away to find those Bad Dreams all by himself--you know how Peter is,
when he says he's going to do anything, he _will_ do it. Oh, oh, I
_ought_ to have watched him!"

"Don't cry," said Rudolf hastily. "It's just as much my fault. You
stay here and I'll go fetch him back. I have my sword, you know."

"No, no," sobbed Ann. "Don't leave me. It was my fault--I promised
mother I would always look after Peter. We'll go together. The Sandman
will tell us where the Bad Dreams live, won't you?" she added, turning
to Sandy.

"There, there, of course I will," said the little man kindly. "I'd go
along with you, if there wasn't such a press of business just now, but
you can see for yourselves what a mess things would be in if I should
leave. You must go right ahead, right into the thick of the woods.
Follow that path on the other side of the glade. You needn't be afraid
you'll miss those Bad Ones--they'll be on the lookout for you, I'm
afraid."

The children thanked Sandy for all his kindness, and turned to leave
him. "One moment," he cried, and he ran ahead of them to draw aside
the wall of prickly bushes and show them the little path he had spoken
of which wound from the Good Dreams' glade toward the heart of the
wood.

"Keep right on," said Sandy, "and don't be afraid. Remember--they're a
queer lot, those fellows, but they can't hurt you if you are careful.
Don't answer 'em back and don't ask 'em too many questions. One thing
in particular--if they offer you anything to eat, don't taste a