malay Kris so he was
+no longer a sharp knife, just a dull old one. All the time Kris tried
+to wriggle free of his ties, but could not.
+
+"Enough of this," said Jeremiah, "let's get rid of these pests once and
+for all. But first I believe I'll have the charm." So saying, he took
+the monkey charm from Hortense, who could do nothing to stop him. Then
+the cat and the grater marched their captives through the tunnel to
+their house.
+
+"Before, when we put them in the cookie jar, they escaped," said
+Jeremiah.
+
+"Why not lock them in the clock case," suggested Grater.
+
+"Splendid idea," agreed Jeremiah, so they unlocked the door and pushed
+them all inside, carefully locking them in and Grater put the key in
+his pocket.
+
+"Now," said Jeremiah, "let's go out on the mountain side and maybe we
+can catch a couple of those little people and really have a fine
+supper."
+
+After they left Hortense began to cry softly. "Whatever will happen to
+us now," she sobbed, and sat down on one of the pendulum weights of the
+clock.
+
+"If you don't get off my weights I'm afraid I'll have to stop," spoke
+up the clock. "And if time stands still then you certainly will never
+go anywhere."
+
+"Oh, excuse me," said Hortense. "I quite forgot where we were." Then a
+sudden thought came to her. "Can you help us?" she asked.
+
+"I'm afraid not," said the clock. "You see, time can't be on anybody's
+side, but must be on all sides."
+
+"If you are on all sides, then you must be on our side," reasoned
+Hortense. "Anyway, do you know any way we can get out of your inside?"
+
+While Hortense and the clock were thus talking, Malay Kris was rubbing
+his ropes against one of the weights, and finally succeeded in freeing
+himself. Then he quickly jumped up and untied Hortense and Andy, and
+then tried his point in the keyhole. By luck when the grater dulled his
+edges, he made them exactly fit the notches in the keyhole. "Now," he
+called, "if you can turn me over I believe I can turn the lock."
+
+With Hortense standing on Andy's shoulders she could just reach Malay
+Kris, and with all her effort she turned the knife, the lock opened and
+the door swung out. Quickly the three friends left the cat's house and
+started through the garden toward the mountain side where the little
+people were.
+
+As they came close to where the guards were, Andy sneezed. One of the
+guards saw them and raised the alarm and all the guards came running.
+Malay Kris tried defending them, but his edge was so dull that he could
+make no dent on their armor at all. So, once again, they were subdued,
+tied up, and brought before the king and queen.
+
+"So," cried the king, "we have you again. This time we'll put you away
+for good. But first search them. I don't want them to have any secrets
+hidden in their pockets." So the guards went through their pockets and
+found the pieces of cookie.
+
+"They have no secret weapons, your honor," said the guards. "The only
+thing we found are these pieces of cookies."
+
+"Bring me the cookies," ordered the king. "They should be a nice
+dessert for me." So saying he bit off a piece of one, and finding it
+very delicious, passed the others around to the rest of his guards.
+Hortense tried to stop him from eating any more, but as soon as she
+started to talk, he roared, "Silence from the prisoners! You will speak
+only if asked to." Then he distributed the remainder of the cookies
+among his guards until they were all eaten up. After having finished
+such a good dessert, he leaned back in this throne and, addressing
+himself to the three, said, "Have you any final words to say before I
+sentence you? Since you escaped once before, this time I intend to
+throw you in the dungeon beneath the mountain. No one has ever escaped
+from it."
+
+Hortense and Andy were so frightened they couldn't say a word. But the
+queen came to their rescue. "Your honor," she said, "it is true that
+these strangers escaped once before. However, I can't see that they
+mean us any harm. Perhaps they could even be of some help to us if we
+kept them here."
+
+"Ha!" cried the king. "Much help they'd be. They may even be spies from
+another land."
+
+"From another land we are," spoke up Malay Kris. "And we do have some
+special news for you, if you care to know."
+
+"How is that?" roared the king.
+
+"First," said Malay Kris, "free Coal and Ember and Alligator sofa. We
+came here in order to free them."
