robber-magician.

"Yes, but you're not," said Teddy.

"All the same it might be managed," said the magician. Again he tore and
tore at the bars, and he grew so eager that he seemed to forget about
everything but the cheese. "I'll do it," he cried, "yes, I will." Then
he laid of his great soft hat, and crossing his forefingers he cried:

"Innocent me! Innocent me!
As I was once again I will be."

And now the magician's nose grew longer, his mustache grew thin and
stiff like whiskers, his sword changed to a long tail, and in a minute
he was nothing at all but a great brown rat that ran into the trap.

"Click!" went the trap, and there he was fastened in with the cheese.

It was in vain that he shook the bars and squeaked.

"Quick! quick!" cried the Bird-maiden. "let us escape before he can use
his spells." She caught Teddy by the hand, and together they ran to the
door that led to the stairway. "Your key! Oh, make haste!" cried the
Bird-maiden, breathlessly.

In a moment Teddy had unlocked the door they had passed through, and it
had swung to behind them. Up the stairs they ran, and there they were
standing in the sunlight near the rain-butt.

"I am free! I am free!" cried the Bird-maiden, joyously. "Oh! thank you,