Chapter IV
"Highboy, and Lowboy, and Owl, and the Firedogs come out at night."
When Grandmother asked at breakfast if she had slept well, Hortense replied truthfully that she had.
"I don't know what got into Jeremiah last night," said Grandmother. "I heard something myself, and Esmerelda declares he ran about the house like one possessed. This morning we heard him in the attic."
Hortense, eating her egg and toast, thought she might tell Grandmother of last night's surprising events, but of course she wouldn't be believed. So on second thought she said nothing.
Slipping away to the kitchen when breakfast was over, she found Jeremiah begging for his breakfast and Aunt Esmerelda regarding him with hands on hips, shaking her head.
"Yo' sho' is possessed," said Aunt Esmerelda. "Such carrying on I never heard. I spec's de evil one was after yo', an' I hopes he catches yo' and takes yo' away wid him."
Jeremiah winked his yellow eyes sleepily in reply, but at the sight of Hortense he lashed his tail and turned away. Aunt Esmerelda, grumbling, gave him a saucer of milk.
"Yo' keep away from dat animal," said Aunt Esmerelda to Hortense. "No one knows de wickedness of his heart."
Hortense waited in the kitchen until Mary was free to begin her morning's task of dusting and tidying the rooms.
"May I come?" she begged.
"Sure," said Mary kindly. "I'm dusting the big parlor this morning, and there are lots of interesting things to see there."
In the big unused parlor she threw open the shutters and parted the curtains to let in the sunlight. Hortense was at once absorbed in the treasures she found. The room was filled with things which Grandfather had brought home from his travels all over the world. There were heavy, dark red tables carved with all kinds of flowers and animals, bright silk cushions, little ebony tabourets with brass trays upon them, curious vases and lacquer boxes from China and Japan. On the mantel was a beautiful tree of pink coral in a glass case, and beside it were wonderful shells and little elephants carved from ivory. On the walls were bits of embroidery framed and covered with glass, picturing bright-plumaged birds and tigers standing in snow.
Most fascinating of all were the strange weapons arrayed in a pattern upon one wall—spears, guns, bows and arrows, swords and knives, boomerangs, war clubs, bolos—weapons which Hortense had seen only in pictures in her geography and in books of travel. They all seemed dead and harmless enough now, not likely to come down from the wall and wander about the house at night. Hortense doubted whether they would even speak.
However, one was different, quite wide-awake and, Hortense could see, only waiting for a chance to leap down from the wall. It was a long knife with a green handle made from some sort of stone. Its shape was most curious, like the path of a snake in the dust. Like a snake, too, it seemed deadly, and the light that played upon its sinuous length and dripped from the point like water, glittered like the eyes of a serpent.
"What an awful knife," said Hortense.
"Those spears and knives give me the shivers," said Mary. "I've told your Grandfather I'd never touch them."
"Most of them are dead," said Hortense, "but the one with the curly blade and the green handle looks as though it could come right down at you. I'd like to have that one."
Mary jumped.
"Don't you touch it," she said severely. "You might hurt yourself dreadfully."
Hortense said no more, but resolved to ask Grandfather about the knife at the first opportunity. Sometime, when she had a chance, she would come to the parlor and talk with the knife. It must have lovely, shivery things to tell.
There was also a couch which fascinated her, a long, low couch with short curved legs and brass clawed feet. Hortense surveyed it for a long time.
"It looks like an alligator asleep," she said at last. "I wonder if it ever wakes up."
"What does?" Mary asked.
"The couch," said Hortense. "See its short curved legs, just like an alligator's? And it's long. Probably its tail is tucked away inside somewhere. Alligators have long tails, you know. I saw an alligator once that looked just like that."
"I declare," said Mary, "you are an awful child. I won't stay in this room a bit longer. I feel creepy."
She gathered up her dust cloths and broom, and Hortense went reluctantly with her.
"Do show me the attic, Mary," Hortense pleaded.
"Not to-day," said Mary firmly. "You'd be seeing things in the corners. I never saw your like!"
So for the rest of the morning, Mary dusted other rooms in which all the furniture seemed dead or asleep and, therefore, quite uninteresting.
After luncheon, however, Hortense asked Grandfather to tell her about the knife with the crinkly blade.
"That," said Grandfather, "is a Malay kris, such as the pirates in the East Indies carry. An old sea captain gave it to me. It once belonged to a Malay pirate. When he was captured, my friend secured it and gave it to me in return for a service I did for him."
"It looks as though it could tell terrible stories," said Hortense.
"No doubt it would if it could talk," said Grandfather. "It is very old and doubtless has been in a hundred fights and killed men."
