Page:On the Way There (1904).djvu/23

 "Don't be afraid," called the loving voice again. "Nothing can hurt you. Just come through the hedge. There is a fine, dry highway here, which leads clear across the swamp to the beautiful city where you wish to go."

Marjorie hesitated and looked around over the great, dismal morass where she stood. She noticed now, that there were many painted signs sticking up out of the mud all about. Just in front of her lay a broad pool of dingy water, at the side which stood one of the signs, which read: "DANGER! The Pool of Ill Health." A little farther on was another, marked: "BEWARE! Pool of Accidents;" and one of the small islands near by was marked: "The Island of Bad Company;" and just to one side was a pool marked: "DANGER! Pool of Death." It seemed as if she were so surrounded by dangers that she could not hope to get through them alive, and meanwhile, the little dwarfs were weighing her down, as well as tormenting her almost beyond endurance.

Marjorie looked back at the bright, loving little face above the hedge. "How do I know that there is a high-road there?" she asked, doubtfully.