"I don't think you'll be able to get away," said the Villain.
"Well, at least I'll try," answered Kernel Cob. "Wouldn't you like tocome with us?"
"You bet," said the Villain, for he had taken a great fancy to KernelCob and especially to Sweetclover, whose gentle manners appealed verystrongly to him. "But how are you going to do it?"
"Let me think," said Kernel Cob and they were very quiet for a longwhile.
"I tell you what," said the Villain, "When I am going to play I'll runoff the stage and as soon as you see the Showman run after me, youmust be ready to run and before he catches me, you'll be safe away."
"But you won't be able to come with us, then," said Sweetclover, "andyou'll be beaten."
"Well, as long as you and Kernel Cob get away, it won't matter whathappens to me," said the Villain.
"That's very noble of you, I'm sure," said Kernel Cob, "and I see thatyou are a very friendly Villain, but I think I can find a better planthan that."
While they were talking, the Showman came and tied some strings onKernel Cob and Sweetclover.
"What's that for?" asked Kernel Cob.
"I guess you are going to play in the show," explained the Villain."That's the way he works us."
"Now we will never be able to get away," sighed Sweetclover.
"Won't we though," said Kernel Cob, "leave it to me," for he was verybrave of heart and nothing daunted him, because he was a soldier, yousee, and was brave by nature.
And the Showman took them into the theatre, and the performance began.When the play was over, quick as a flash, Kernel Cob cut the stringsfrom Sweetclover and himself.
"Now is our time!" shouted he to Sweetclover and the Villain, who werestanding close by, and the Villain, catching Sweetclover by the hand,ran away with her.
Holding the Showman at a distance, Kernel Cob backed his way off thestage, joined the Villain and Sweetclover and all three ran out intothe street at the top of their speed, but the Showman was much fasterand was close on their heels when they came to a corner.
"Straight ahead!" shouted Kernel Cob while he turned and ran up theother street. This puzzled the Showman just what Kernel Cob wanted,and while he stood, wondering which one of them to follow, they gainedon him.
Feeling angrier with Kernel Cob than with the Villain and Sweetclover,he made after him, but Kernel Cob had a good start this time and hadturned another corner, and seeing an open doorway, leaped in and waswell-hidden by the time the Showman came puffing by.
For a long time the Showman searched, but never thought of the doorbehind which Kernel Cob was hiding and finally gave up the search andwent back.
After Kernel Cob had given him plenty of time to get away, he came outcautiously and with great courage went back the way he had come,anxious to find Sweetclover and the Villain.
When he came to the corner where Sweetclover and the Villain had gonestraight ahead, he followed on after them, but could find no trace ofthem. Night was coming on and still he walked and being very tiredwith all his running, he sat down on the roadside, for he was now outin the country. And the moon came out and he watched it and thought ofthe many adventures he had been in since Sweetclover and he were upthere and a great longing came into his heart to see her and if he hadnot been a soldier, I am sure he would have cried, but he didn't.Instead, he got upon his feet and looked about for some place where hecould spend the night.
This he soon found, for close at hand was a field in which some hayhad been stacked, and, careful not to arouse the dog, he crept underone of the haystacks and soon was fast asleep.
CHAPTER IX
The Villain and Sweetclover ran on and on till their legs would carrythem no farther and, being entirely out of breath, they came to a haltat last. They were far out beyond the City, and, if they had not beenworried about Kernel Cob, they would have enjoyed the lovely fields offlowers and sunshine, but Sweetclover was quite sure that the wickedShowman had captured Kernel Cob and, having recovered her breath, satdown and began to cry. And the Villain, being a very kind-heartedpuppet sat down to comfort her, but, try as he would, Sweetclover onlycried the louder.
"I'm sure he's captured, I'm sure he's captured," she repeated overand over again, until she made the Villain believe it and he began tocry, too.
"Here, this will never do," said the Villain, getting up. "I'll goback and see if I can find him."
"No, no!" cried Sweetclover. "You'll be caught too, and then what willI do?" So he stayed with her.
Presently they were aroused by the barking of a dog and, lookingabout, discovered that they were sitting on the terrace of a big houseall about which were fields of flowers and grain. And the dog, a bigmastiff, came toward them. Sweetclover put out a friendly hand andsaid, "Nice Fido."
"Don't call me Fido," said the dog, "my name is Napoleon."
"Oh, excuse me," said Sweetclover, "I didn't know."
"That's all right," said Napoleon with a stately bow. "Is thereanything I can do for you?"
"I'm afraid not," said Sweetclover. "My friend here," and she turnedto the Villain, "and I have been separated from Kernel Cob and we areanxious to find him. You didn't see him pass by, did you?"
"No," said Napoleon, "that I didn't."
"Oh dear," sighed Sweetclover, "night is coming on and we have nowhereto go."
"If you will give me a few minutes," said Napoleon, with a courteouswave of his paw in the direction of his house, "I will put my humblehome at your disposal."
"We cannot think of disturbing you," said Sweetclover.