"You wouldn't let me carry it?" Hortense asked.
"Gracious no," said Grandfather. "It is dangerous. What made you think of such a thing?"
What Hortense thought was that it would be a very nice and handy weapon to hunt the cat with at night, but she couldn't tell Grandfather that; so she said nothing.
"It's a nice afternoon," said Grandfather, "and little girls should be out-of-doors. Run out and see the barn and the orchard."
Hortense did as she was told, wandering about the yard, exploring the loft of the barn, and the orchard. At last she came back to the house, for this interested her more than anything else.
There were many bushes and shrubs planted close to the walls, forming fine secret corners in which to hide and look unseen upon the world without. Hortense hid a while in each of them, wishing she had some one with whom to play hide and seek.
She found one bush which was particularly inviting, for it was beside an open window of the basement. She looked in and was surprised to see that the window opened not into the basement but into a wooden box or chute that sloped steeply, and then dropped out of sight into the gloom below.
Hortense peered in as far as she could and as she did so, much to her surprise, a head appeared in the darkness where the wooden box dropped out of sight.
It was the head of a dirty little boy. As she stared at it, she recognized the little boy who had turned handsprings in the yard next door as she and Uncle Jonah had driven by yesterday.
"Hello," said Hortense.
"Hello," said the boy. "Help me out. I slipped."
He endeavored to lift himself to the chute whose edge came to his chin, but it was too slippery and he could not. Hortense stretched out her arm to help him, but the distance was too great.
"However did you get there?" Hortense asked.
"I wanted to see where it went," said the boy, "but once I got in I slipped and fell to the bottom."
"Where does it go?" Hortense asked.
"Only to the furnace," said the boy in disgust.
"Oh," said Hortense. "I thought it might go to a secret room or something."
"Can't you get a rope?" the boy asked.
Hortense considered.
"I couldn't pull you out if I did. I'll have to get Uncle Jonah."
"He'll lick me," said the boy.
"Oh, I know," said Hortense. "We'll play you're a prisoner in a dungeon, and every day I'll bring you things to eat."
But the boy didn't seem to like this idea.
"I want to get out," he said, and disappeared.
"I believe there's some sort of a door at the bottom," he said at last, reappearing, "but it opens from the other side. Couldn't you get into the cellar and open it?"
"Aunt Esmerelda might see me and ask what I was doing," she answered. "Maybe I can get by when she isn't looking. You wait."
"I'll wait all right," said the boy. "Don't you be too long. It's dark in here."
"The dark won't hurt you," said Hortense, but to this the boy only snorted by way of reply.
Hortense peeped cautiously into the kitchen. Aunt Esmerelda was seated in her chair, fast asleep.
"What luck," thought Hortense, and she tiptoed across the kitchen to the cellar door. She opened it very carefully, shut it again without noise, and crept down the stairs.
The basement was dark, but soon Hortense began to see her way and walked to the furnace. At the back of it was the wooden chute that led to the window above.
She knocked gently upon it.
"Are you in there?" she asked.
"Yes," said a muffled voice.
Hortense looked for the door of which the boy had spoken and at last found a panel which slid in grooves. She pulled at this but succeeded in raising it only a couple of inches.
"It's stuck," said Hortense.
"I can help," said the boy, slipping his fingers through the opening.
He and Hortense pulled and tugged and at last succeeded in raising the panel about a foot. They couldn't budge it an inch further.
"I guess I can squeeze through," said the boy.
Scraping sounds came from the box, and the noise of heels on the wooden sides. The boy's head appeared and then an arm. Hortense seized the arm and pulled.
At last a very dusty, grimy boy wriggled through and, rising gasping to his feet, dusted his clothes.
"What's your name?" Hortense asked.
"Andy. What's yours?"
Hortense told him. They looked at each other without further words.
"You've got to get through the kitchen without Aunt Esmerelda seeing you," said Hortense, and led the way to the cellar stairs.
"You stay here until I see if she's still asleep," Hortense said as she crept cautiously to the top.
She opened the door very gently and peered in. Aunt Esmerelda still sat in her corner, asleep. Hortense motioned to Andy, who came as quietly as he could, which wasn't very quiet for his heels clumped loudly on the stairs.
"Hush!" Hortense whispered. "Now go as fast and as quietly as you can across the kitchen. Hide behind the barn, and I'll follow you."
Andy ran across the room, but as he went out of the door he struck his toe against the sill, making a great clatter.
Aunt Esmerelda awoke with a start.
"Lan's sakes, wha's dat?" she exclaimed.
"May I have some cookies, Aunt Esmerelda?" Hortense asked.
