will have to make us two or three more pairs of bellows. Are you
strong enough to wield a pair, Sara?" he asked. Even in the stress of
this dire moment he spoke so kindly that she loved him more than ever;
and she told him proudly that she was sure she could. Schlorge had
already dragged down from a shelf three extra pairs of bellows--one
brand-new one and two old ones; and he was busy at his forge mending
and putting them in order. All the while, however, he was listening
anxiously to Pirlaps.

"The only part I haven't been able to work out," said Pirlaps, with a
worried look, "is this: How can we reduce the Poetry to a powdered
form fast enough to be effective?"

This was a problem indeed; and everybody thought deeply and
desperately. Avrillia, Sara could see, was already so absorbed in
making the poems that she didn't even hear; but it was an agonizing
moment for the rest of them. It did not last long, however; for the
Snimmy's wife stepped forward and said triumphantly, in her deep,
cross voice, "My coffee-mill!"

"Ah, these practical people!" cried Pirlaps, rubbing his hands
delightedly. "Now for our organization. Avrillia, have you plenty of
rose-leaves?"

"An extra supply," answered Avrillia, raptly. "Yassuh filled the
leaf-closet only yesterday. How fortunate!"

"Then the problem of transportation," said Pirlaps, greatly pleased.
"There must be no break--"