ussels sprouts."

It was impossible to imagine a more appetizing supper than that which
the three sat down to. Everything was prepared to a nicety, and the
Knight could not say enough in praise of the raised biscuits and home
made currant jell. As for the doughnuts, "Such doughnuts can't be made
without witchcraft, Jo," he declared.

"Nonsense!" said the old lady. "I don't put a thing into them that any
good cook doesn't use. Making doughnuts always was an art by itself. You
must both take some with you when you go."

After supper the Knight wiped the dishes while the Witch washed them,
Aunt Jo declaring it a shame that a man so domestically inclined should
be compelled to wander from one end of the rainbow to the other just
because of a foolish tender-heartedness in days gone by. While the pair
discussed this fruitful topic the Boy dipped into the fascinating
chapters of the "Complete Wizard."

"Time for bed," announced the Knight an hour later; and he added for the
Boy's ear: "We must make an early start in the morning."

"I for one shall sleep soundly," Aunt Jo declared. "I've run my legs off
to-day, as I never use a broomstick on my holiday."

She conducted her guests to a tiny bedchamber above stairs. "I will
leave a bag of doughnuts on the table, Henry," said she, "as I suppose
you will be off before I am up. Good-night!"

When she had gone below the Knight said: "We must be moving with the
first streak of day. Aunt Jo's holiday ends with sun-up, and you would
find her a vastly different old party, I can tell you."

VI.

"I don't think I should be afraid of her," said the Boy.

The Knight chuckled, and without further speech got into bed and was
soon wrapped in a deep slumber. Next to a clear conscience and the open
road, a good bed at night is something to set store by.

But the Boy could not sleep for the exciting pictures that danced in his
head, and he was impatient for the morning light, that he might be on
his way to Rainbow's-End. The moon peeped in the window; the breeze made
a pleasant sound in the poplar trees; from somewhere came the music of a
little brook. To all these gentle influences the Boy finally yielded.

He was awakened by a plucking at his sleeve.

"Time to be moving," said the Knight in a hoarse whisper. "We can put on
our shoes after we leave the house."

They crept down the stair, which creaked in terrifying fashion, but a
gentle snoring from the Witch's bedroom reassured