CHAPTER II

THE RUDE BOY


Suddenly all the toys, who had been crowding to the edges of the
shelves and counters to watch the race between the Horse and the
Elephant, became very quiet. The Candy Rabbit seemed to shrink down
behind the Monkey on a Stick. The Bold Tin Soldier slipped his sword
back into its scabbard, and his men lowered their guns. The Calico
Clown, who had been about to bang his cymbals together, dropped them
to his sides. The Lamb on Wheels, who had just been going to ask a Rag
Doll if she did not want to get up on her back, so she might see
better, rolled herself under the counter, and the White Rocking Horse
and the Elephant on his roller skates looked around in surprise.

"What's the matter?" neighed the Horse. "Why did you call out for us
to hush, Candy Rabbit?"

"I thought I heard a noise," was the answer. "Maybe the night watchman
is coming. If he is, he must never see us at our play. Something
dreadful would happen, if he did."

"Hush! Not so loud!" whispered the Calico Clown. "What you say is very
true, Candy Rabbit. We dare not move about or talk if we are looked at
by human eyes. But I do not think the watchman is coming."

"How can we be sure the watchman is not looking at us?" whispered the