--"There ought to be some way . . ."

Everychild's eyes brightened. "If we could only open the toe of the
shoe--though of course we couldn't!"

"We could," declared the giant.

They went forward stealthily. Will o'Dreams following the example of
Everychild and moving without a sound.

The giant slipped his fingers under the loose ends of the toe of the
shoe and tugged with all his might. After resisting a moment the toe
lifted.

What a sight do we behold! One child after another came tumbling out
of the shoe until all the Old Woman's sons and daughters had been
liberated. They sprang to their feet excitedly, dusting their garments
and looking grateful and relieved.

Everychild addressed them briefly, in a low voice: "You're going away
with us, all of you. You're not going to stand such treatment any
longer. We're all going on a great adventure, and you shall go with
us."

The sons and daughters all made eager signs of assent, though they were
careful not to speak a word. Only the little black dog violated the
rule of silence. He fairly danced about the entire group of children.
And then they all slipped away into the forest.

Let us, however, remain a moment to note what took place about the shoe.

Presently the Old Woman emerged from behind the shoe. She was yawning
prodigiously. Slowly she climbed the ladder. She disappeared. But
was this to be the last of her? Not so!

Only a moment later her head and shoulders again appeared. Her eyes
were staring wildly. She looked this way and that, all about her. Her
eyes clearly revealed that she had realized her loss. At last she
began beating her bosom with both hands. Her hair fell down until you
could scarcely see her face.

And far off in the forest her children were speeding on their way.

CHAPTER XVII

EVERYCHILD WITH ADDITIONAL COMPANIONS FINDS REFUGE IN AN OLD HOUSE

Everychild and his companions were now journeying through a country
where the evenings were very long; and thus it chanced that after they
had all departed from the Old Woman who lived in a shoe, there was
still a considerable period of daylight before them.

Their number was now greatly augmented by the sons and daughters of the
Old Woman, and as a result, they were merrier than they had been
before. Just the same, they began to be hungry before night fell, and
they were greatly puzzled as to where they might satisfy their hunger.

Indeed, it may be confessed t