Aunt Esmerelda's eyes were rolling.
"I 'clare I seed somefin' goin' out dat a doh. Dis yere house 'll be de def of me. Cookies? 'Cose you can have cookies, honey."
Hortense helped herself freely, remembering that Andy would want some. With these in her hands she walked through the yard and around the barn, where she found Andy.
"Cookies!" cheered Andy, and falling upon his share which Hortense gave him, he ate them one after another as fast as he could, never saying a word.
"Didn't you have any luncheon?" Hortense asked.
"Of course," said Andy, "but I squeezed so thin getting out of that box that I'm hungry again."
"I suppose," said Hortense, "that when I want a second helping of dessert and haven't room for it, all I need do is to squeeze in and out of the box and then I can start all over again."
It seemed a delightful plan.
"We might do it now and get some more cookies," said Andy, hopefully.
"Aunt Esmerelda would catch us and tell Uncle Jonah," said Hortense.
She meditated on the delightful possibilities of the box.
"We could play hide and seek, sometime when nobody's about," she said. "It's a grand place to hide."
"But we both know of it and there's nobody else to play with," said Andy.
This was very true unless Highboy and Lowboy and the Firedogs and Owl should be taken into the game. Hortense looked at Andy wondering whether to tell him of these friends of hers and of the Cat.
"If we played at night," said Hortense, "we could have lots of people. Highboy, and Lowboy, and Owl, and the Firedogs come out at night."
Andy stared at her with round eyes.
"They're the furniture, you know," said Hortense. "You can see some things are alive and waiting to come out of themselves. I'm sure Alligator Sofa and Malay Kris would play, too, if we asked them."
Andy's eyes were as big as saucers.
"Honest?" he asked doubtfully.
"They came out last night and we chased the cat, Jeremiah, into the attic where he disappeared," said Hortense. "We must find out where he went."
"Aw, you're fooling," said Andy, but he spoke weakly.
"Cross my heart 'n hope to die," said Hortense. "You come over to-night after everybody's asleep, and I'll show you."
"I suppose I could get out of my window all right," said Andy doubtfully, "but how could I get into your house?"
"By the cellar window and the wooden chute as you did to-day!" cried Hortense. "Then I'd unlock the cellar door, and you could come up."
Andy seemed not to like the prospect.
"It will be dark," he said.
"Oh, if you're afraid of the dark, of course," Hortense sniffed.
"Who said I was afraid?" challenged Andy.
"Well, come if you aren't afraid," said Hortense. "But you mustn't make any noise, of course, or they'll catch us."
Andy looked long at her and swallowed hard.
"I'll come," he said bravely.
Chapter V
"Jeremiah's disappeared again."
After dinner that night, Grandfather took Hortense on his knee and told her an exciting story, of pirates and Malay Kris.
"Is it true?" Hortense asked.
"Pretty nearly," said Grandfather. "It might be true."
"If you think things are true, then they are true, aren't they?" Hortense demanded.
"Perhaps," said Grandfather, wrinkling his forehead. "Philosophers disagree on that point. Now run off to bed."
Hortense kissed her Grandfather and Grandmother good night and went to her room.
"I hope you got a good nap to-day," she said to Highboy when she had closed the door, "because we are going to play hide and seek to-night, and Andy, who lives next door, is coming over."
"I slept all day," said Highboy, "and I'm fit as a fiddle."
"Why do you say fit as a fiddle?" asked Hortense. "Do fiddles have fits? Cats have, of course!"
"And dresses," added Highboy, "and things fit into boxes. Your grandmother says when she puts things into me, 'This will fit nicely,' so I suppose a fiddle fits or has fits the same way."
"It doesn't seem clear to me," said Hortense.
"How many things are clear?" Highboy demanded.
"Lots of things aren't," Hortense admitted. "Of course, a clear day is easy."
"And you clear the table," said Highboy.
"And clear the decks for action," said Hortense, "but that's pirates. I must ask Malay Kris about that. He's seen it happen lots of times. We'll get him to play to-night."
"Who is Malay Kris?" asked Highboy.
"He's the long, snaky knife that hangs in the parlor," said Hortense. "Then there's Alligator Sofa, too. We'll get him to play, if he'll wake up. He's so slow I suspect he'll always beIt."
Highboy shivered until he creaked.
"They sound fierce and dangerous to me," he said, "worse than Coal and Ember."
"Perhaps we can set him on Jeremiah and the other one," said Hortense. "I'm longing to see the bright, round one with prickly sides. I've a guess as to who it is."
Highboy shivered again.
"Don't mention them in my hearing—please!" he begged. "You never can tell when Jeremiah is snooping about, and he's a telltale."
