Part 6 (1/2)

”Yes,” admitted the Doll, ”I surely would.”

”And I was only too glad to have you ride on my back,” said the Lamb on Wheels. ”It is so good to meet you again, Captain,” she went on.

”Quite like old times. We have a few minutes now, while the children are away, getting their pie. Do tell me what happened to the Calico Clown.”

”His trousers were burned,” said the Captain. ”And because Arnold bought me and my men I had to leave the store before I could see the new trousers the girl was going to make. But I'll tell you all about it,” and the Bold Tin Soldier did.

”Did he ever tell the answer to that riddle of what it is that makes more noise than a pig under a gate?” asked the Lamb.

”No, he never did,” said the Captain. ”I meant to ask him, but I came away in a hurry, you see.”

”Yes, we toys don't generally have much say as to what we shall or shall not do,” bleated the Lamb. ”I have been puzzling over that riddle myself.”

”The next time I see the Calico Clown I will ask him the answer,”

declared the Captain. ”There is no need of making such a secret about it. But, speaking of the store, it was lonesome there after you and the Sawdust Doll and the White Rocking Horse came away.”

”Really? Did you miss me?” asked the Lamb.

”Indeed we did,” declared the Captain. ”And, in a way, I am glad I was bought and brought away. One reason is that now I may have some adventures, and another reason is that I have seen you again.”

”It is very nice of you to say that,” said the Lamb.

”Is there any chance of seeing the Sawdust Doll or the White Rocking Horse again?” asked the Captain.

”Yes, indeed! Every chance in the world,” was the Lamb's answer.

”Why, they only live next door. The Sawdust Doll belongs to a little girl named Dorothy, and the White Rocking Horse to a boy named d.i.c.k.”

Then the Wooden Doll, who was a Red Cross Nurse, the Lamb on Wheels and the Bold Tin Soldier and his Tin Men talked together for some little time longer, while Arnold and Mirabell were in the kitchen eating the pie Susan had so kindly baked for them.

All of a sudden, as the Lamb was telling the Soldier some of her adventures, and how she had floated downstream on a raft, something fluttered down out of a tree near the porch, and the Lamb cried:

”Ouch!”

”What is the matter?” asked the Bold Tin Soldier. ”Did a bee sting you?”

”No, that was a bird!” bleated the Lamb on Wheels. ”And did you see what he did?”

”No! what?” asked the Soldier.

”Why, that bird flew right down out of a tree and grabbed a beak full of wool off my back,” went on the Lamb. ”Gracious, how he pulled!”

And while the Captain was getting ready to say something, down flew the bird again, and he plucked another beak full of loose, soft wool, pulling it from the Lamb's back.

”Ouch! Oh, how you pull! Please stop!” bleated the Lamb.

The Bold Tin Soldier drew his sword.

”Look here, Mr. Bird!” cried the Captain. ”I do not want to hurt you, but I can not allow you to pull wool from the back of my friend, Miss Lamb. You must stop it, or I will drive you away with my s.h.i.+ny, tin sword, as I drove away the bad rat that wanted to nibble the ears of the Candy Rabbit! Stop it, Mr. Bird!”

”Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!” chirped the Bird. ”Please let me pull some more wool from your back, Miss Lamb,” and he fluttered in the air with his beak wide open, while the Bold Tin Soldier, with drawn sword, took a step forward.