"It will be no trouble whatever," he said. "If I can be of any serviceto you, it will give me much pleasure."
And so they followed him, as he walked away with great dignity, to hiskennel.
"What, may I enquire, has brought you to this neighborhood?" he askedas they arrived at his house.
"You see," explained Sweetclover, "we were captured by a very wickedShowman and made to act with him in his puppet-show, so we ran away."
"Have you been long in Valparaiso?" he asked. And she told him herstory. How they had been to the moon in search of Jackie and Peggs'motheranfather, and so on, till the moment when he had met them on theroad.
"Very, very interesting, I am sure," he said, "and I wish I could helpyou in finding Jackie and Peggs' motheranfather, but I think you mustbe tired, so if you will lie down here I will sleep outside andprotect you from any danger."
So Sweetclover and the Villain entered his house, which was verynicely covered with straw and made a very comfortable place to sleepin, and in a few minutes were fast asleep.
CHAPTER X
In the morning, the sun was shining brightly and looking out of thedoor of Napoleon's house they were overjoyed to see Kernel Cob walkingtoward them, for the field in which he had slept was the one next towhere Napoleon lived.
You may imagine their joy.
After he had been introduced to Napoleon, they sat down to think whathad best be done.
"I wish I could help you," said Napoleon, "but I am a watch dog and awatch dog may never shirk his duty. I never leave these grounds, for Ilove my master."
"You have been very kind," said Sweetclover, "and I'm sure we aregrateful to you."
"I'll tell you what I can do," said Napoleon, whose forehead wrinkledas he thought, "I can introduce you to a great bird that lives in afield back of me. She is the South American condor and I'm sure shewill be able to carry you somewhere."
"All of us?" asked Kernel Cob.
"Why, yes, indeed," replied Napoleon, "she is about ten times as bigas you and very strong."
"Oh, goodie," said Sweetclover, "where is she?"
"Over there," answered Napoleon. "Just say I sent you and she will doanything for you."
So, after thanking Napoleon for his kindness, they walked in thedirection he had given them and soon came to a great haystack on thetop of which was a large nest.
And Kernel Cob called up to the nest and the bird put out her head.
&nbs
p; Kernel Cob then introduced everybody and the bird flew down at once.
"We are trying to find Jackie and Peggs' motheranfather," heexplained, and after he had told her their story, she was sointerested that she said she would help them as soon as she hadfinished her breakfast.
"Now," she said, "let us start. Where are the motheranfather of theselittle children?"
"I don't know," said Kernel Cob. "They're lost."
"I don't know anything about motheranfathers," replied the bird, "butI know when I lose anything it is because it falls out of my nest."
"People don't live in nests," replied Kernel Cob. "For if they did,and fell out, they would get broken."
"I say!" said the Villain who had been thinking very deeply. "Let'slook for them near where they were lost."
"That's a good way," said Sweetclover. "Let's go to the United States.How far is it?"
"Thousands of miles," answered the Condor. "But that is nothing forme. I can fly that far in a few days. Come, get ready. We will go tothe United States. Jump on my back."
So they climbed up on the bird's back, and all being ready she flewaway.
"How does she know which way to fly?" asked Sweetclover.
"Birds know everything in the air, just the same as fishes do in thewater," said the Villain.
"And worms in the ground," added Kernel Cob.
"I guess Dolls must be the stupidest things in the world," saidSweetclover.
"Only some of us," said Kernel Cob.
At this Sweetclover, the Villain and the Condor laughed, but KernelCob didn't know what they were laughing at, which was a very goodthing for him.
All that day they flew, and were very happy indeed in the warmsunshine skimming through the clouds. And once they went through arainstorm and got wet; but as the sun came out soon after and driedthem quickly they were none the worse for their bath, but feltrefreshed for it.
And they passed over the great Amazon river, the largest river in theworld, and, much before they knew it, they were in Central Americagoing at a tremendous rate of speed.
"We shall be in the United States very soon, at this pace," said theVillain.
And on the Condor flew, swift as an arrow, but in the afternoon agreat wind storm came from the East and she was obliged to turn hercourse in the direction of the wind, and late in the evening they werenearing a large city which was now visible in the distance.
"I wish I had wings," sighed Sweetclover, "and could fly all over theworld. It would be so wonderful."
"We will rest to-night," said the bird, "and try to find themotheranfather of Jackie and Peggs to-morrow."
"You will be too tired," said Sweetclover.
"Oh, no," said the Condor. "You can have no fear. I will be all right.When I say I do something I do that. I never...."
She did not finish what she was going to say, and maybe it was apunishment for boasting. People are often punished for talking toomuch about what they can do ... for just at that moment somethingdreadful happened that changed their plans.
CHAPTER XI
And what do you think happened to the Condor?
Just as they were coming to the city and the bird was looking back,talking to Kernel Cob and the others, and everything looked so happyand bright....
"Look out!" shouted Kernel Cob, but it was too late. Straight aheadwas a tall tree, toward which the bird was flying, and from thebranches came a puff of smoke and the sharp crack of a gun.
