The Happy Adventurers

rs or The

Laddie circled round with a few inquiring sniffs, decided that the newcomer was harmless, and stood blinking h

use is all but finished, and he promised to let us up

flower-beds. This child wore an overall of bright blue cotton, shaped like Prue's, and her head was covered with s

with that red hair, I can't think," she said. "She calls herself an artis

"I think it is beautiful, just like a

" she said in a friendly tone, as if she were quite well acquainted wi

h the thickly growing dandelions, and seated themselves beside Grizzel. She had filled her lap with

followed Grizzel's chain, and she observed that it str

Grizzel replied. "When it is finished it wil

ing to do with i

" answere

good of making

red Grizzel, "it's only meant to be th

ness," persisted Mollie. "You wouldn't li

Hans Andersen's tale of the "White Swans", "then I could smell all the delicious

way you want it to go. Let's help with her chain and get it finished. I'm tired of it." She threw a handful of yellow bloom into Mollie's lap

little flowers withering all round the garden when they might hav

a million dandelions growing on their roots," Grizzel said, pull

and. Daffodils, narcissus, freesias, and violets grew thickly in the borders and under the trees, which seemed to be mostly fruit-trees, though Mollie did not recognize them all. Peach and apricot

nheeded. "There's Hugh!" she exclaimed; "he is calling us. The house mu

red curls bobbing; "I must finish my

dandelions, deciding after a few lazy blinks to stay where he was. A slender boy in grey was waiting f

is: first, a carpet; second, curtains; and third-third-a tin-opene

o one will notice, and it's pretty shabby since I dropp

he cur

my bed," said Prue, after a moment's c

e. "Cut a blanket in halves! Wha

if she did, she would forget it had ever had a striped blanket on it. Come on,

ve and war", so she followed Prue into the house. It was, to her eyes, an unusual sort of house, all built on the ground floor, so that there was no staircase. The front door opened into a square hall with doors on all sides. Prue pushed one open and they passed through into a bedroom, very plainly furnished with two little beds, two chests of drawers, a wash-stand, and a c

through which Mollie caught a glimpse of sitting-rooms, and crossed a paved courtyard,

use. Miss Wilton is our governess; she has gone home to-day to nurse a sister with bronchitis. I'm sorry for the sister, but it's a treat for us, especially as Hugh has go

er little time to indulge in this luxurious sensation (because having a home nice enough to be sick for is a luxury in its way), and Mollie had merely taken in a general impression of books, toys, and shabbiness, when Prudence called her to help with the hearthrug. It c

out in a broad and even circumference, and across two of these boughs was built a hut, perhaps five by seven feet in area, and high enough for a child of ten to stand upright in. It had a floor, four w

wo climb up and give me a hand. Better send Mollie up first, as the la

it looked as if an unwary step would send it flying, and she put a reluctant foot

't pull," Prudence assured her. "I am holding o

was quickly followed by Prudence, and the two girls examined the interior with interest. There was not very much room

lay the carpet with

felt the big ro

out," said Hugh. "There ar

and behind it was firmly lashed a flagpole, with a Union Jack hanging limply in the still air, and a lantern with green and red glass on two of its sides. Near the door of the little house there hung from a stout branch a curious-looking canvas bag, broadly tubular in shape, and with a small brass tap at

. "We can see the enemy from there a

call it," said Mollie

replied evasively. "N

usiasm. She crawled out of the house by the little door again, found her road to the nearest staircase, and climbed this way and that among the leafy branches till she reached the Look-ou

Prudence doing execution on the blanket with a large pair of scissors. "It would be almost imposs

the golden dandelions. "It's a pity she doesn't do something more worth while. She would make a good Guide." Looking beyond the garden, Mollie could see the town of Adelaide. It was a white town among green trees, with many slender spires and pointed steeples piercing the blue sky, many gardens and meadows, and a silvery streak of river winding across it like a twisted thread. A semicircle of softly swelling hills enclosed the town upon two sides, some of them striped with vineyards, some wooded, and some brilliantly yellow, for the dande

d Prue. "The house is beau

can leather and brass-headed nails. A few books lay upon one shelf, and on another stood a collection of cups, saucers, and plates, cracked, perhaps, and not all matching, but suggestive of convivial parties and good cheer. In one corner lay a cushion embroidered

this house I would live in it all the time. It is much nicer than a co

ted a way of arranging corks so that it will float in the severest storm. It could not sink if it trie

