ll the arristin'," muttered the Policeman sadly.

"Big-boss-chief take all good scalp," Thunder-snorer, the Indian,
grunted.

The children began to think this "Boss" must indeed be a terror.

"Now, come, come," continued the Knight-mare soothingly, "it's not so
bad as that. You all get plenty of fun, but you mustn't mix it up with
business. We're in a row now, every one of us, for being out of
bounds. Better move along and have it over, that's my advice."

The Policeman looked more cheerful. "That's it," cried he. "Move on!"

Ann put her little arms around the Knight-mare's neck and whispered
something in his ear. He turned to the Cow and said:

"Madam, this young lady wishes to know if anything has been seen or
heard of another prisoner, a small fat one called Peter?"

"Sir," said the Cow, "he was taken just a little while ago. That's why
we four went off in a huff. We wanted a little fun with him, just a
bit of our pretty play, you know, but the Boss wouldn't have it. He's
saving him up for the Banquet, and not one of us is to be let at him
till after that."

Rudolf and Ann looked at each other, both suddenly remembering the
Sandman's warning that on no account were any of them to taste the Bad
Dreams' food. Could Peter be expected to refuse any kind of
refreshments at any time? They knew that he could not.

"Come," cried Rudolf, pulling at the Knight-mare's arm. "Take us to
him, please. We've got to hurry."

The Knight-mare obligingly stepped forward, leading Ann by the hand,
and the Bad Dreams--to the children's surprise--rose meekly to
accompany them. It was decided that the Cow should go first, to clear
a way through the forest by her simple method of trampling down
everything before her. The Indian walked next, stepping softly and
silently on his moccasined feet, and turning now and then to make a
horrid face at the children who followed behind him, one on either
side of the Knight-mare. The Dentist and Policeman, walking arm in
arm, brought up the rear. The party had not gone a great distance
through the wood, before Ann and Rudolf noticed that the underbrush
was growing thinner and the trees beginning to be taller and farther
apart. At last they could see through a veil of branches the light of
a fire burning on the ground not a great distance ahead of them, and
soon they came close to the enormous oak tree under which this fire
was kindled. Its flames were a strange bluish color, and as they shot
u