"Well, we needn't be afraid of Jeremiah," Hortense said. "Malay Kris will make the other one run, too, I expect."
She looked out of the window.
"There's no light on the lawn from the library," said she. "Everybody must be in bed. Let's go down."
"You hold my hand tight," said Highboy.
Hortense did so, and they stole down the stairs together.
Coal and Ember growled a bit when they entered Grandmother's room but stopped when they saw who it was.
"What do we do to-night?" Owl asked. "I feel wakeful."
"Andy's coming over," said Hortense, "and then we're going to ask Malay Kris and Alligator Sofa to play with us."
"Andy sounds like a boy," said Owl. "I hate boys. One robbed my nest of eggs once, and I swore I'd pull his hair if I ever met him again."
"That was another boy, I'm sure," Hortense replied.
"All boys are bad," Owl grumbled. "Who are Malay Kris and Alligator Sofa?"
"I'll show you," said Hortense, "but first I must let Andy in. The cellar door's sure to be locked. You all wait here until we come."
She found her way into the dark kitchen and, unlocking the door, stood at the head of the stairs. Soon she heard bumps in the wooden box.
"Is that you, Andy?" she called softly.
"Yes," said a muffled voice, and she heard him stumbling in the dark.
Andy found his way to the stairs at last and soon stood beside her. Hortense took him by the hand and led him to Grandmother's room.
"This is Andy," she said to the others.
"Let us smell him," said Coal and Ember, "so we'll know him in the dark."
They sniffed at his heels, and Owl glared fiercely at him.
"It's not the boy who robbed my nest," said Owl. "It's lucky for his hair."
"Now we'll go into the parlor for the others," said Hortense, leading the way.
It was so dark in the parlor that Hortense could see nothing; so she threw open the shutters, admitting a faint light which shone on Malay Kris and made him glitter.
"We want you to come down to play hide and seek," said Hortense.
"I'd rather have a fight," said Malay Kris. "It's a long time since I've tasted blood. Many's the man I've slithered through like a gimlet in a plank."
"These boastful talkers seldom amount to much," said Owl.
Malay Kris glared at Owl, whose fierce eyes never wavered.
"You have wings," said Malay Kris, "but anything that walks or swims is my meat. Show him to me."
"Nonsense," said Hortense sharply. "This is hide and seek and not a pirate ship."
"In that case," said Malay Kris, "I'll join you in a friendly game."
Down he leaped as agile as a cat, a trim, slim fellow with bright eyes.
"And now for Alligator," said Hortense. "He's asleep, as usual."
She shook him roughly, and Alligator spoke in a hoarse voice like a rusty saw.
"Who's tickling me?"
"His voice needs oiling," said Owl.
"A fat pig is what I need," said Alligator.
"Well we have no fat pigs," said Hortense. "We are going to play hide and seek."
"I'll play, of course," said Alligator, "but I'm slow on my feet. Now if it were a lake or river, I'd show you a thing or two."
"The point is, who is to beIt? said Owl.
"Very true," said Lowboy. "He's a mind like a judge—never forgets the point."
"She'sIt, of course," said Malay Kris. "She thought of the game."
"Oh, very well," said Hortense.
"It would be more polite to make AndyIt," said Owl. "Always be polite to ladies."
"I'll choose between Andy and me," said Hortense.
"Eeny, meeny, mona, myBarcelona bona sky,Care well,Broken well,We wo wack.
"Eeny, meeny, mona, myBarcelona bona sky,Care well,Broken well,We wo wack.
"Eeny, meeny, mona, my
Barcelona bona sky,
Care well,
Broken well,
We wo wack.
"I'mIt. I'll count to a hundred, and the newel post in the hall will be goal."
There was a hurrying and scurrying while Hortense hid her face.
"Ready," Hortense called and opened her eyes. She moved cautiously in the dark hall and stumbled over something at the second step.
Slap, slap, slap, something went against the newel post.
"One, two, three for me," said a hoarse voice.
"That isn't fair. You slapped with your tail," said Hortense.
"Why isn't it fair?" said Alligator. "I wouldn't stand a chance with you running. Now go ahead and find the others while I take a nap."
"Well, there are plenty more," Hortense consoled herself. "I'll look in Grandmother's room first."
The first thing she saw was the bright eyes of Owl, who was perched on the mantel.
"I see you," said Hortense and started to run back.
But Owl flew over her head and was perched on the newel post when she arrived.
"Dear me," said Hortense, "I'll beItall the time at this rate. I wonder if Coal and Ember are in the fireplace. She looked, but they weren't there.