aveller and come here," sighed Mollie. "He

ck?" Hugh aske

ine. "We do everything together in the holidays except football, and just now there isn't any football, so Dick is rather bored at

have enough to be useful. To-day is a half-holiday, and I am supposed to be learning

an history," said Mollie decidedly, "and

ve finished my chain at last, and now I want to

lightly down the ladder, a

nd do remember to push

old the l

" Grizzel complained, as she proceeded rather nervously to clim

that everybody could climb. Look out, Griz, you are pulling-" he stretched out a hand as he spoke, and held the top of the ladder, while Prudenc

and hate in when everybody is horrid. You can draw the curtains and shut the door, and light your la

"If he went on hating very long he would be suffocated. I'd sooner have a tea-par

Papa gave it to me; it's the boiling that bothers me,

spirit-lamp in that," suggested Mollie the Guide. "Cut out the fro

said Hugh; "I'll do it to-mo

r too much enthralled by the little house to want to come down so soon. "I don't want any bread-and-butter tea," s

dark eyes, silky golden hair, and a dear little mouth parting over two rows of tiny pearly teeth. She gurgled melodiously to her

sted real Irish potato scones baked on a girdle, Mollie, you'd better chalk it up, as Bridget says. You split th

that," Prudence said warningly, "and you've forgotten Grizzel's orange

ascinating, and Mollie was charmed to see one with her own name on it. The delightful part about this most unexpected visit, she thought, was the way everyo

d in a green-rush basket, the Swiss Family Robinson forming the basis of the repas

on't Frizzy Grizzy be pleased when she

re Mamma comes in. You've had enough jam, Baby darling; let Prudence take off your bib now and

square hall, flinging herself into the arms of a stout man with a brown beard, who returned her embrace so warmly that Mollie wondered if he had been away from

e, beaming upon them all with the kindest blue eyes Mollie had eve

e jammy little fingers, laid a hand on Mollie's head,

mb into it yet, but it looks very nice from the outside. I think I'll arrange a

to the town-hall to hear this wonderful new telephone, as they call it. They say that someone speaking from the post office at Glenelg will be perfectly audible in the town-hall

y forgotten on his plate, and stood bef

cried. "I'll learn reams of Latin

r each young robber. Be fair and amiable, my children. Come, Hugh. Good night, Papa's little angel." He kissed Baby, handed her over to Pr

gate," said Prudence.

up, Mo

was a lovely evening, and the girls lingered by the gate; the scent of violets and freesias rose from the flowerbed

ie, with an unladylike sn

re he always brings something home. It's a beautiful shop. Once I stayed with Lucy Macfarline from Saturday till Monday, and her mamma allowed us to play in the shop on Sunday; it was so funny, all dark and dim, and the dolls looking like little ghos

is simply the limit sometimes, but I do wish we coul

first we must f

d underneath the tree, nearly dislocating their necks in their efforts to see some sign of life in the little house. But Grizzel

ing her evening hat

she would be sulky with me just now; it wasn't me that stole the ladder-oh bother that H

w minutes at tea-time," Mollie remarked sensibly. "Very

t into place again, and Prudence mounted quickly. She disappeared through

ere, Mollie.

e can't be gone! How could she get down wit

ranch from here; there is not a s

en out she would be lying round somewhere. There is no way she could get

hing," Prudence said, steadying her e

lie thought. She looked up and down and round about, but not a vestige of Grizzel was t

e book-shelf. So she did not go in a great hurry, because she tidied up first. Let us go to the Look-out and

l the visible parts of the garden, but nowhere was th

d help us. What I can't understand is how she got down at all, and, if she was down, why she didn't c

iety, and when house and garden had been searched in vain, Bridget and Prudence faced

