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I can't," said the Bird-maiden, "for whenever the robber-magician goes out he locks the door after him, and I have no key to open it." Then Teddy told her that he had a key that would unlock the door and that he would save her.
"I'm Teddy," he said, "and I didn't know this was your cave. I thought it was just a rat-hole." "A rat-hole!" cried the robber-magician, bursting into a roar of laughter. "A rat-hole! My cave a rat-hole! Ho! ho! ho! "Yes, I did," said Teddy, "and I didn't know it was yours, but if you want me to go I will." "Not so fast," said the robber.
I have some just like it; I'll show you," and running to the keg where he had left his trap he pulled it out and held it up for the robber to see. As soon as the robber-magician saw the cheese in the trap his fingers began to work and his mouth to water. "Oh, what a fine rich piece of gold!" he cried. "How do you get it out?" "I don't know," said Teddy. "I don't think it comes out."
"If one were only a rat one could get at it fast enough," said the robber-magician. "Yes, but you're not," said Teddy. "All the same it might be managed," said the magician. Again he tore and tore at the bars, and he grew so eager that he seemed to forget about everything but the cheese. "I'll do it," he cried, "yes, I will."
Alas!" cried the Bird-maiden, shrinking back and beginning to wring her hands, "we are too late. There comes the robber, and now we will never escape." She had scarcely said this when in marched the robber-magician sure enough. He wore a great soft hat pulled down over his face, and he had a long brown nose and little black beads of eyes.
It did not look particularly good, but it seemed to be all there was, so when the robber began to eat Teddy helped himself too. The robber-magician did not take off his hat, and he ate very fast; after a while he leaned back in his chair and began to tell Teddy what a great magician he was, and about his treasure chamber. "There," he said, "is where I keep my gold.
His mustache stuck out on each side like swords, and he carried a great sack over his shoulder. The robber-magician threw the sack down on the floor and frowned at Teddy from under his hat. "How now!" he cried. "Who's this who has come down into my cavern without even so much as a 'by your leave'?" Teddy felt rather frightened, but he spoke up bravely.
Teddy stared and stared about the treasure chamber. "But where is the gold?" he said. "There, right before your eyes," said the robber. "Don't you see it?" "Why, that isn't gold. That's nothing but cheese," cried Teddy. "Cheese! cheese!" cried the robber-magician, stamping his foot in a rage; "I tell you it's gold." "It isn't! it's cheese!" said Teddy. "Look!
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