performed the same gracious office for the whole company, one after
the other--even the Baby doll and the Gunki who bore the stretcher.
But the Billiken did look very funny drinking out of the Teacup; and
it was just at that moment that they were startled by a little
gurgling sound in the tree above them (as if a Brownie had overturned
a blue honey-pitcher, and the little drops were tumbling over each
other upon a silver floor) and Sara's lost laugh sprang from the top
of the tree to the ground, and went tinkling off again among the
rocks. They all looked after it with their mouths open, as a fisherman
gazes at the hook from which he has just lost the largest fish that
ever was on sea or land.

"There, now! If we had only been more watchful!" exclaimed the
Japanese doll. The pink tulle lady-doll hat had slipped far back on
his perspiring head; he looked as if he had come a long way.

"I thought I saw something moving up in the tree--I was just going to
speak about it," said the plucky little Kewpie, who, being compelled
to lie on his back, had been gazing straight up into the branches.

"Well!" said Schlorge grimly. "It won't do that again."

They all saw that Schlorge had something on his mind, and began to
watch him as he took his gimlet out of his pocket and began to cut a
small willow wand.

"What are you going to do, Schlorge?" asked the Japanese doll, who was
a good sort of a person, but a little lacking in tact.

"Never mind me," said Schlorge, "the rest of you take a nap!"