; I saw their wurlies yesterd

wud the blacks be touchin' Grizzel? Isn't yur Pa the kindest

e pale with anxiety and tears not far away. "He just goes and sells them, that's what he does, and buys whisky. He

d the next step to take. Mollie felt that this problem was be

? We haven't se

l, an' that's sure. Blessin's on ye for the thought, Miss

d have barked," Prudence said, taking a long breath

ad no room for another thought, but now

ma comes home. Mollie, you a

ns when she knew neither Grizzel nor the surroundings very well. "She had no hat on;

larming to be missing with a hat than without one. In fact, if it had not been for the mystery of the tree-which certainly was very inexplicable-Mollie would not have disturbed herself. Grizzel ha

w and ran off to give Hugh a fright. Let's go and loo

she is frightened of meeting Things. She says there are all sorts of Things in town. Once she got lost in a big crowd, and I think it made her rather nervous. Besides, Mamma will be

reconnoitre, and if we see her we

But twilight was already creeping over the land-the brief Australian twilight which turns to darkness so quickly. It was imp

it from a long way off. Look in the house for matc

" Mollie objected, "an

rules," Prudence repli

to hur

and, "I am glad we don't hang a red lantern out of the nursery win

ntern door, "but it will do. Now we'll go down the

dropping down. High up above the trees they could see the red lantern shining in the dusk like a glowing ruby; the air was growing chilly, and all the warm br

moment after Grizzel appeared, run

. "I didn't mean to be so long; I s

arm. "I have been so frightened. Come on quickly now, or we won't be rea

ded, and Baby laughed, and they were all so busy "getting ready" that it was not till three white musl

id you get down

ed, looking mysterious, "I invent

rather crossly; "there c

Grizzel retorted, her face ta

ollie asked, with an

ttle red curls. "It's my secret

the ladder was gone?" Prue a

It's part of

e said firmly; "you can't have secr

t's my mysterious secre

ed to her to be silent. Mollie was not a Patrol Leader for nothing; s

hose parcels

nce exclaimed, jumping up from the green chair and rushing into the hall, fol

he parcels were quickly undone and the wrappings and string tidied away-"the evidences of our folly", Prue said, as she bundled them out of sight. The contents were so charming that everybody forgot their little difference of opinion. There was a fine large kaleidoscope, the first she had

ther is a peach. I have often wanted to see a proper k

for-the crimson lake, Prussian blue, Vandyke brown, and the rest; Prue had wound up her box, and as Mollie turned her kaleidoscope towards the light, and delig

"Mamma" who after all did not look in the least alarming. She was a fair, pretty woman, with large clear eyes like Hu

said in her musical voice. "How nicely your hair i

ls, "I can't spare one hair off my Prue's head. I

stood a good deal of what the man said. I shall require a new magnet and some other things. I'll begin tomorrow.

ittle house and described a beautiful plan she had concocted for a house-warmi

Grizzel. "Of course I'll co

let you come if you have a mysterious secret

paying Prudence out for forgetting me. She might have remembered to let me down w

no time to get you, and it was my fau

rizzel went on; "only you must pro

ite pale. We were frightened together and looked for you together; it wouldn't b

I'd better tell. I'd have liked to keep one secret, but I ca

Mollie, "I'

COULD MAKE SOMETHING T

Y BR

d it scraping along; Hugh is a silly. So I watched him hide it, and when the milkman cam

"Well, I must say!" she exclaimed at last, "I am a Sherlock Holmes and no mistake! I was so busy being clever that I never even thoug

ter that Grizzel departed with her paint-box, Bridget took Baby for a walk, and Mollie and Prue settled themselves in the little house, wi

llers," Mollie said; "somehow I can't seem to

u didn't forget you would remember too much, and then you would stop being a Time-traveller, beca

me two things. Can we travel f

one; but it is better not, M

into my Time

you brought me; and I

o have more room than we have, and you are not so frightfully busy. We never have enough time; I think your hours must be longer than ours,"

th a little laugh. "I don't know about Dick; you can't br

ept football, and there isn't any just now. Perhaps we could make him want to come; couldn't Hugh invent some way?

ing else for days. That's the way he is; we get rather tired of it sometimes, especially when we have to help. Grizzel collect

at the white gate on hi

first opportunity

verything, if you can only find it. It's mostly a question of looking long enough. And a thing is always in the

h as they talked, and Mollie's wandering gaze fell up

coming to a standstill. "I

nsies. A small headstone had been made from the lid of an

GEST DANDY LION C

"why on earth has she gone an

he group and ans

p and buried them. I bought a yard of lovely yellow muslin when I was out yesterday and made a beautifu

make something that would reach from here to my brother Dick. I wish we had wireless. I wonder if 'willing' woul

for a new experiment, "much easier than

hem all look up-it was a parrot flying low across the garden, its brilliant plumage shining in the

Mary was drawing the curtains, and a cheerful little fire had been lighted

asked incredulously. (It s

wered; "and now tea, and after tea