n, came running from the direction of the town
evidently with the intention of putting a stop to the disturbance.

"The revolution," said the Queen calmly, "just as I expected. Now I am
afraid I shall have to send you out of town."

"But why?" Rudolf began in his arguing voice. "We don't _want_ to go.
We want to stay and fight on your side, and I'm sure we'd be very
useful! Why I'd just as lief command your army as not, and--"

"Thank you very much," said the Corn-cob Queen, "but what would
Captain Jinks say to that? He is in command, you know. And if he
_should_ fail me, why the Commander-in-Chief will soon be back from
capturing the cat pirates."

"Who is this fellow you call the Commander-in-Chief, anyway?" Rudolf
interrupted crossly.

The Queen looked him straight in the eye. "I hope," she said, "that
you may all be allowed to see him some day, if you are good. He is a
_great_ soldier. He never sulks, and always obeys without asking
questions. That is more than some little boys do." Rudolf hung his
head, and the Queen added hastily: "But now I see that Captain Jinks
and the baker are going to hold a conference. I must go and join them.
Your coachman will drive you out of town the back way. Now where would
you like to go?"

"Back to our Aunt Jane, please," said Ann quickly. "Can you tell us
the way?"

"No," said the Queen, "I mustn't, but I have a friend who is a
dream-keeper just over the border, and I think he may be able to help
you. I'll tell the coachman to drive you there. Now good-by!"

"Good-by, good-by!" called the children. The coachman touched up the
horses, they were whirled away in a cloud of dust through which they
looked back regretfully at the queenly figure on the little wooden
horse who waved her hand again and again in kindly farewell. They saw
her joined by Captain Jinks and by a stout person in a white cap and
apron who handed the Queen what seemed to be some kind of document
printed upon a large sheet of pie crust.

"That was the Baker, I guess," said Rudolf, "and I dare say what he
was handing her was the declaration of war! Oh, what a shame it is we
are going to miss all the fun!"

"And the refreshments," sighed Peter. "We _always_ do! I never did
taste a declarashun of war, but it looked awful good. The very next
time I see one, I'm going to--"

But what Peter was going to do Ann and Rudolf did not hear, for at
that moment they were all three nearly spilled out of the little
ca