"I"ve heard of blue moons," said Hortense. "They must be very rare."
"They"re rather nice," said Andy, "but I suppose we"d better not linger."
"Here"s a path," said Hortense.
They ran along the path, which grew darker and darker, until they came to a gate on which was a sign printed in large letters. By peering close, Andy and Hortense could just make out the words:
PRIVATE PROPERTY NO TRESPa.s.sING
"We have to go through, whosesoever it is," said Hortense, determinedly, and unlatching the gate through they went.
The path grew darker and smaller, walled on each side by rock. Soon they had to crawl on their hands and knees.
"I don"t believe we can get out this way," Hortense said at last.
"Yes, we can," said Andy, who was in front. "I see light ahead."
Sure enough, out they soon came into yellow moonlight, such as they had always known. They were upon a large flat rock. Below them was a steep tree-covered slope, and at the bottom lights twinkled.
"It"s the side of the mountain," said Hortense, "and that"s the house way down there. How"ll we ever get there?"
"We"ll have to go down the mountain side," said Andy. "Do you know," he added, "I believe this is the very spot which Fergus pointed out to us?
Maybe the Little People come here. Shall we hide and see?"
"Let"s," agreed Hortense.
They hid in the shadow of a tree by the edge of the rock and waited, not making a sound.
The moon rose higher over the mountain until the rock was almost as light as day, but still no one appeared.
"Let"s go home," said Hortense at last in a sleepy voice.
But Andy, who was listening with alert ears, whispered.
"Hush, I hear something."
Hortense, too, listened and at last heard a faint sweet sound from within the mountain. Nearer and nearer it came, to the very mouth of the cave. Then appeared a band of Little People in green coats and red caps, each with a white feather at the side.
They marched slowly, a band of musicians at the head playing upon tiny instruments which made high, sweet music no louder than the shrilling of gnats. Following the musicians came the King and Queen with little gold crowns on their heads and wearing robes with trains borne by pages. Then came eight stout fellows carrying two golden thrones which they placed on a little eminence.
The King and Queen seated themselves, and the fairy band, after marching once around the rock, formed in a hollow circle. The King clapped his hands and rose, whereupon the musicians ceased playing, and there was complete silence. The King was taller than the others by half a head; his beard was long and tawny, and his presence royal. Said the King:
"The moon is high and the night still. It is a fitting time and place for our revels. Let the musicians play."
The musicians struck up a slow stately dance, and the King, taking the Queen by the hand, advanced to the middle of the circle and with her stepped a minuet. When the music ceased, all the Little People clapped their hands in applause, and the King and Queen reseated themselves, smiling graciously.
"The rabbit-step," commanded the King, and immediately the musicians began so lively a tune that Andy and Hortense found it difficult not to join in, which would have spoiled everything. At once, all the Little People began to skip like rabbits, in the moonlight. Around and around they went, dancing like mad, and Hortense and Andy grew dizzy watching them.
Again the music changed, and the Little People danced a square dance, after which they formed in rings within rings and whirled around faster and faster until they seemed only rollicking circles of green in which not one face could be distinguished from another.
A shadow as of a cloud fell upon the dancing Little People, and Hortense, looking up, saw what seemed to be a dark spot on the moon.
Larger and larger it grew until she could distinguish it to be a pair of horses ridden by figures only too familiar.
"It"s Jeremiah and Grater!" she whispered to Andy.
The fairy King had also seen. Suddenly he clapped his hands and the music and dancing ceased.
"Away!" the King shouted, and in a twinkling not a fairy was to be seen. The shadow grew larger and larger until it wholly obscured the moon. Then in a twinkling the horses came to earth and stood panting, with drooping heads.
"Why, it"s Tom and Jerry!" said Hortense to herself, being careful not to make a sound.
Jeremiah and Grater dismounted.
"Well," said Jeremiah lazily, "I was sure we"d never catch them this way. You"ll have to lie in wait and pounce on them."
"You and your mousing tricks!" said Grater contemptuously.
But Jeremiah only yawned.
"There"s a cooky jar at home with something in it," he reminded Grater.
"Let"s go."
With a bound Jeremiah and Grater mounted their weary steeds, and in a moment they were out of sight over the tree tops.
"Did you ever!" exclaimed Hortense.
"I think we"d better go home," Andy suggested.
Accordingly, they struck down the steep mountain side and soon were at the foot, where ran the brook.
"We"ll have to wade," said Andy.
They plunged in and across, and with wet shoes and stockings, ran across the pasture, through the orchard to the house.
"It"s late. Whatever will they think!" said Hortense.
"I"m going straight to bed without being seen," said Andy.
It seemed the only thing to do, so Hortense stole quietly in and up the dark stairs to her room.
"Where have you been?" Highboy demanded when she had shut the door.
"You"ve been looked for everywhere."
Hortense was too sleepy to reply, and in the morning no one questioned her, for Uncle Jonah had a sorry tale to tell of the horses, who lay in their stalls too tired to move, their manes and tails in elflocks, and their flanks mud stained.
"Dey"s hoodooed," said Uncle Jonah, shaking his head.
To this, Grandfather made no answer but looked puzzled, and Hortense, who could have told him how it all happened, didn"t know how to begin; so said nothing.