Although Freddie Firefly sank back with a groan, she did not seem to
notice him.

"Your cousin--" she continued--"your cousin was the easiest thing to
knock down that I ever saw. Why, once I knocked him over thirty-three
times in one minute--or in other words, as fast as he flashed his light.
. . . I had struck him so many times that he was growing weaker. Earlier
in the evening, when he flashed thirty-six times to the minute, he was a
little too quick for me."

"Don't stop! Tell me more!" Freddie Firefly begged her, as the fat lady
ceased talking and fanned herself rapidly. And then, while she continued
to tell him about his unfortunate cousin, Freddie set his wits to work
upon a plan to escape from the dreadful creature. He hardly knew what
she was saying. But every time she paused he urged her on again with a
"Yes, yes!" or a "Go on! Go on!"

At first a wild hope came to him that he might be able to keep her
talking all night. Then, of course, he would be safe; because when
daylight came she would no longer be able to see his light.

But he soon had to give up that plan, for he saw plainly enough that the
fat lady was growing restless. And at last she told him flatly that she
had talked all she cared to.

"I'm ready to fly now," she announced with an awful eagerness.

"One moment!" he said hastily. "Your fan--I see you've torn it! And if
you'll let me take it I'll try to find you another just like it."