+
+"So they are your friends," said the King. "Well, you can have that
+alligator. His appetite is much too big for us. But the firedogs are
+serving the queen in her bedroom and she would have to free them if
+anyone does. In the meantime I'll think this over. Guards! Take them
+away!"
+
+So the guards led Hortense, Andy, and Malay Kris away to a large open
+field where Alligator sofa lay sound asleep. A great number of guards
+were placed all around so there was no chance of escape.
+
+"How will we ever get back home now," Hortense said softly to Andy.
+"The king ate all the rest of the cookies so we can't ever grow to our
+normal size again."
+
+But Andy was looking up in the yellow sky. The dark blue moon had risen
+high overhead and the shadows of the dark red trees stood out like more
+sentries guarding the prisoners. As Andy watched he knew there wasn't a
+minute to spare, for soon Fergus would be coming on Tom and Jerry and
+if the little people were frightened back into the mountain and they
+were put in the dungeon beneath the mountain, that might be the end of
+the story. So he started up to one of the guards to demand to be taken
+to the king again. Before he had done two steps, however, Alligator
+sofa roused from his nap and said, "Did I hear someone say they wanted
+some cookies? I'm full of them. Just open my side a bit there, Malay
+Kris, and help yourself."
+
+Kris quickly opened the sofa and all his cookies fell out on the
+ground. They quickly filled their pockets, just as the king came up to
+them.
+
+"How is this? More cookies?" asked the king, surprised.
+
+The queen had heard about the good cookies and came around, too, Coal
+and Ember on a leash. Just then they heard a soft pad-padding and
+creaky sounds as the cat and the grater suddenly appeared. At the same
+moment, the moon began to darken as the outline of Tom and Jerry
+appeared closer and closer.
+
+"Run for your lives," screamed the king, and all the little people ran
+pell mell for the opening above the rock on the side of the mountain.
+Hortense, Andy and Malay Kris all took a bite of cookie and suddenly
+grew to their full size. Hortense seized Jeremiah and got her charm off
+his neck, but not before she got scratched deeply on the arm. Andy and
+Malay Kris dived for Grater, and he jumped backwards, right into the
+mouth of Alligator sofa.
+
+When Fergus landed with Tom and Jerry, he also took the last bite of
+cookie and looked around. By this time the little people were all gone
+and Jeremiah had likewise disappeared. The moon was getting low in the
+sky, and so he gathered all the friends together.
+
+"Soon it will be daylight," he said. "Until then, I think we'd better
+all stay together here, rather than risk getting lost trying to get
+down the mountain at night." So Hortense and Andy curled up on the
+sofa, Coal and Ember lay down beside Tom and Jerry, and Fergus sat up
+with Malay Kris to keep guard.
+
+When the first red streaks of sunshine began to appear, all the magic
+had gone with the night. Coal, Ember and Malay Kris again became cold
+pieces of brass and steel, and the sofa looked just like any other
+piece of furniture. Fergus shook Andy and Hortense, and when they were
+awake he explained that they needed to get home by breakfast and it was
+a long climb down the mountain. So they tied the sofa on Tom's back,
+and Fergus helped Hortense and Andy on Jerry's broad back. He stuck
+Malay Kris in a loop of his belt, and picked up the firedogs. Slowly,
+this strange procession wound its way down the steep mountain, across
+the brook, and up through the apple orchard toward the big house. By
+the time they arrived at the barn, Grandfather was there to greet them.
+
+"We're all back home, alive and well," he said. "I think we had better
+keep it this way." With a twinkle in his eye he continued. "There is a
+letter for Hortense in the morning mail. It says her folks are home
+from Australia, so she's to get on the train this afternoon and we'll
+not see her again until Christmas."
+
+So this ends the strange adventure of Hortense and the cat in
+Grandfather's house. Nobody ever sat on the sofa again, however, for it
+felt lumpy.
+
+
+      [1] Grabo's book ends with Chapter 13. This chapter was written,
+      but never published, by Paul D. Adams (1923-1999) for his
+      children. In it, he completes the storyline that Grabo left
+      unfinished. This work is hereby released into the Public Domain.
+      To view a copy of the public domain dedication, visit
+
+      http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/ or send a
+      letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San
+      Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT IN GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE***
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