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diff --git a/23737.txt b/23737.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..948603b --- /dev/null +++ b/23737.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6074 @@ +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. 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