"'Tis himsilf does all the arristin'," muttered the Policeman sadly.

"Big-boss-chief take all good scalp," Thunder-snorer, the Indian,
grunted.

The children began to think this "Boss" must indeed be a terror.

"Now, come, come," continued the Knight-mare soothingly, "it's not so
bad as that. You all get plenty of fun, but you mustn't mix it up with
business. We're in a row now, every one of us, for being out of
bounds. Better move along and have it over, that's my advice."

The Policeman looked more cheerful. "That's it," cried he. "Move on!"

Ann put her little arms around the Knight-mare's neck and whispered
something in his ear. He turned to the Cow and said:

"Madam, this young lady wishes to know if anything has been seen or
heard of another prisoner, a small fat one called Peter?"

"Sir," said the Cow, "he was taken just a little while ago. That's why
we four went off in a huff. We wanted a little fun with him, just a
bit of our pretty play, you know, but the Boss wouldn't have it. He's
saving him up for the Banquet, and not one of us is to be let at him
till after that."

Rudolf and Ann looked at each other, both suddenly remembering the
Sandman's warning that on no account were any of them to taste the Bad
Dreams' food. Could Peter be expected to refuse any kind of