Part 13 (1/2)
”All the choice bits of torturing. Why, I've not had so much as a single toss since I've been on this job; no I haven't!” And she shook her sharp curved horns at Ann.
”Not a tooth out yet!” complained the Dentist, ”not a single one.” He sighed, glancing from Ann to Rudolf and from Rudolf back again to Ann, as if he expected they might be coaxed into presenting him with a full set each.
”'Tis himsilf does all the arristin',” muttered the Policeman sadly.
”Big-boss-chief take all good scalp,” Thunder-snorer, the Indian, grunted.
The children began to think this ”Boss” must indeed be a terror.
”Now, come, come,” continued the Knight-mare soothingly, ”it's not so bad as that. You all get plenty of fun, but you mustn't mix it up with business. We're in a row now, every one of us, for being out of bounds. Better move along and have it over, that's my advice.”
The Policeman looked more cheerful. ”That's it,” cried he. ”Move on!”
Ann put her little arms around the Knight-mare's neck and whispered something in his ear. He turned to the Cow and said:
”Madam, this young lady wishes to know if anything has been seen or heard of another prisoner, a small fat one called Peter?”
”Sir,” said the Cow, ”he was taken just a little while ago. That's why we four went off in a huff. We wanted a little fun with him, just a bit of our pretty play, you know, but the Boss wouldn't have it. He's saving him up for the Banquet, and not one of us is to be let at him till after that.”
Rudolf and Ann looked at each other, both suddenly remembering the Sandman's warning that on no account were any of them to taste the Bad Dreams' food. Could Peter be expected to refuse any kind of refreshments at any time? They knew that he could not.
”Come,” cried Rudolf, pulling at the Knight-mare's arm. ”Take us to him, please. We've got to hurry.”
The Knight-mare obligingly stepped forward, leading Ann by the hand, and the Bad Dreams--to the children's surprise--rose meekly to accompany them. It was decided that the Cow should go first, to clear a way through the forest by her simple method of trampling down everything before her. The Indian walked next, stepping softly and silently on his moccasined feet, and turning now and then to make a horrid face at the children who followed behind him, one on either side of the Knight-mare. The Dentist and Policeman, walking arm in arm, brought up the rear. The party had not gone a great distance through the wood, before Ann and Rudolf noticed that the underbrush was growing thinner and the trees beginning to be taller and farther apart. At last they could see through a veil of branches the light of a fire burning on the ground not a great distance ahead of them, and soon they came close to the enormous oak tree under which this fire was kindled. Its flames were a strange bluish color, and as they shot up into the darkness which was almost complete under the shade of that great tree, the children could plainly see strange figures showing black against the light, leaping and dancing around the fire.
”The party's begun, but not the Banquet,” whispered the Knight-mare.
”You can come a little closer, but you mustn't interrupt till it's over.”
In silence they all moved a little nearer to the cleared s.p.a.ce under the tree, but not so near as to be discovered. Rudolf and Ann gazed anxiously at the scene before them. First of all they noticed that the fire was not an ordinary fire, but a huge blazing plum pudding which accounted for the queer color of its flames. It was stuck full of bits of crackling holly and dripped sweet-smelling sauce in every direction. On the other side of the fire, just opposite to them, was a moss-grown log, and on this log sat Peter. His big brown eyes, s.h.i.+ning with excitement, were fixed on the dancers pa.s.sing before him, his little nose sniffed the burning plum pudding with great satisfaction.
As soon as her eye fell on her little brother, Ann started toward him, but the Knight-mare held her back.
”No use,” said he. ”Wait a bit, and I'll tell you when the real trouble's going to begin.”
The children had no choice but to obey, and their attention was soon occupied by the strange sights before them. As one odd figure after another sprang out of the dark into the firelight, capered and pranced, and then disappeared into the blackness again, Ann and Rudolf drew closer together and squeezed hands, very queer feelings creeping up and down their back-bones. The strangest part of it all was that among that crazy company were many whom the children did not see for the first time, who were old acquaintances of theirs! There--grinning and brandis.h.i.+ng his stick--was the Little Black Man who had worried Rudolf many a night as far back as he could remember. There was the Old Witch on the Broomstick, whom Ann had often described to him.
There again, were other Bad Dreams that made the children almost smile as they remembered certain exciting times. The Angry Farmer--Rudolf had seen him before; he remembered his fierce expression, yes, and his short black whip, too! Also the Cross Cook, her fat arms rolled up in her ap.r.o.n, and ”I'm going to tell your mother,” written plainly on her round red face. A great white Jam Pot danced just behind the Cook, and was followed by a dozen bright Green Apples. A Dancing-master came next, bowing and smiling at Peter as he pa.s.sed him, then a Bear paddling clumsily along on its hind legs, its great red mouth wide open to show its long white teeth, then a Gooseberry Tart marked ”Stolen”, then an Arithmetic with a mean sort of face, rulers for legs, and compa.s.ses for arms; then a Clock that had been meddled with by somebody (Rudolf felt certain it was not by him) and kept striking all the time; then a Piano with a lot of horrid exercises waiting to be practised; then last of all a familiar clumsy figure with one red glaring eye--their old enemy, the Warming-pan!
As Rudolf was trying to take in these, and many others in that curious throng, he felt himself sharply pinched by Ann. ”Look, look,” she whispered, ”over there where it's so dark, close to Peter. Oh, don't you know _now_ who their Boss is?”
Rudolf looked. Clearly enough now he saw two flaming green eyes and a clumsy black figure crouching on the ground. Before this figure every one of the dancers made a low bow as he pa.s.sed.
”Don't you know him?” repeated Ann, s.h.i.+vering with excitement. ”It's Manunderthebed!”
”Oh, well, what if it is?” whispered Rudolf. ”I stopped bothering about _him_ years ago. He's only for babies.”
Ann was not deceived by Rudolf's cheerful tone. Manunderthebed might not amount to much at home with nurse and mother to frighten him away, but here in his own country it was not pleasant to meet him.
”He's horrid,” said she. ”Oh, look, Ruddy, what is he doing now?”