"I'll try the library," thought Hortense.
She hadn't more than reached the center of the room when Coal and Ember dashed past her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" said Hortense reproachfully to the bronze image of Buddha seated placidly on his pedestal. The image didn't deign to reply.
"I wish I could make him talk," said Hortense aloud.
Somebody snickered in the corner.
"Sounds like Lowboy," said Hortense.
Lowboy started to run for the door but collided with a chair.
"I've scratched myself," said Lowboy.
Hortense did not wait to console him. Instead, she ran to the newel post.
"One, two, three for Lowboy!" she called. "Lowboy'sIt. All-y all-y out's in free."
Malay Kris crawled out from behind the clock, and the others appeared one by one.
"Lowboy'sIt," said Hortense.
Lowboy shut his eyes and began to count. Hortense seized Andy by the hand and ran with him up the stairs.
"We'll hide in the attic," she whispered.
Up and up they ran, softly opened the door to the attic, and hid behind a trunk in the corner.
"They'll never find us," said Andy.
They lay quiet and heard nothing for a long time.
"Perhaps they've given up," said Andy.
"Ssh!" Hortense whispered.
Something was running very fast up the stairs. It did not stop at the top, but raced on to the ladder which reached to the cupola above. Hortense peeped out. On the sill of the open window above stood Jeremiah with arched back and swollen tail. His yellow eyes shone like lamps.
"Of all things!" said Hortense.
Then the Cat disappeared, and they heard the soft thud of his feet alighting on the roof.
"We must see what he's up to," said Hortense.
Followed by Andy, she ran to the ladder, scrambled to the top, and peered out. The Cat was perched on top of the chimney, looking this way and that.
Hortense ducked her head in order not to be seen.
"What do you suppose he's doing there?" she asked.
"Perhaps something is after him," said Andy.
From below came a slow scratching sound. Some heavy creature with claws was coming up the attic stairs.
"Is it you, Alligator?" Hortense called.
"Where's that Cat?" said Alligator in a determined voice. "I must have him."
"He's on the roof," said Hortense, climbing down. "But what do you want him for?"
"For supper," said Alligator in his harsh voice. "He'll be furry, but eat him I will."
He started up the ladder.
"I'm old and big for such work as this," said he, "but have him I will. Push my tail a bit and give me a lift."
Hortense pushed and Andy, at the top, pulled. Out went Alligator, Hortense and Andy holding his tail while he scrambled down the roof.
Jeremiah raised his voice.
"Help! Help!" he cried as Alligator slid slowly down the roof towards him. Then, as Alligator put his forelegs against the chimney and began to lift his horrible head, Jeremiah shut his eyes and jumped.
Quick as a flash Alligator's huge jaws opened wide, and into them fell Jeremiah. Hortense could see Alligator's throat wiggle as Jeremiah went down.
Alligator crawled back slowly.
"I must seek my corner and go to sleep," said Alligator, balancing himself on the window ledge. "Hear him?"
Hortense and Andy put their ears to Alligator's back. Within they could hear Jeremiah running around and around and crying out.
"He's having a fit," said Hortense.
"A snug fit," said Alligator grimly. "He'll get used to it after a while."
Hortense and Andy were quite silent as they slowly followed Alligator down the stairs.
"It's rather horrible," Hortense whispered to Andy, "although I didn't like Jeremiah."
"I think I'll go home," said Andy.
In the hall below they found all the rest.
"Where have you been keeping yourselves?" said Owl irritably. "Ember'sIt, and we've waited ever so long."
"Alligator's swallowed Jeremiah," said Hortense.
"Served him right," said Owl, but Coal and Ember backed off as though fearing their turn would be next. Lowboy was sober for once.
"I want to go home," whimpered Highboy.
"Why didn't you let me run him through first?" demanded Malay Kris. "I'd have skewered him like a roast of beef."
"Too late," said Alligator, making off to the parlor.
"I suppose the party's broken up for to-night," said Owl.
All moved away by common consent. Hortense let Andy out of the back door and locked it after him. Taking Highboy, who was still shaking, by the hand, she led him up the stairs.
"That Alligator's a dreadful person," said Highboy. "I'm sure I'll not sleep at all."
Hortense, however, slept soundly and was late for breakfast. When she entered the dining room, Grandmother was saying, "Jeremiah's disappeared again. I wonder what can have got into him of late."
Mary, bringing toast, entered with a troubled face.
"Jeremiah's somewhere in the parlor, ma'm," she said. "I heard him crying under the sofa, but though I looked I couldn't see him. I called to him, but he wouldn't come. It's most surprising."
