"Alas! I can't," said the Bird-maiden, "for whenever the robber-magician
goes out he locks the door after him, and I have no key to open it."

Then Teddy told her that he had a key that would unlock the door and
that he would save her.

The Bird-maiden was very glad, but she said they must make haste, for it
was almost time for the robber to come home; so she wrapped her cloak
around her, and Teddy took her by the hand and together they ran to the
door.

They had hardly reached the outer cave, however, when Teddy heard a loud
bang that echoed and re-echoed from the walls.

"Alas! Alas!" cried the Bird-maiden, shrinking back and beginning to
wring her hands, "we are too late. There comes the robber, and now we
will never escape."

She had scarcely said this when in marched the robber-magician sure
enough. He wore a great soft hat pulled down over his face, and he had a
long brown nose and little black beads of eyes. His mustache stuck out
on each side like swords, and he carried a great sack over his shoulder.

The robber-magician threw the sack down on the floor and frowned at
Teddy from under his hat. "How now!" he cried. "Who's this who has come
down into my cavern without even so much as a 'by your leave'?"

Teddy felt rather frightened, but he spoke up bravely. "I'm Teddy," he
said, "and I didn't know this was your cave. I thought it was just a
rat-hole."