people by making ourselves small, then after we have had time to
free the firedogs and alligator sofa, we'll wait there and you come get
us by saying the magic words to Tom and Jerry. Then we can all ride the
horses home."

"That sounds sensible," answered Fergus, "but how do you think you can
free alligator sofa and Coal and Ember? And also what if Jeremiah
should trap you in the tunnel?"

"Maybe I could keep the cat locked in the basement," suggested
Grandfather. "That way I can help, too."

Hortense was much relieved to see that Grandfather and Fergus were
willing to help her, and she surely felt much more secure with Jeremiah
safely out of the way. As for getting Coal and Ember and alligator
sofa, she thought the queen of the little people would help her if she
explained how much it was troubling her Grandmother, and in fact
upsetting the entire household.

So it was agreed. Just to be safe, Hortense planned to take Malay Kris
along, since he had proved himself such a good fighter in other close
scrapes. Now if only there would be the fifty-two cookies needed,
thirteen apiece for Fergus, Malay Kris, Andy and herself.

When Hortense went back to the kitchen Aunt Esmerelda was dozing in the
corner, her apron thrown up over her head. Hortense quietly sneaked
over to the cookie jar and peeked in. The jar was full to the brim, so
Hortense began busily putting cookies into her apron and dress pockets,
counting carefully. Just as she was about done counting them out she
felt a strange tickling on her leg. This so startled her that she
knocked the lid to the cookie jar to the floor with a crash, and she
saw Jeremiah disappear around the corner. The sudden noise woke Aunt
Esmerelda, and the old cook opened her eyes wide when she saw Hortense
with cookies bulging from every pocket.

"So tha's where all my cookies done go!" exclaimed the cook. "That yere
girl is done takin' 'em by the dozen. Whoffo you wants all those
cookies, girl? Doan you-all know you might git sick a-eatin' so much?"

Hortense had to do some very fast thinking, now, for she knew she
didn't dare scare poor old Aunt Esmerelda by telling her the cookies
were magic. So she said, "Please, Aunt Esmerelda, don't be angry. Your
cookies are just so good I could eat them all day without getting sick.
I was getting few more than usual just now because I was going to share
them with some friends of mine. I really wouldn't try to eat these all
by myself."

"