"We'll find him after breakfast," said Grandfather.
So after breakfast they all went to the parlor. Jeremiah's plaintive cries could be clearly heard. Grandfather looked under the sofa and poked around with a cane, but still no Jeremiah appeared.
"We'll have to move it out," said Grandfather. "He must be caught somewhere."
He moved the sofa out into the room and peered behind it. Jeremiah's cries came distinctly, but he was not to be seen.
"Most extraordinary," said Grandfather.
Aunt Esmerelda shook her head, as did Uncle Jonah.
"Dat cat is sho' a hoodoo," said Uncle Jonah.
"Something's moving in the sofa," said Hortense.
All looked, and sure enough there was a slight movement from within.
"But he couldn't get into the sofa!" said Grandmother.
Uncle Jonah and Fergus turned the sofa over on its back.
"There's no hole," said Grandfather, examining the sofa carefully from end to end, "but there is something moving inside!"
He opened his pocketknife and carefully slit the covering at one end. Uncle Jonah and Aunt Esmerelda retreated to the door and looked on with frightened faces.
Grandfather inserted his hand, felt around, and pulled forth Jeremiah, a very crestfallen cat.
"How did you get in there?" demanded Grandfather.
Jeremiah mewed and looked much ashamed.
"A most extraordinary thing," said Grandfather, carrying Jeremiah from the room.
Hortense followed with the others. As she went, she raised her eyes to Malay Kris, hanging in his customary place on the wall.
Malay Kris winked one bright eye at her.
Monkey pendant
Chapter VI
"I'll have the charmThat saves from harm;"
"I'll have the charmThat saves from harm;"
"I'll have the charm
That saves from harm;"
Grandmother was knitting and Hortense sat on a stool at her feet, thinking, for she wished to make a request of Grandmother and she was doubtful of Grandmother's response.
"May I ask the little boy who lives next door to come in and play?" Hortense asked suddenly.
"I didn't know you had seen him," said Grandmother.
"I've seen and talked with him," said Hortense. "His name is Andy."
"You are sure that he is a nice little boy?" Grandmother asked.
"Oh yes!" Hortense cried.
"Very well, then," said Grandmother. "You may ask him to come after luncheon."
Hortense did so. After luncheon she and Andy climbed to the attic, which Hortense wished to see in the daytime, for at night she had learned very little about it.
It was a great square attic with a roof that sloped gradually to the floor from the cupola, which was like the lamp high above in a lighthouse. Like all proper attics it held old trunks, furniture, and all kinds of things. In the drawers of the bureaus and wardrobes were old suits and dresses, and in the trunks, other dresses and suits and old hangings. Andy and Hortense took them out and dressed in them—and played they were a lord and a lady, and pirates, and Indians. Then they sat down to eat the four apples which Hortense had thoughtfully brought with her.
"Where do you suppose the Cat hid the night I followed him and he disappeared?" Hortense asked.
"There are lots of corners to hide in," said Andy, but Hortense was sure that the Cat had some particular place; so Andy and she crawled all around the attic under the eaves, looking behind every trunk and into every corner. Yet they could find no place that seemed especially secret.
"There's no secret corner," said Andy, sitting down beside the big chimney and leaning his back against it.
But as he spoke he suddenly began to disappear through the floor and only by catching the edge of it did he save himself. He and Hortense were too surprised to speak for a moment. Then they knelt on the edge of the opening and peered down.
"It's a trapdoor," said Andy. "We must find out where it goes."
He pushed the door to one side and revealed a little staircase.
"Are you afraid to go down?" Andy asked.
"Of course not," said Hortense. "You go first."
Andy led the way and Hortense followed. A few steps brought them to a small room. It was dark, but the light from the trapdoor enabled them to see a little after a while. There was nothing in the room but a large chest.
"Shall we open it?" Andy asked.
"Of course," said Hortense.
By pulling and tugging they succeeded at last in lifting the lid.
"It's empty," said Andy much disappointed. "I hoped it might be full of gold and jewels."
Hortense had a sudden thought.
"This is where Jeremiah went the time we couldn't find him."
Andy was unconvinced.
"A cat couldn't open a trapdoor," he said.
"Maybe Jeremiah could. He's no ordinary cat. Besides there's another one."
"Another cat?" Andy demanded.
"No. Somebody else we haven't seen, but I can guess who it is."
"Who is it?"
"I won't tell yet—not until I'm sure. But we'll see him. Maybe we'll surprise him and Jeremiah here some night and take them captive."
"Hello," said Andy as he put his foot on the stairs. "What's this?"
Beside the chimney was a black hole and fastened to the chimney was an iron bar like the rung of a ladder. Andy peered down.
