Page:The House Without Windows.djvu/24

16 Mr. Wraspane. "Anyhow," said he, "fairy or none, we heard the singing."

Again Mrs. Eigleen burst out with: "But why didn't you go right to the sound?"

"Dear wife," said Mr. Eigleen, "we couldn't, because directly in front of that sound there was a very steep rocky slopeyou know very well the slope of Eiki-ennern Peak."

"Well," said Mrs. Eigleen, "if the voice came from behind behind that slope, Eepersip must have got to the top of Eiki-ennern Peak somehow, and if she did, you can. Wait with us a while and have lunch, and then go and try to find her again, and I will come with you."

"All right," said Mr. Eigleen.

Accordingly, after lunch all three started off on a fresh quest. They searched the little glade high and low once more, but with the same ill luck. Really Eepersip saw them all the time, but while they were here she was there, and while they were there she was here, all the time keeping out of sight behind bushes and trees: And when she rustled the leaves and they heard her, they thought that it was just the breezes making commotion in the leaves and grass.

Before they had hunted very long Mrs. Eigleen had to admit that the new game was harder than