refreshments at any time? They knew that he could not.

"Come," cried Rudolf, pulling at the Knight-mare's arm. "Take us to
him, please. We've got to hurry."

The Knight-mare obligingly stepped forward, leading Ann by the hand,
and the Bad Dreams--to the children's surprise--rose meekly to
accompany them. It was decided that the Cow should go first, to clear
a way through the forest by her simple method of trampling down
everything before her. The Indian walked next, stepping softly and
silently on his moccasined feet, and turning now and then to make a
horrid face at the children who followed behind him, one on either
side of the Knight-mare. The Dentist and Policeman, walking arm in
arm, brought up the rear. The party had not gone a great distance
through the wood, before Ann and Rudolf noticed that the underbrush
was growing thinner and the trees beginning to be taller and farther
apart. At last they could see through a veil of branches the light of
a fire burning on the ground not a great distance ahead of them, and
soon they came close to the enormous oak tree under which this fire
was kindled. Its flames were a strange bluish color, and as they shot
up into the darkness which was almost complete under the shade of that
great tree, the children could plainly see strange figures showing
black against the light, leaping and dancing around the fire.

"The party's begun, but not the Banquet," whispered the Knight-mare.
"You can come a little closer, but you mustn't interrupt till it's
over."

In silence they all moved a little nearer to the cleared space under
the tree, but not so near as to be discovered. Rudolf and Ann gazed