The next instant the Condor stopped flying, and slowly sank to theground.
"I am done for," she said in a feeble voice. "It is just the way ofall birds. I am sorry that I cannot help you more. Good-bye."
By this time she had reached the ground, and Kernel Cob was in a verygreat rage. He wanted to stay and fight the hunter who would soon cometo take the bird, but Sweetclover and the Villain begged him to beprudent and run away, lest they all be captured.
So with great sorrow, they said good-bye to the Condor and hurriedaway.
From behind a rock, they watched the hunter take up the bird and carryit away.
And our three little friends sat down upon a stone to think.
"I don't know what to do," said Sweetclover. "We have lost our bestfriend."
"Never mind," said the Villain tenderly, and he put his hand kindly onher shoulder. "It will all come right in the end. It always does, youknow."
"Yes, I know," said Sweetclover, "but you have to go through suchterrible things first."
"Well, we got along pretty well before we met the bird," said KernelCob. "Didn't we get to the Moon and all that?"
"That was because we prayed to the Fairies," said Sweetclover.
"And maybe if we pray now, something will happen to help us."
Sweetclover had a very beautiful faith. She believed, as all goodpeople do, that you must put your faith in something good, and theneverything will be for the best, no matter what happens.
So they knelt down by the side of the rock and prayed.
"How do you pray?" whispered the Villain to Sweetclover. "I neverprayed before in my life."
"Just say, 'Please good, kind Fairies, I am a poor little Villain, andI need your help, and I'll never be bad any more.'"
So they prayed, and pretty soon along came a team of horses drawing abig wagon packed with boxes of oranges.
And the wagon stopped on the road where they were, and the driver gotdown to fix the harness of one of the horses.
"I'm glad that buckle got loose," said the horse to his team-mate, "Iwas getting tired and needed a rest."
"Hello there, Master Horse," shouted Kernel Cob.
"Who are you?" neighed the horse.
"I'm Kernel Cob. Where are you going?"
"We're going to the city to pack these oranges on a train," was thereply.
"Here's our chance!" cried Kernel Cob. "Come, let us hide in one ofthese boxes, and we'll get a ride on the train."
"Good idea," said the Villain.
So they waited till the man climbed up on his seat again, and shouted,"get up" to the horses; then they ran out and got on one of the spokesof the wheel when it was near the ground, and when the wheel turnedand the spoke came up to the top, they sprang off onto the wagon andcrawled into a box which is called a crate, and is open a little sothe oranges do not get too hot and spoil. And it was perfectly safeand very comfortable.
And they must have fallen asleep; for the next thing they knew theyfelt a rocking and a rocking and Kernel Cob got out of the crate andcrawled along till he came to a stairway, and, climbing this,discovered that they were on a ship.
He hurried back to tell his news to Sweetclover and the Villain.
And Sweetclover began to cry.
"A woman is the crybabiest person in the world," said Kernel Cob.
NOBLE DEEDS!
If you attempt a noble deed You're almost certain to succeed, So do not give up hope, but try, However rough your path may lie, To forge ahead with all your might And everything will come out right.
CHAPTER XII
For many days they sailed on the ship till they came to land. And mencame to unload the vessel, and their crate of oranges was carried upon the dock and placed on a wagon, and they were driven off, not inthe least knowing what country they were in, nor where they weregoing.
And they peered out from the crate, and soon they heard the queerestkind of talk they ever heard, and Kernel Cob, bolder than the others,raised his head above an orange but quickly put it down again.
"I know where we are," said the Villain who had been thinking. "We arein Japan."
"How do you know?" asked Sweetclover.
"I was here once with the Showman," said the Villain, "and I rememberthe way the people talked."
And, being pushed onto a wagon, they were driven outside the city.
"We mustn't go too far," said Sweetclover, "or we'll never find Jackieand Peggs' motheranfather. Let's get out before it's too late."
/> So they climbed out of their hiding place, and jumped to the ground.
They were not far from a house, and a curious kind of a house it was.
"It looks like the kind of house Jackie used to make with cards," saidKernel Cob, and so intent were they, that they did not hear theapproach of a little girl until she stood beside them, and liftedSweetclover in her arms.
Of course they did not understand what she said, but it must have beensomething very beautiful, for her face was all smiles.
And the little Japanese girl lifted up Kernel Cob, and the Villain,too, and carried them off down the road and into the little house.
A very wonderful house it was, and full of toys, mostly Japanese dollswith short, straight hair and beautiful dresses, and talking all atonce, in a curious language.
"Oh, dear," sighed Sweetclover, "shall we never understand anybody inthis strange country?"
"Aye, aye sir," came a voice at her feet, and looking down, much toher surprise she saw an American Sailor doll.
"Bless my heart, mates," said the sailor, "I'm glad to see you aboard.I've been in this port these four months, and I haven't heard thesound of the American language in all that time. Shiver my timbers ifI'm not glad to set eyes on you."
And they talked it all over, where they'd been and everything, allabout the Condor and the savages and the Moon.