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Updated: May 4, 2025
Seen close by, Manunderthebed was not quite so dreadful as when he crouched in his dark haunt near the hollow tree, but still his shaggy fur, sharp white teeth, and gleaming green eyes were very terrifying to Ann, who gave a little shriek and turned her face away. "Don't be afraid," cried the Knight. "This is the end of Manunderthebed!"
All of them were quickly put to flight except their leader, Manunderthebed, who at first sight of the soldiers had hidden himself behind a tree. As soon as they had passed he crept forth and made a dart at the children. But they had a protector now! The tall knight stepped in front of them and raised his glittering sword.
He had taken a candle from the mantel-piece, had lighted it at the fire, and was making a careful search of the walls. No trace of a door or any opening except the fireplace could be seen. "It's a magic door," said Peter cheerfully. "Manunderthebed touched something with his foot and that opened it and then he pushed you and you pushed me and I bumped into Ann, and here we are."
Can you see what the Bad Dreams are doing?" "Yes, I can see 'em," whispered Peter. "They're all sitting round the fire and Manunderthebed is making a speech." "What's he saying?" asked Ann anxiously. "I can't hear, but he's awful cross. Now the Little Black Man has gone now he's come back again, and oh!" "What is it? What is it?" cried Ann and Rudolf.
The Policeman gave a frightened yell, doubled up as if he had been shot, and ducking under the shoulders of the crowd made off into the darkness. Manunderthebed was furious. The children heard him roar out a command, and then the Bad Dreams advanced on them in a body. The leaping dancing flames of the plum-pudding fire showed their angry faces and strange figures.
Rudolf was not really afraid now, for he saw at once that the Bad Dreams were not much at fighting, yet there were so many of them that by sheer force of their numbers they were slowly but surely pushing the three children back, back, until they were crowded against the trunk of the great oak tree where Manunderthebed had been crouching.
"Then do it all over again, and be quick about it or " Manunderthebed made a terrible face at the Policeman, who shivered, and edging up to Rudolf, laid a timid hand on his shoulder. "No you don't!" cried Rudolf. "I'm not afraid of you!" And he gave the Policeman a poke with his sword, just a little one, about where his belt came.
Ann was not deceived by Rudolf's cheerful tone. Manunderthebed might not amount to much at home with nurse and mother to frighten him away, but here in his own country it was not pleasant to meet him. "He's horrid," said she. "Oh, look, Ruddy, what is he doing now?" Manunderthebed had stretched out a long black arm and pointed to the fire.
"It's Thunder-snorer it's the Indian," Rudolf cried. "Run for your lives!" The Bad Dreams were all aroused by Thunder-snorer's war-whoop, and in an instant the whole pack of them, headed by Manunderthebed, were at the children's heels.
"Oh, Peter," Ann scolded, "I think you are the very greediest little boy I ever knew!" "That cake belongs to Manunderthebed, and you know it," said Rudolf sternly. "It's a dream cake, of course, a Bad-dream cake, so you can't eat it." Peter clasped the small round cake tightly to his breast. "It's a nice seed-cake like Cook makes," he said stubbornly, "and I must eat it."
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