"There's another rung," he said. "I wonder where this ladder goes?"
"We'll have to find out," said Hortense. "Dear me, this is a most mysterious house."
Andy put one foot on the ladder and began to descend. Soon his head disappeared from sight.
"It goes down and down, probably to the basement," he called. "Come on."
Hortense obeyed, and down and down they went. It was very dark, but now and then a little chink beside the chimney let in a ray of light.
"Maybe it goes to the middle of the earth," said Andy from below. "No, here's the bottom at last."
Soon Hortense stood behind him. Gradually, as their eyes became accustomed to the dark, they could see a little.
"Here's the way," said Andy at last.
"But here's another passage," said Hortense.
"We'll try mine first," said Andy.
They had walked only a few steps when they came to a wooden panel.
"It's like the one that I crawled through the other day," said Andy. "Help me to move it."
It moved slowly, but finally they raised it until they could crawl through.
"I believe this is the chute I came down when you found me," said Andy.
He stood up.
"There's the basement window," he said, "and here's the little door I crawled through. Now we can get out."
"We must see where the other way goes first," Hortense reminded him.
"I'd forgotten," said Andy.
Back they went to the foot of the ladder and then down the other way which grew smaller and smaller and suddenly stopped.
"Let's go back, there's nothing here," said Hortense.
Andy stood still, absorbed in thought.
"It can't end in nothing," said he. "Who would dig a tunnel to nowhere?"
He felt the end of the passage with his hands.
"It's wood," he announced. "It must be a door. Yes, here's a little latch."
He opened the little door and, lying on his stomach, looked down the tunnel beyond. It was neatly fashioned and quite light but curved away in the distance so that the end was not visible—only a shining bit of the wall.
Hortense spoke the thought of both.
"If we were only small enough to go down it and see where it leads," said she.
But alas, it was far too small for that.
"Probably Jeremiah goes through it," said Hortense. "Where do you suppose it goes?"
"Perhaps to the middle of the earth, or to a cave filled with diamonds and gold," said Andy.
"Or maybe to the home of the fairies."
"Well, we can't know, so there's no use thinking of it."
"Still, if we watched it sometimes, we might see who goes down it," Hortense suggested hopefully, "and if it were a fairy, we might talk with him."
"We might do that," Andy agreed.
"But probably they'd know we were watching and keep hid."
They returned the way they had come, crawled through the wooden box. Into the basement, and went to the head of the cellar stairs.
"I'll see if Aunt Esmerelda is asleep," said Hortense. "If she is, we'll tiptoe across the kitchen, get some cookies, and eat them in the barn."
She opened the door cautiously and peeped in. Sure enough, Aunt Esmerelda was asleep in her chair with her apron thrown over her head. Hortense motioned to Andy and they crept quietly across the kitchen to the door, Hortense pausing a moment 'on the way to fill her pockets with cookies.
They ran unseen to the barn and climbed to the haymow where they ate the cookies. Hortense was deep in thought all the time.
"To-night," she announced at last, "we'll hide in the little room we found. You can come in by the basement window and climb up the ladder. I'll go up by way of the attic. Whom shall I bring?"
"Alligator would be too big," said Andy. "Besides, he's likely to swallow things, he has such a terrible appetite."
"And Lowboy is so fat he might get stuck going down the chimney."
"Coal and Ember are always likely to growl and give us away."
"That leaves only Owl, Highboy, and Malay Kris," said Andy.
"Owl's eyes shine so—we'd better not have him," Hortense added.
So it was agreed that that night Hortense should bring only Highboy and Malay Kris with her.
"You won't be afraid to climb the ladder all alone in the dark?" Hortense asked.
"Well," said Andy, "I'll come anyhow."
Hortense clapped her hands.
"That's just what Grandfather says to do," said she. "I wish I were brave."
"You are," exclaimed Andy.
"No, I'm not, because I have a charm. See, this little ivory monkey."
She pulled out the charm from the neck of her dress.
"While I wear this, nothing can happen to me. It's lucky."
"I don't believe in charms," said Andy.
Hortense was displeased at his doubt.
"Well, you'll see," said she.
It was nearly sundown; so Andy ran home, and Hortense returned to the house to change her dress for supper.
Said she to Highboy, "To-night you and Malay Kris and I are going to hide in the secret room in the attic. There Andy will join us, and we will watch for Jeremiah and the other."
"I do not wish to see Jeremiah or the other," said Highboy.
"Nevertheless, you must come," said Hortense firmly.
