would be fine to speak to her, he thought. And besides, it seemed
almost certain that she needed help.

But it was amazing how fast she could run. He thought: "That's the
kind of a girl you would like to play with--a girl who can run like
that."

Still, he hoped she would become tired before long, so that he might
overtake her. After all, it was rather uncomfortable, pursuing her in
the dark. His own feet made a fearful noise--a ghostly patter which
awoke the night echoes.

Moreover, certain wild creatures of the forest were disturbed. An owl
dashed from its branches overhead and went sailing down the avenues of
the forest. A rabbit, sitting on a little hummock, dropped its
forefeet to the ground and went prancing away, to wheel presently and
look at the road suspiciously.

"I'll never overtake her," thought Everychild. He could just see her
now: a mere blur in the shadows far ahead of him. He could no longer
hear the sound of her feet. Then quite suddenly she disappeared.

Had she fallen? Had she hidden behind a tree? Was she afraid of him?

He ran more softly. If she were hiding he must not frighten her. If
he could only speak to her once she would know very well that she need
not fear him.

But when he came to the spot where she had disappeared he perceived
immediately that she had not hidden. At this point a path turned away