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"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.
Hortense shook him and he opened his eyes. "Get up and come home," said Hortense. But Lowboy would not move. "I've eaten so many strawberries that I can't budge," said he. "Then we'll have to leave you," Hortense replied. "There are worse fates than fifteen years of such strawberries," said Lowboy. "Perhaps, though, I'll get away sometime and find the road home." "Where's Highboy?"
"Was it a dream, Highboy?" she said suddenly, looking at him. "You may have dreamed," said Highboy irritably, "but I was so nervous I didn't sleep a wink." Saying no more, Hortense dressed rapidly and went down to breakfast. "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.
"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."
"Positively nothing will be reserved," were the familiar words of the poster, and they have a larger meaning in an old country neighbourhood than the mere sale of the last pan and jug and pig and highboy. Though we live with our neighbours for fifty years we still secretly wonder about them.
For this Hortense was glad; she feared that it would hurt Highboy and Lowboy to have the drawers forced open and, besides, she meant that night to do her best to rescue them from the Little People. To that end she ran to the hedge which divided her yard from Andy's and, calling to Andy, told him her purpose. "There are queer doings in this house."
"Yield!" he commanded in a sharp voice. "You are prisoners! Bind them and take them to the King." His men did as they were bid, and in a twinkling Hortense and Andy and Highboy and Lowboy found themselves with bound hands, marching forward, surrounded by the armed Little People. "We are bound to have a trying time," said Lowboy, joking as usual. "The King will try us."
Nor when she spoke to Highboy did he answer; he was not there. Only a dead thing of wood stood where Highboy had been. "Dear me," thought Hortense, "I suppose it is the same with Lowboy. How then, will Grandmother get at her knitting?" She hastily dressed in the clothes she had worn the day before. Breakfast was over, and Hortense begged Aunt Esmerelda for a bite in the kitchen.
"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.
Hortense, after leading Andy out the door, ran up to her room with Highboy, who said he was too excited to sleep and that he would compose poetry all night. Hortense slept very well, however, and in the morning when she began to dress remembered her charm. "Give me my charm, Highboy," said she. "In the top drawer," said Highboy.
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