Part 15 (1/2)
CHAPTER XV
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
The Bad Dreams were all aroused by Thunder-snorer's war-whoop, and in an instant the whole pack of them, headed by Manunderthebed, were at the children's heels. Rudolf and Ann ran as fast as ever they could, dragging Peter after them, but it was both difficult and dangerous to run fast through that dark wood, especially as they had no idea in what direction they ought to go. Each moment they expected to be overtaken, each moment they seemed to feel Manunderthebed's long black arm stretched out to drag them back to their prison--or to something worse.
Then suddenly from just ahead of them came the sound of a great cras.h.i.+ng and rustling among the bushes and the tramp of approaching feet. Some new danger--perhaps something worse than what was behind them--seemed to threaten the children, but they were too breathless, too bewildered even to try to avoid it. On they ran--straight into the arms of a tall figure who was hurrying to meet them, a knight dressed in s.h.i.+ning armor wearing a plumed helmet on his handsome head. At the same moment a troop of little tin soldiers broke through the bushes and rushed past the children to attack the Bad Dreams. All of them were quickly put to flight except their leader, Manunderthebed, who at first sight of the soldiers had hidden himself behind a tree. As soon as they had pa.s.sed he crept forth and made a dart at the children. But they had a protector now! The tall knight stepped in front of them and raised his glittering sword. Before he could bring it down, the cowardly King of the Bad Dreams gave a horrible yell and turned to run. He might have escaped, but as he pa.s.sed Rudolf the boy put out his foot and tripped him up. There the rascal lay on his back, kicking wildly, while the Knight stood guard over him. Seen close by, Manunderthebed was not quite so dreadful as when he crouched in his dark haunt near the hollow tree, but still his s.h.a.ggy fur, sharp white teeth, and gleaming green eyes were very terrifying to Ann, who gave a little shriek and turned her face away. ”Don't be afraid,” cried the Knight. ”This is the end of Manunderthebed!” And he stooped and caught hold of the s.h.a.ggy fellow by the shoulder. A crack, a rip, and the whole silly disguise came away in one piece, fur suit, teeth, claws, and green gla.s.s eyes. The terrible King of the Bad Dreams was just a big naughty boy in knickerbockers who kicked and cried and begged to be let go! The children had to laugh, they could not help it, to hear him blubber and whine and promise over and over again that he'd never, no, _never_ frighten little girls and boys any more! So at last the Knight let him scramble to his feet and rush off through the woods as fast as he could go.
”That's the last of _him_” said the children's protector smiling, ”but now tell me, you three, what do you think of the change in _my_ appearance?”
For a moment the three children stared up at the tall figure, admiring yet puzzled, then Ann clapped her hands and shouted: ”Oh, I know _now_ who you are--you're the Knight-mare!”
The tall figure swept off his helmet and made Ann such a low bow that his fair curling locks brushed the ground, fluttering like yellow plumes about his ruddy face. ”I'm all knight now,” cried he, ”and none of me mare. I'm a Good Dream now, and I've no doubt she'll be rather pleased to get me back--the lady I belong to in the castle, you know.
I'm wearing her glove, as you may perceive.”
”But how did it happen?” asked Ann, fingering the helmet with the greatest admiration.
”Well,” said the Knight, ”as soon as you children were imprisoned in the hollow tree I managed to escape from those fellows and rushed off to Sandy to get you help. I found he had already sent to the Corn-cob Queen for rescuers and just as we were talking they arrived. I agreed to guide their leader through the woods to Manunderthebed's place if he would first settle a certain little matter for me--that one your brother wasn't very anxious to tackle, you know. Well, when I asked him if he'd cut off my head, _he_ said he'd just as lief as not!”
All three children burst out laughing.
”There's only one person we've met as fierce as that,” said Ann, ”and that's Captain Jinks.”
”Captain Jinks--at your service,” snapped a sharp voice at her elbow, and turning, Ann found the little tin captain standing beside her. ”I have to report,” said he, wheeling around to Rudolf and saluting him stiffly--”the enemy--routed completely!”
Never, never had the children expected to be so glad to meet the little captain again! They thanked him heartily for his part in their splendid rescue, and asked him what he thought it was best to do next.
”Sound a recall,” answered the officer, ”and return in good order according to commands.”
”Whose commands, Captain Jinks?” Rudolf wanted to know, but Jinks would not answer any more questions just then. He recalled those of his fierce little soldiers who, with the sergeant at their head, were still chasing the last remnants of the Bad Dreams back to the depths of the wood, formed them into marching order, and taking the head of the procession himself, placed the children directly behind him under the protection of the Knight. They were anxious to have the little captain explain all the particulars of their rescue, but found it very hard indeed to make him talk while on duty. He marched so fast that they had to trot to keep up with him, and stared straight ahead without winking an eye. ”Queen's orders,” was all they could at first get out of him.
”But, Jinks, dear, who was it brought the message to the Queen?” Ann coaxed.
”Traveling Gentleman!” The little captain made a disgusted face.
”_He's_ a nice one! Said n.o.body was being shut up nowhere, nor didn't _want_ to be rescued.”
For a moment the children were puzzled, then Rudolf called out, ”Oh, I know--the False Hare!”
They all laughed and Ann said: ”I suppose Sandy didn't know any better than to send him, but I should think he'd make a pretty funny messenger!”
”Make a better pie,” said Jinks grimly, and not another word could they get out of him after that. They were now coming to that part of the wood Ann and Rudolf remembered so well, where the kindly Knight had rescued them from the attack of the tiresome Fidgets. They looked about for signs of the little creatures' presence in the branches overhead, and listened for their chattering laughter, but the coming of so large a company must have scared the cowardly Fidgets away, for not a trace of them was to be seen.
At last the procession struck the little path Sandy had pointed out to the children, and in another moment it was being met and greeted by a whole troop of Good Dreams who had rushed to welcome the returning party and escort them back to the glade. Here they found the whole family a.s.sembled: the Cook-that-liked-living-in-the-Country, the Gardener-with-the-Generous-Disposition, the Pink Stockings, the Nice Nurse, the Good Baby, the Easter Rabbit, the Birthday Cake, the Organ Man, the Tall Candlesticks, and the Jolly Santa Claus--one and all of the Good Dreams, with Noddy and Blink, the two fat boys, and--best of all--old Sandy himself, a twinkle in his sleepy eyes, a grin on his round good-humored face.
”Well, well, well,” cried he. ”Glad to see you back again, my friends! Guess _you've_ had enough of the bad 'uns--eh, young man?”
And he gave Peter a kindly dig in the ribs. Peter grinned and looked rather foolish but said nothing. ”And now,” went on Sandy, pus.h.i.+ng aside the excited dreams that crowded round him, ”make way, all of you! Let these young people see who's come to welcome them.” He led the children across the glade to where, throned on a pile of sacks, sat the Corn-cob Queen! There she was in her greeny-yellowy gown, her little head erect, her sweet face smiling, her tiny hands stretched out to greet the children. They could have hugged her, but they didn't dare, she looked, in spite of being just a doll and an old-fas.h.i.+oned one at that, so truly like a Queen. Back of her majesty stood a group of doll ladies-in-waiting dressed in their gayest clothes, and among them were Ann's very own children, Marie-Louise and Angelina-Elfrida!