The Wonderful Bed

om any other bed the children had ever played in, yet it was

r and farther into the depths of the white cave. "All beds have." Then he stopped

r-let's go back!" In the half-darkness Rudolf felt her turn round

a little voice o

-oh, Pete

ly, "because there isn't any back.

behind and on either side, leaving only a narrow passageway open in front. It was nonsense to go on their hands and knees any longer, for even Rudolf, who was tallest, c

n rather a weak voice, "don't you kno

dventure. I want to go back-back to Aunt Jane!"

crying, and he

eight. "But what are we go-going to do?" she

go on, I suppose, an

to be ashamed of herself to put us in s

ly from behind them-"maybe she wanted to

can happen to us," he went on, speaking slowly and thoughtfully, "because we all kn

he remembered, in time to save himself from the disgrace of tears, how his father had once told him that whistling was an excellent remedy for boys who did not feel quite happy in their minds.

feet, and by stretching out their hands they could almost touch the smooth white walls on either side of them. At first the way was perfectly straight ahead, but after they had w

st. "See, Ruddy, there is a nice flat bl

y!" Now this was a thing Peter was used to saying at all times and on all occasions, so it was just like him to

! I suppose it will soon be time to think about starving." And she took her littl

doing it. Let me see-it was two chocolate mice I had-I hope they didn't get squashed when we were playing! No, here they are." The chocolate mice were a little the worse for wear, in fact there wer

udolf. "You may have the heads, Ann, and me the middle

hand. This, of course, made it necessary for Rudolf to box Peter's ears, and a tussle quickly followed, in the middle of which something dreadful happened. The large flat rock they were sitting on gave several queer shakes and heaves and then suddenly rose right up

"Oh, oh," she cried, "it's not a ro

e warming of you three," he snarled. "I'll teach you to come sitting on top of me playing your t

Ann began. "We didn't mean

u to talk about hot-water bottles when I'm through with you!" As he spoke he came closer and closer to Ann, snorting and puffing and glaring at her out of his one terrible eye. Although he was so round and waddled so clumsily, dragging his long tail behind him, his appearance was quite dreadful. He reminded R

eavy until at last the knight managed to get his blade entangled with the dragon's long tail, and tripped the creature up. Then, without waiting for his enemy to get himself together again and heartily tired of playing Saint George, Rudolf turned and ran after Ann and Peter. Long before he caught up to them, however, he heard the Pan behind him, snorting and scolding. Luckily

sage just ahead, and in another moment he flung himself panting o

en, after she had thanked Rudolf very prettily for saving her life, and that hero had recovered his breat

through. There was open country beyond them, and just opposite to where the children stood was the queerest little house that they had ever seen. It was long and very low, hardly more than one story high, and was painted blue and white in stripes running lengthwise. In th

ir was full of th

cause the Warming-pan might catch us, and if we stay here Peter will catch his death of

Ann," began Rudolf in his argui

oll a snowball out of the white flakes that were pil

it or out in it. I'm going to knock at the door of that house this m

the people who live there don't happen

d. Then Rudolf laughed, drew his precious sword, which he had fastened into th

like the looks of the person who comes. Now!" And he kn