"Alas," mourned Highboy. "Never again will I stand on a good Brussels carpet and see the sunshine pour in the south window. Many a sad year shall I weep for the last embraces of my brother Lowboy and the dull life of home."
Hortense was struck to admiration by these moving words.
"How lovely," said she. "I didn't know you wrote poetry."
"I have a drawer full," said Highboy, perking up a bit.
"Then you must surely come," Hortense urged. "You might be captured, or something, and then you could be dreadfully melancholy and write the beautifullest poetry!"
"True," said Highboy. "Sorrow is the food of poets."
Consequently, when all was still and Grandfather and Grandmother were safely in bed, Highboy went willingly enough with Hortense down the dark silent stairs and past Grandmother's sitting room.
"May I not say a farewell to Lowboy?" said Highboy with tears in his voice.
"Not at all," said Hortense briskly. "He might want to come, too."
They went softly into the parlor, and Hortense whispered to Malay Kris, telling him of the night's expedition.
"Good," said Malay Kris. "If I see the Cat or the other one, I'll slither through their bones."
He spoke in a low, fierce voice and jumped down lightly so as not to awaken Alligator, who seemed to be asleep, but it was of no use. Without opening his eyes, Alligator grunted,
"Where do I come in?"
"Why, you see," said Hortense embarrassed, "you're so big you couldn't get into the little room nor climb down the ladder."
"You mean I'm not wanted," said Alligator crossly. "Very well, I'll not go where I'm not asked. I'll hunt alone."
"Dear me," said Hortense, "now he'll go and swallow something he shouldn't."
"Maybe I will and maybe I won't," said Alligator. "It depends on my appetite."
"Swallow me," said Malay Kris, "and I'll show you a thing or two. I'll run you as full of holes as a colander."
"You're not to my taste," said Alligator, yawning horribly. "If I cared to, I would."
Malay Kris glared at Alligator, but as it was of no use to attack his thick hide, which was as tough as iron, he did nothing more and Hortense dragged him away.
"Save your wrath," she said.
"I have so much I don't need to save it," said Malay Kris. "The more I spend, the more I have."
Nevertheless he came obediently enough, and Hortense and Highboy and Malay Kris climbed to the attic, went through the trapdoor, and hid in the little room. They left the door open a bit so that they could see out, and all crouched on the upper stair waiting for whatever was to come.
"What's that?" said Malay Kris. "I heard a sound."
"It's Andy, of course," said Hortense, running down the stairs. "I'd almost forgotten him."
Leaning over the hole beside the chimney, she called in a soft voice, "Andy, Andy."
"It's me," said Andy, and soon he joined them.
"Why do we wait here?" Malay Kris demanded. "How can you be sure any one will come?"
"We can't be sure, of course," Hortense said, "but it's likely because it's a secret place. We want to see who it is that goes with Jeremiah. Highboy has seen him but doesn't know his name. He's all shiny, and prickly, and hard."
"Not too hard for me," Malay Kris boasted. "I'll run him through as though he were cheese."
"It won't be so bad, once we see him," Hortense observed. "A thing is never so bad as you think it is beforehand."
"Except castor oil," said Andy. "That's worse."
They all sat in silence, waiting for something to happen.
"Unless it comes soon, I'll go out and look for it," Malay Kris growled after a time. "I rust with inaction."
"Hush!" said Hortense.
They heard the swift patter of feet on the attic stairs and across the floor.
"Only Jeremiah," Hortense whispered disappointedly, peeping out of the crack in the door. But immediately after came the clatter of metal and a bright round figure ran up the ladder after Jeremiah and disappeared through the cupola window.
Hortense clapped her hands softly.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed, full of excitement.
"What did you know?" Andy asked.
"It's the Grater! The one that hangs in Aunt Esmerelda's kitchen."
"Let me see him!" cried Malay Kris.
On the roof above their heads, light footsteps pattered rhythmically.
"I do believe they're dancing!" Hortense said.
They ran to the ladder and scrambled up.
"Careful! We mustn't let them see us," Hortense warned.
Cautiously they peeped over the window ledge. Below them on the roof, Jeremiah and Grater were dancing outrageously. The Cat pranced on his hind legs, and Grater leaped and spun like a top, so that his sides glittered in the moonlight.
Grater danced outrageously, leaping and spinning in the moonlight
Grater danced outrageously, leaping and spinning in the moonlight.
"He's wearing armor," said Malay Kris. "H'm, he won't be so easy as I thought. However, I'll have a try."
Hortense laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Not now," she said. "Let's wait."
Grater began to sing in a harsh voice. As Hortense listened to the words, she hastily put her hand to her throat to make sure that the little monkey charm was safe, for it was certain the words referred to it.