Page:The Princess of Cozytown.pdf/28

 gruffly. "Open the Gates!" ordered the owl, pushing to the front. Slowly the secret gates the Wall of Facts opened and fearfully the Jack-in-the-box, the knitted doll gentleman and as many more as could crowd in, peered out upon the real world. Yes, there were the great footprints, and following their direction the Cozytown folks gazed upon the glittering spires of a distant city. It was so far away that they could just see it mistily. The silence that had fallen upon the company (for they were a thinking how far away was the Princess) was broken by the Captain of the wooden soldiers.

"Let's go and bring her back!" said he. "Spoken like the brave fellow you are!" cried the pink rabbit. "Come, who'll go along!" Immediately everyone rushed forward, old Dinah falling flat upon her nose. "Let me go!"—"No, let me go." "Let me." "Let me," cried everyone at once. "This won't do," cried the owl, "some of us must stay at home to keep things in order. Let our brave Captain here and half of his men, Miss Amanda and Dinah, the Pink rabbit, and the knitted doll gentleman rescue the Princess—the rest of us must guard Cozytown, and make it ready for her Majesty's return."

That night—and it was the first night that Cozytown had ever known—the Captain of the wooden soldiers, rag doll Dinah, Miss Amanda, the pink rabbit and the knitted doll gentleman set out for the distant city. The other Cozytown folk cheered from the wall, and bade them return safely. The real world is a dangerous place for toy folk, and peering nervously on every side the little company made what speed they could, then toward twelve o'clock made camp. The wooden soldiers set up the tents, which they had fortunately brought with them, and the whole company lay down and disposed themselves for sleep.

Toward morning the whole camp was thrown into a panic. A tiger had attacked the knitted doll gentleman, and by the time the wooden soldiers came to the rescue he was