CHAPTER II
“What did he tell you?†asked Pointed Toes, coming towards him.
“Which way are we to go?†inquired Dusty Cap.
“Are we on the right road?†questioned Chip Wing.
“He said he had never seen the beautiful world,†answered Spider Eyes. “But there are some bright lights overhead that he thought were the lights of the beautiful world. He was not sure, however, and so he went to ask his friends if they knew the way.â€
“Here he comes!†exclaimed Dusty Cap. “How his lantern flickers as he steps along!â€
“Well, kind friend,†inquired Spider Eyes, as he turned to the glowworm, “what did you find out? Which is the way?â€
“When I asked them,†replied the glowworm, “they all shook their heads. But one glowworm, the oldest one of all, said he would tell you the way to the beautiful world. Here he comes now. He will speak for himself. So good-day to you,†and he left them.
Up crawled the other glowworm, and they could see that he must be old and feeble, for his light burned very dimly.
The elves gathered close around him, asking all together: “Which is the way? Tell us the way, please!â€
The glowworm answered: “I cannot tell you, but I will take you to Grandfather Grasshopper, who is a great traveler, and hemust surely know all about the beautiful world. We will start at once, for Grandfather Grasshopper is at home. I saw him only yesterday.â€
The elves were so impatient that they flew on before, but the glowworm called them back, saying:
“You must not go so fast. I can not keep up with you. As I can only crawl, you will have to walk by my side.â€
So the elves came back, thinking it was very hard to walk so slow, when the time was going fast, and as they were in such a hurry to find the beautiful world. For they must soon return to their Queen.
Yet they saw they must not make the glowworm angry, for he could go no faster, and their only hope of finding the beautiful world seemed to be through his aid.
On and on they crept, going around this stone and that root, this pool and that stump, until at last they came to a wheatfield.
Here the glowworm crawled under the fence and beckoned them to follow.
They flew over the fence and rested on some tall spears of wheat.