over and over again that he'd never,
no, _never_ frighten little girls and boys any more! So at last the
Knight let him scramble to his feet and rush off through the woods as
fast as he could go.

"That's the last of _him_" said the children's protector smiling, "but
now tell me, you three, what do you think of the change in _my_
appearance?"

For a moment the three children stared up at the tall figure, admiring
yet puzzled, then Ann clapped her hands and shouted: "Oh, I know _now_
who you are--you're the Knight-mare!"

The tall figure swept off his helmet and made Ann such a low bow that
his fair curling locks brushed the ground, fluttering like yellow
plumes about his ruddy face. "I'm all knight now," cried he, "and none
of me mare. I'm a Good Dream now, and I've no doubt she'll be rather
pleased to get me back--the lady I belong to in the castle, you know.
I'm wearing her glove, as you may perceive."

"But how did it happen?" asked Ann, fingering the helmet with the
greatest admiration.

"Well," said the Knight, "as soon as you children were imprisoned in
the hollow tree I managed to escape from those fellows and rushed off
to Sandy to get you help. I found he had already sent to the Corn-cob
Queen for rescuers and just as we were talking they arrived. I agreed
to guide their leader through the woods to Manunderthebed's place if
he would first settle a certain little matter for me--that one your
brother wasn't very anxious to tackle, you know. Well, when I asked
him if he'd cut off my head, _he_ said he'd just as lief as not!"

All three children burst out laughing.

"There's only one person we've met as fierce as that," said Ann, "and
that's Captain Jinks."

"Captain Jinks--at your service," snapped a sharp voice at her elbow,
and turning, Ann found the little tin captain standing beside her. "I
have to report," said he, wheeling around to Rudolf and saluting him
stiffly--"the enemy--routed completely!"

Never, never had the children expected to be so glad to meet the
little captain again! They thanked him heartily for his part in their
splendid rescue, and asked him what he thought it was best to do next.

"Sound a recall," answered the officer, "and return in good order
according to commands."

"Whose commands, Captain Jinks?" Rudolf wanted to know, but Jinks
would not answer any more questions just then. He recalled those of
his fierce little soldiers who, with the sergeant at their head, were
sti